Valentin Thill

Tenor

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“The young French tenor dazzles with his silvery tone and charming stage presence.”
(L’Echo, October 2019)

French-born tenor Valentin Thill has become a young artist of great merit and in his first professional season has made a notable impression in appearances at Festival d’Aix-en-Provence as Barbarigo in a critically acclaimed concert performance of I due Foscari conducted by Daniele Rustioni, Théâtre du Capitole de Toulouse in Michel Fau’s new production of Elektra under Frank Beerman, and with Orchestra national de Lyon in Beethoven’s Symphony No.9 conducted by Ben Glassberg,

The upcoming season includes Valentin’s role debut as Tamino in Pierre Rigal’s new production of Die Zauberflöte at the Théâtre du Capitole de Toulouse under Michele Gamba, Tavannes in Olivier Py’s influential production of Les Huguenots at La Monnaie conducted by Evelino Pidò, and Nadir (Les pêcheurs de perles) for Opéra royal de Wallonie. In concert he sings Dvořák’s Stabat Mater with Sinfonia Lahti under Anja Bihlmaier.

As a former Artist in Residence at Brussels’ Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel, Valentin studied with José van Dam and Sophie Koch. During this time, he made two key role debuts as Ferrando (Cosi fan tutte) and Nadir (Les pêcheurs de perles) and in concert added Verdi’s Messa da Requiem and Mozart’s Requiem and Coronation Mass to his repertoire. Valentin has also been the recipient of several emerging talent competition awards along the way, including winning the Concours International de la Mélodie de Gordes, the Gabriel Dussurget Prize at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, and taking 2^nd Prize at the 52^nd Concours International de Chant de Toulouse.

Early professional experience includes the creation of the principal role in Fabien Barcelo’s IXIBAB, le dessein des dieux at the Théâtre Jeu de Paume in Aix-en-Provence, the title role in Stravinsky’s Mavra with the chamber orchestra of KASK Conservatorium Gent, and the roles of Harlequin and the Soldier in special commemorative performances of Viktor Ullmann’s Der Kaiser von Atlantis at Camp des Milles, a former internment camp. Valentin Thill performed as soloist in “Musiques en Fêtes” at the Chorégies d’Orange, in Rossini’s Petite messe solennelle at Belgium’s Waterloo Festival, and he debuted the role of Don José in a chamber version of Bizet’s Carmen at Le Festival lyrique de Grans.