Russell Smythe

Russell Smythe is a Professor of Vocal Studies at the Royal College of Music, bringing decades of professional performance experience to his academic role. After retiring from professional opera in 2013 following nearly 40 years on the international stage, he has dedicated himself to vocal pedagogy and mentorship.

His educational background includes studies at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and the London Opera Centre. His professional performance career spanned major European opera houses including Hamburg Staatsoper, Frankfurt Opera, Paris Opéra, Vienna Volksoper, La Monnaie, and Opéra de Lyon, working with conductors including Colin Davis, Christoph von Dohnanyi, Antonio Pappano, and Seiji Ozawa.

• Performed with The Royal Opera, English National Opera, Scottish Opera, Opera North and Welsh National Opera in Britain
• Specialized in roles including Pelléas, Papageno, Figaro, Billy Budd, and Don Giovanni
• Extensive concert work including Britten's War Requiem, Messiah, and The Creation

Between 2010 and 2019, Smythe taught choral scholars at King's College, Cambridge. He regularly gives masterclasses at institutions worldwide including York University, Cambridge University, Musik Dramatisk Teater in Denmark, and La Caixa in Spain. He has been a tutor with the Cratoule Summer School in France for seven years and is a regular instructor at the Oxenfoord International Summer School and New Zealand Opera School.

His current private studio includes students performing on the most prestigious opera and concert stages globally. His teaching encompasses both technical vocal development and stagecraft, informed by his extensive professional experience across diverse repertoire from Baroque to contemporary works.