Birmingham Opera/Graham Vick/CBSO: Kovanschina, 2014

​​​​Ben Thapa - Tenor

​Ben Thapa started his career as one quarter of the classical opera group G4, runners-up on ITV’s The X Factor in 2004. Ben left the group in 2018, and has forged a varied and substantial career on the stage across a range of repertory.

Operatic credits include Tito (La Clemenza di Tito, Teatru Manoel), Kudrjash (Katya Kabanova, Scottish Opera on Tour), The President (Mittwoch aus Licht, Birmingham Opera/BBC Proms), Arbace (Idomeneo, Buxton Festival), Melot (Tristan und Isolde, Longborough Festival Opera) and Siegfried (The Quest for the Ring, Royal Festival Hall in association with Opera North).

Ben was a featured artist with the Really Big Chorus in 2010-11, and at the Royal Albert Hall, was their soloist for Handel Messiah, Haydn Creation and Mozart Requiem. Further concert highlights include a Monteverdi Vespers tour with the Monteverdi Choir, Matthew Passion (arias) for Ex Cathedra, Handel Messiah with the CBSO, Beethoven 9 at St John’s Smith Square, performances with the Manchester Camerata including Messiah, Britten St. Nicholas, and Beethoven Missa Solemnis, and three invites to give recitals at Leeds Town Hall. Other repertory performed varies from the Bach passions, the title roles in Handel’s Jephtha and Samson, Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius, Verdi Requiem, Rossini Petite Messe Solennelle, and Tippett A Child of Our Time.

In 2020, Ben made his main stage debut at English National Opera as part of their Carmen education project, and created the roles of Dr Anton and Salieri (The Paradis Files) for Graeae Theatre Company, which toured the UK in 2022. Ben also performed the role of Conan in the new opera Morrigan, performed at the Cork Opera House. 

In 2023, Ben jumped in at the Cadogan Hall, to take the title role with Chelsea Opera Group in La Clemenza di Tito, his second performance with the group after Johan (La Regina di Svezia) in 2014.

Future and current plans the role of Branwell in Keynote Opera’s new opera Brönte, Verdi Requiem on the stage of Grange Park Opera,

the Evangelist in Armonico Consort’s concerts of Bach St. Matthew Passion, as well as performances of Purcell Dido and Aeneas (Aeneas) and Monteverdi Vespers with the same ensemble, and Siegmund (Die Walküre) in concert at St. John’s, Smith Square.

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