Matthew White (countertenor)


Matthew White is a Canadian countertenor.

Career

Born in Ottawa, Ontario, White began singing as a treble with St Matthew's Men and Boys Choir in Ottawa and studied with Jan Simons in Montreal, Quebec. He graduated in English Literature from McGill University.
He has sung with Glyndebourne Festival Opera, New York City Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Cleveland Opera, and Opera Atelier. On June 9, 2003, White sang the roles of Evanthes and Bacchus in the first performance in modern times of Johann Georg Conradi's 1691 opera Ariadne at the Boston Early Music Festival. The studio recording with the same cast received a Grammy nomination for Best Opera Recording of 2005.
White was an active soloist in oratorio and on the concert stage, where he specialises in Baroque music. He has appeared at the Vancouver, Boston, and Utrecht Early Music Festivals and has sung with Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra, Boston's Handel and Haydn Society, Les Violons du Roy, and Les Voix Humaines. In December 2010, he will sing in Handel's Messiah with Boston Baroque, a leading period instrument ensemble under the direction of Martin Pearlman. He is also the musical director and soloist of Montreal's Les Voix Baroques ensemble with whom he extensively tours.
Matthew White has recorded for the Naxos, Harmonia Mundi and Analekta labels. His recording, Elegeia won a 2004 Cannes Classical Award for best new early music solo recording.
White has now ceased to perform as a countertenor and has been Artist Director of Early Music Vancouver since the 2013-14 season.

Selected recordings