Donald Maxwell

A Geography graduate of the University of Edinburgh, Donald Maxwell has been a professional singer for more than 45 years. His international career has taken him to Milan’s La Scala, the Vienna Staatsoper, Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, the Salzburg Easter Festival and he has a continuing connection with the Metropolitan Opera in New York.

He made his debut with Welsh National Opera in 1982, and over the next 35 years he gave over 500 performances with the Company in 30 different roles. Particularly notable were the title role in Verdi's Falstaff and Iago in Otello, Golaud in Debussy’s Pelléas et Mélisande and Somarone, the inebriated music master, in Berlioz’s Béatrice et Bénédict. He has also been closely associated with WNO audiences as President of WNO Friends.

He was Director of the National Opera Studio for seven years and Head of Opera Studies at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. His career also includes directing and a continuing interest in the development and training of young performers.

With a Welsh wife and daughter, he has lived for more than 30 years in Penarth and is a keen user of Penarth train station.