Biography
Rod came to the South-West in 2003 from Sheffield where he had helped create South Yorkshire Opera (1975-1999). Having trained privately as a solo bass, he combines stage appearances with his position as Emeritus Professor in Biosciences at the University of Exeter.
He is now a veteran with a CV of almost 150 stage productions in the UK, Europe and North America (Performances).
Although an opera specialist, with many Mozart, Verdi and Puccini roles to his credit, Rod’s range also encompasses the more ‘operatic’ types of oratorio, and Gilbert and Sullivan, operetta and musical theatre.
He has appeared in Tosca before HRH The Prince of Wales (Image Gallery), and has also produced gala concerts featuring Kiri Te Kanawa, Della Jones, Dennis O’Neill, Benjamin Luxon, Donald Maxwell, Richard Baker, Timothy West and many soloists from the D’Oyly Carte and Opera North.
He was nominated for Best Supporting Actor 2008-2009 by Somerset Fellowship of Drama for his title role in The Mikado, and once again in 2009-2010 for his Lieutenant in The Yeomen of the Guard.
He was part of the Trent Opera production of Ruddigore at the Buxton International G&S Festival where, as Sir Roderic, he received the Donald Adams award for Best Male Voice 2009. The following year, in the same role with Plymouth G&S Fellowship, he also won Best Male Voice 2010.
Rod studied with Derbyshire bass-baritone John Dethick, who numbered Roy Henderson among his teachers, and with international bass Ian Comboy, a past pupil of Otakar Kraus.
He is currently a Trustee of Devon Opera, Tarnhelm Opera and Bath Opera.