Born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, bass Blaise Malaba studied in Ukraine before training at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and thereafter as a member of the Jette Parker Young Artist Progamme at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Recognised for his resonant and powerful bass, Blaise returns to Covent Garden this season as the King of Egypt in Robert Carsen’s new production of Aida under Sir Mark Elder, Mandarin in Turandot conducted by Sir Antonio Pappano, and Dottore Grenvil in Richard Eyre’s production of La traviata under Keri-Lynn Wilson. Elsewhere he makes company debuts with Opéra national de Montpellier as Sprecher in Anna Bernreitner’s new production of Die Zauberflöte conducted by Constantin Trinks, and with Teatro Colón in Weill’s The Seven Deadly Sins under Jan Latham-Koenig.
Praised for his performances of “profundity and gravitas” (Opera Today), highlights at The Royal Opera House have included Abimélech in Richard Jones’ new production of Samson et Dalila under Sir Antonio Pappano, Montano in Keith Warner’s production of Otello conducted by Daniele Rustioni, High Priest in Daniele Abbado’s production of Nabucco under Daniel Oren, and Second Elder in Isabelle Kettle’s new production of Handel’s Susanna at the Linbury Theatre.
Named as a Rising Star in the October 2020 edition of BBC Music Magazine, highlights elsewhere have included Samuel (Un ballo in maschera) for Opera Holland Park and Alidoro (La Cenerentola) for the New Generation Festival, Florence and West Green House Opera. His growing operatic repertoire incorporates such roles as Sarastro (Die Zauberflöte), Don Basilio (Il barbiere di Siviglia), Publio (La clemenza di Tito), Sparafucile and Monterone (Rigoletto), Banco (Macbeth), Prince Gremin (Eugene Onegin), Somnus (Semele) and Il Re (Ariodante).
Concert repertoire includes Verdi’s Messa da Requiem, Puccini’s Messa di Gloria and Rossini’s La Petite Messe Solennelle. In competition Blaise was a finalist in both the Toulouse International Singing Competition (2019) and BBC Cardiff Singer of the World (2015) and took First Prize in the Impreza International Vocal Competition in Ukraine (2015).
