The flexibility and consistency of Allan Clayton’s vocal range as a tenor, combined with a magnetic stage presence, have led to international acclaim in music from Baroque to contemporary. This breadth is demonstrated in recent title roles, which range from Albert Herring and Hamlet to Faust and Candide. He has worked in leading opera houses around the world, singing the title role in the US premiere of Brett Dean’s »Hamlet«, followed by »Peter Grimes« at the Metropolitan Opera in New York; David in »Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg« at the Royal Opera House and Bayerische Staatsoper, and in several Barrie Kosky productions for the Komische Oper Berlin.

Clayton has appeared at the BBC Proms ten times since his first visit in 2008. Contributions have included Vaughan Williams’ »Pastoral Symphony«, Britten’s »War Requiem«, and the title roles in Handel’s »Jeptha« and Stravinsky’s »Oedipus Rex«. His world premiere performance of Gerald Barry’s »Canada« from 2017 was shown as part of the revised 2020 BBC Proms.

He has performed at Wigmore Hall many times across his career, most recently curating a Britten Series that was curtailed by the Coronavirus situation. In June 2020 he was chosen to be part of the venue’s Special Broadcasts, a response to the crisis. He has given lied recitals around the world, with repertoire including works such as Schubert’s »Winterreise« and »Die schöne Müllerin«, and songs by Strauss, Wolf, Duparc and Tippett.

Several composers have written song cycles specifically with his voice in mind, including Mark-Anthony Turnage with »Refugee« and Josephine Stephenson with »Une saison en enfer«. An advocate of contemporary music, he has appeared in world premieres of George Benjamin’s »Written on Skin«, Jonathan Dove’s »The Adventures of Pinocchio« and Gerald Barry’s »Alice’s Adventures Underground«.

His rich discography ranges from Handel, Mozart and Beethoven to Liszt, Britten and Lukaszewski.