2017/18 English National Opera Harewood Artist, Elgan Llŷr Thomas made his ENO début at Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre as Prologue/Peter Quint in The Turn of the Screw and performed the role of Johnny Inkslinger in Britten’s Paul Bunyan at Wilton’s Music Hall as part of the ENO Studio Live Series. This Season he will make his stage début at the London Coliseum with ENO as Normanno in Lucia di Lammermoor. Last season he made his house début as Count Almaviva in Il Barbiere di Siviglia at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Paris and his role début as Brighella in Ariadne auf Naxos for Scottish Opera and Opera Holland Park. He also made his role début as Ernesto in Don Pasquale at the Mananan International Festival of Music and the Arts on the Isle of Man. Future plans include Count Almaviva in Il Barbiere di Siviglia for Opéra de Bordeaux and his role début as Tom Rakewell in a semi-staged performance of The Rake’s Progress with the Equilibrium Young Artists conducted by founder and soprano, Barbara Hannigan at the Klara Festival in Brussels, Ojai Festival in California and at the Aldeburgh Festival in the UK.
In 2016, Elgan joined Scottish Opera as an Emerging Artist and made his company and role début as Nemorino in their touring production of The Elixir of Love. A graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music, Manchester and London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London, Elgan’s operatic roles include Spoletta in a semi-staged concert performance of Tosca at the 2017 Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod with the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera, Sir Bryn Terfel and Kristine Opolais; Lindoro in The Italian Girl in Algiers and Count Almaviva in Il Barbiere di Siviglia for the Mananan International Festival; Fenton in a semi-staged performance of Falstaff with the Cambridge Philharmonic Society; Titorelli/Flogger/Berthold in The Trial for Scottish Opera; and covered the roles of Lensky in Eugene Onegin, Binet in Vert-Vert and Selimo in Maometto Secondo for Garsington Opera. Other operatic performances include Florindo in Le donne curiose and Male Chorus in The Rape of Lucretia for the Guildhall School of Music and Drama; Title Role in Albert Herring and Lampwick in The Adventures of Pinocchio for the Royal Northern College of Music and Johnny Inkslinger in the Welsh National Youth Opera’s Britten Centenary production of Paul Bunyan.
On demand on the concert platform, Elgan has performed in a Gala Concert with the Xi’an Symphony Orchestra in China; Orbin in Elgar’s Caractacus with the Opera North Orchestra, conducted by Martyn Brabbins; Sir Karl Jenkins’ The Armed Man, Mass for Peace with the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by the composer at Liverpool’s Philharmonic Hall; Tippett’s A Child of our Time at the Dartington International Summer Festival, conducted by Paul McCreesh and a concert with Sir Bryn Terfel at Bangor University. Future engagements include Mozart’s Requiem with the Danish National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Barbara Hannigan at the DR Koncerthuset, Copenhagen.
Elgan is a recipient of a 2017/18 Opera Awards Foundation Bursary. Other awards include the 2015 Stuart Burrows International Voice Award; the Kerry-Keane Prize and the Audience Prize at the 2015 Les Azuriales Opera Young Artists programme in Nice and the 2012 Clonter Opera Prize. He has also had considerable success at the National Eisteddfod of Wales and during his first year at the RNCM, he represented the College at the 2009 Kathleen Ferrier Bursary Award and won the Elsie Thurston Prize. He is one of the first recipients of a Study Award from the Bryn Terfel Foundation.
Elgan is a familiar face on Welsh language television channel, S4C and performed a duet with Sir Bryn Terfel on his 2010 Christmas TV show, Nadolig Bryn Terfel.
He has released an album of Welsh Songs called Llwybrau’n Cân on the SAIN label and in 2017 recorded songs by Gareth Glyn on the album Caneuon Gareth Glyn, again for SAIN.
Artist biographies are updated frequently, so please contact us for the latest version. This biography should not be reproduced or altered without permission.
Bach
Cantata BWV 134
Beethoven
Choral Symphony
Bizet
Te Deum
Britten
Rejoice in the Lamb
Britten
Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings, Op. 31
Byrd
Mass for Four Voices
Dvorák
Mass in D Major
Elgar
CaractacusOrbin
Handel
Acis and Galatea
Handel
Israel in Egypt
Handel
Judas Maccabeus
Handel
Messiah
Handel
Samson
Haydn
Creation
Jenkins
The Armed Man - Mass for Peace
Mendelssohn
Elijah
Rossini
Petite Messe Solennelle
Tippett
A Child of our Time
Beethoven
Choral Symphony
Britten
Rejoice in the Lamb
Britten
Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings, Op. 31
Byrd
Mass for Four Voices
Jenkins
The Armed Man - Mass for Peace
Rossini
Petite Messe Solennelle
Tippett
A Child of our Time
Britten
Albert HerringTitle Role
Britten
Paul BunyanInkslinger
Britten
A Midsummer Night's DreamLysander
Britten
The Rape of LucretiaMale Chorus
Britten
The Turn Of The ScrewPeter Quint / Prologue
Donizetti
L’Elisir d’AmoreNemorino
Donizetti
Don PasqualeErnesto
Glass
The TrialTitorelli/ Flogger/ Berthold
Jonathan Dove
The Adventures of PinocchioLampwick
Mozart
Così fan tutte Ferrando
Puccini
ToscaSpoletta
Rossini
Il Barbiere di SivigliaCount Almaviva
Rossini
The Italian Girl in AlgiersLindoro
Rossini
Maometto SecondoSelimo
Strauss, Richard
Ariadne auf NaxosBrighella
Tchaikovsky
Eugene OneginLensky
Verdi
FalstaffFenton
Wolf-Ferrari
Le donne curioseFlorindo
Britten
Albert Herring
Title Role
Britten
Paul Bunyan
Inkslinger
Britten
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Lysander
Britten
The Rape of Lucretia
Male Chorus
Britten
The Turn Of The Screw
Peter Quint / Prologue
Donizetti
L’Elisir d’Amore
Nemorino
Donizetti
Don Pasquale
Ernesto
Glass
The Trial
Titorelli/ Flogger/ Berthold
Jonathan Dove
The Adventures of Pinocchio
Lampwick
Mozart
Così fan tutte
Ferrando
Rossini
Il Barbiere di Siviglia
Count Almaviva
Rossini
The Italian Girl in Algiers
Lindoro
Rossini
Maometto Secondo
Selimo
Strauss, Richard
Ariadne auf Naxos
Brighella
Tchaikovsky
Eugene Onegin
Lensky
Wolf-Ferrari
Le donne curiose
Florindo
Opera
Lucia di Lamermoor
Normanno in Lucia di Lamermoor for ENO
Planet Hugill
Elgan Llyr Thomas was wonderfully controlled and creepy as Normanno.
Normanno in Lucia di Lamermoor for ENO
Mark Ronan
As Enrico’s retainer Normanno, Elgan Llyr Thomas sang superbly,
Normanno in Lucia di Lamermoor for ENO
Bach Track
His oily factotum Normanno is sung with exemplary diction and finesse by Elgan Llŷr Thomas not as Scott’s military captain but as a snivelling jobsworth complete with briefcase and comb-over,
Normanno in Lucia di Lamermoor for ENO
The Stage
....Elgan Llyr Thomas’s sneaky retainer Normanno and Sarah Pring’s Cassandra-like companion Alisa all fit admirably into the broader picture.
Paul Bunyan
Johnny Inkslinger in Paul Bunyan at Wilton’s Music Hall as part of the ENO Studio Live Series, September 2018
The Daily Mail
The cast had huge enthusiasm. It’s invidious to pick out just a few, but the Welsh tenor Elgan Llyr Thomas as Inkslinger is plainly one for the future.
Johnny Inkslinger in Paul Bunyan at Wilton’s Music Hall as part of the ENO Studio Live Series, September 2018
The Arts Desk
Elgan Llŷr Thomas is the latest discovery in a golden age of British tenors...he does the intellect of the Britten/Auden American myth, Johnny Inkslinger, and the most complex aria in the musical proud.
Johnny Inkslinger in Paul Bunyan at Wilton’s Music Hall as part of the ENO Studio Live Series, September 2018
Seen and Heard International
Elgan Llŷr Thomas is a ENO Harewood Artist and was perfect as Johnny Inkslinger, the bookkeeper. Britten abruptly changes gear for this part, departing from operetta and lavishing out into grand opera: the voice of Peter Pears was clearly in his mind. Sir Peter would eventually perform the role at Aldeburgh, then on tour. But Llŷr Thomas is a good deal more handsome than Pears and emphatically more athletic of both voice and movement, while still successfully reproducing the unsurpassed Pears musicality.
Johnny Inkslinger in Paul Bunyan at Wilton’s Music Hall as part of the ENO Studio Live Series, September 2018
The Stage
Among the principals, Elgan Llŷr Thomas’ Johnny Inkslinger shone particularly brightly.
Johnny Inkslinger in Paul Bunyan at Wilton’s Music Hall as part of the ENO Studio Live Series, September 2018
The Telegraph
Particularly lovely singing from Elgan Llŷr Thomas (Johnny Inkslinger).
The Turn of the Screw
Peter Quint in The Turn of the Screw at Open Air Theatre, London, June 2018
Backtrack
And the real villain of the piece? Elgan Llŷr Thomas’ Peter Quint, chalk-faced and rusty-haired, kicked the fear factor up several gears. Perhaps it was the eerie stillness of his movements. Perhaps the way his glacial voice erupted in demented passion, bursts of savagery that were perfectly targeted and unpleasant to witness. Whatever the reason, Thomas made the role his own.
Peter Quint in The Turn of the Screw at Open Air Theatre, London, June 2018
The Telegraph
But the most vocally striking contribution comes from the promising Welsh tenor Elgan Llŷr Thomas, who as Quint combines rich vibrant tone with handsome presence.
Peter Quint in The Turn of the Screw at Open Air Theatre, London, June 2018
Opera Today
Llŷr Thomas’s muscular, firmly defined tenor captured Quint’s viciousness and angry resentment; he was similarly imposing physically
Peter Quint in The Turn of the Screw at Open Air Theatre, London, June 2018
The Stage
Thomas’s Quint duly dominates the action with his interventions: his sound is both lean and ringing and he exudes a natural confidence.
Peter Quint in The Turn of the Screw at Open Air Theatre, London, June 2018
The Times
Elgan Llŷr Thomas’s gimlet-eyed and glintingly sung Quint.
The Trial
Titorelli in The Trial for Scottish Opera, January 2017
Seen and Heard International
Elgan Llŷr Thomas made a strong impression in the comic role of Titorelli the painter.
The Elixir of Love
Nemorino in The Elixir of Love for Scottish Opera, September 2016
Opera
At fights sight her [Ellie Laugharne] 'upstairs' Adina and the 'downstairs' Nemorino of Elgan Llŷr Thomas made an unlikely couple, but Thomas, the latest beneficiary of the company's Emerging Artist's programme, gained in stature as the evening progressed. What impressed was his winning smile, the sweet simplicity of his vocal address and his Italianate colouring of the singing line (no affected swooping).
Nemorino in The Elixir of Love for Scottish Opera, September 2016
Herald Scotland
Scottish Opera's emerging artist Elgan Llŷr Thomas gives a persuasive and tender depiction of Adina's lover, Nemorino.
Nemorino in The Elixir of Love for Scottish Opera, September 2016
The Scotsman
Elgan Llŷr Thomas’ love struck Nemorino is as ardent and persistent as the testosterone tormenting his youthful body.
Nemorino in The Elixir of Love for Scottish Opera, September 2016
Glasgow Theatre Blog
Elgan Llŷr Thomas is thoroughly appealing as our love-lorn hero Nemorino and his show-stopping Una furtiva lagrima (one single tear falls silently) is a real crowd-pleaser.
Madama Butterfly
Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly for Bury Court Opera, March 2016
Opera Now
Elgan Llŷr Thomas performed Pinkerton as if he had been singing the role all his life.
Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly for Burry Court Opera, March 2016
Opera
The youthful brightness and energy of Thomas's singing in Act 1 conveyed optimism rather than mere cockiness.
Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly for Bury Court Opera, March 2016
Seen and Heard International
RNCM and Guildhall-trained Elgan Llyr Thomas was wholly sufficient both vocally and in the restrained acting the role requires. Pinkerton has to have poetry about him to match the poetic dreams of Butterfly, and offset the stolidity of the naval officer. All this was forthcoming.
The Rape of Lucretia
Male Chorus in the Guildhall School's production of The Rape of Lucretia
musicOMH
As the Male Chorus, Elgan Thomas reveals a striking tenor and excellent enunciation.
Le Donne Curiose
Florindo in the Guildhall School's production of Le Donne Curiose, November 2015
The Arts Desk
…..while a chance to see Wolf-Ferrari’s patchily inspired comedy Le donne curiose (aka The Nosy Wives of Venice) very humorously staged at the Guildhall School was enriched by a natural Welsh lyric tenor, Elgan Thomas.
Florindo in the Guildhall School's production of Le Donne Curiose, November 2015
The Arts Desk
Vocally, second-cast tenor Elgan Thomas steals the show here: he’s a fully-fledged tenore di grazia who can both grandstand, at least as much as the composer lets him, and sing sweet, soft nothings as girlfriend Rosaura (Nicola Said) hands him the lunchtime plates to dry.
Paul Bunyan
Johnny Inkslinger in Paul Bunyan for Welsh National Youth Opera
The Arts Desk
Elgan Llyr Thomas is highly convincing as Jonny Inkslinger
Johnny Inkslinger in Paul Bunyan for Welsh National Youth Opera
Seen and Heard
As Johnny Inkslinger, the intellectual drawn into the business world, Elgan Llyr Thomas gave a performance of high intelligence in a well-controlled and purposeful light tenor voice.
Johnny Inkslinger in Paul Bunyan for Welsh National Youth Opera
The Guardian
Bunyan may loom largest, but Johnny Inkslinger – a cipher for Auden himself – is the main focus, and here Elgan Llyr Thomas's tenor shone out as a real hope for the future.
Johnny Inkslinger in Paul Bunyan for Welsh National Youth Opera
The Good Review
Elgan Llyr Thomas makes an impeccable Jonny Inkslinger; the independent wannabe novelist who arrives at Paul Bunyan’s logging camp in search of food.
Macbeth
Macduff in Macbeth for Opra Cymru, September 2013
TheatreWales.co.uk
The emotional peak is the lament by Elgan Thomas, as Macduff, over the deaths of his family.
Albert Herring
Title Role in Albert Herring for the Royal Northern College of Music
The Times
Elgan Thomas is an outstanding Albert. He makes the role very much his own…. A dark inner rage colours Thomas's robust tenor; he becomes menacing in his cups; and he finally delivers a full-frontal Freudian verbal assault on his unsuspecting mother.
Title Role in Albert Herring for the Royal Northern College of Music
Seen and Heard International
Elgan Thomas as Albert was outstanding as singer and actor, portraying both the role of conformist, browbeaten son of the opening acts, as well as the wayward who goes on a spree with his prize money, to near perfection. His strong tenor voice had the requisite clarity to go along with his acted conviction.
Title Role in Albert Herring for the Royal Northern College of Music
Manchester Theatre Awards
But the singers are the main thing, in particular Elgan Thomas. The young Welshman has a very fine tenor timbre, and his acting made Albert into someone who, though put-upon, had steel in his soul and was nobody's fool.
Concerts / Recitals
Handel's Messiah with the Edinburgh Royal Choral Union at Usher Hall, January 2018
Herald Scotland
Elgan Llŷr Thomas gave clear and animated delivery.
