Ben Thapa (1982 – 2024)
Artist Reviews
"…...In the season of Remembrance, it was appropriate to include ‘The Spirit of England’, Elgar’s setting of Laurence Binyon’s poems ‘The Fourth of August’, ‘To Women’ and ‘For the Fallen’. This work reflects Elgar’s turbulent feelings about World War One and its glories and its horrors and losses. The wonderful blend of the Choir’s confident command of this work along with Ben Thapa’s gorgeous tenor voice, his strong presence and superb ability to communicate, gave the audience a wonderful insight into this work in all its many moods and emotions."
"Ben Thapa brought a thrilling, almost operatic expressiveness to the tenor solos"
"First out of the blocks was tenor Ben Thapa, whose ‘Nigra Sum’ was particularly impressive, and showed an authentic grasp of the style"
"Ben Thapa handled the role of Gerontius with impeccable control and conviction"
"This was a superb performance with the tenor, Ben Thapa, singing the role of the saint with great power throughout. He immediately engaged with the audience with the opening phrase, “Across the tremendous bridge” ."
".... She was well matched with the Pelleas of Ben Thapa, who sang in a strong, dark tenor and exemplified the production's physicality, at times careering around the stage."
Biography
It is with deep sadness that I announce the unexpected death of Ben Thapa last night (8.9.2024). Ben was a wonderful musician, great friend and true colleague who will be much missed. Always there to help when needed he gave selflessly. Rest in peace dear Ben.
Ben Thapa started his career as one quarter of the classical opera group G4, runners-up on ITV’s The X Factor in 2004. Ben left the group in 2018, and has forged a varied and substantial career on the stage across a range of repertory.
Operatic credits include Tito (La Clemenza di Tito, Teatru Manoel), Kudrjash (Katya Kabanova, Scottish Opera on Tour), The President (Mittwoch aus Licht, Birmingham Opera/BBC Proms), Arbace (Idomeneo, Buxton Festival), Melot (Tristan und Isolde, Longborough Festival Opera) and Siegfried (The Quest for the Ring, Royal Festival Hall in association with Opera North).
Ben was a featured artist with the Really Big Chorus in 2010-11, and at the Royal Albert Hall, was their soloist for Handel Messiah, Haydn Creation and Mozart Requiem. Further concert highlights include a Monteverdi Vespers tour with the Monteverdi Choir, Matthew Passion (arias) for Ex Cathedra, Handel Messiah with the CBSO, Beethoven 9 at St John’s Smith Square, performances with the Manchester Camerata including Messiah, Britten St. Nicholas, and Beethoven Missa Solemnis, and three invites to give recitals at Leeds Town Hall. Other repertory performed varies from the Bach Passions, the title roles in Handel’s Jephtha and Samson, Elgar’s Dream of Gerontius, Verdi Requiem, Rossini Petite Messe Solennelle, and Tippett A Child of Our Time.
In 2020, Ben made his main stage debut at English National Opera as part of their Carmen education project, and created the role in Errollyn Wallen’s new opera of Dr Anton (The Paradis Files) for Graeae Theatre Company, which toured with the BBC Concert Orchestra in 2022.
2023 engagements have so far included Evangelist (Bach St. Matthew Passion) and Monteverdi Vespers for the Armonico Consort, the title role in La Clemenza di Tito for Chelsea Opera Group, Verdi Requiem at the Royal Festival Hall with the London Mozart Players, and at Grange Park.
Future plans include Aeneas (Dido and Aeneas) for the Armonico Consort, Handel Judas Maccabeus at Durham Cathedral, Handel Messiah at Ampleforth Abbey, and Siegmund Die Walküre for the London Opera Company at St. John’s Smith Square.
Ben is also a burgeoning conductor, with several regular engagements in London and the surrounding area. He has conducted the Bach Choir, the Nederlands Kammerkoor and Ex Cathedra.
Photo credit: Robert Workman
For Oratorio and Concert Repertoire please scroll down:
| Composer | Work | ||
| Bach J.S. | J.S. Christmas Oratorio (Evangelist/arias) | ||
| Magnificat | |||
| St John Passion (Evangelist/arias) | |||
| St Matthew Passion (Evangelist/arias) | |||
| Various cantatas | |||
| Beethoven | Mass in C | ||
| 9th Symphony | |||
| Britten | Serenade for Tenor, horn and strings | ||
| St Nicholas | |||
| War Requiem | |||
| Bruckner | Mass in E flat | ||
| Carissimi | Jepthe | ||
| Coleridge-Taylor | Hiawatha’s Wedding Feast | ||
| Elgar | A Great and Glorious Victory | ||
| The Dream of Gerontius | |||
| The Kingdom | |||
| Spirit of England | |||
| Finzi | Ode to Saint Cecilia | ||
| Handel | Jephtha | ||
| Messiah | |||
| Samson | |||
| Saul (Jonathan) | |||
| Haydn | Creation | ||
| Mendelssohn | Die Erste Walpurgisnacht | ||
| Elijah | |||
| Lobesgesang | |||
| Monteverdi | Vespers 1610 | ||
| Mozart | Mass in C | ||
| Requiem | |||
| Masses etc | |||
| Puccini | Messe di Gloria | ||
| Rossini | Petite Messe Solennelle | ||
| Schutz | Christmas Story | ||
| Stravinsky | Oedipus Rex | ||
| Tchaikovsky | The Bells | ||
| Verdi | Requiem | ||