Biography
bass baritone
Canadian/British bass baritone Giles Tomkins is widely praised for his vocal virtuosity and lyricism in an impressive range of repertoire. His rich, resonant voice brings “authority and power” to the concert and operatic stage, most recently as Leporello in Don Giovanni with Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra.
Giles has appeared as a guest soloist with many of Canada’s finest orchestras and choirs, including Regina Symphony, Windsor Symphony, Bach Elgar Choir, Symphony New Brunswick, Vancouver Bach Choir, Elmer Iseler Singers, and Chorus Niagara.
Highlights this season include Messiah with Hamilton Philharmonic Orchestra/Bach Elgar Choir, and with Grand Philharmonic Choir/ Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony. Giles portrays the manipulative Don Alfonso in Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte in concert with Windsor Symphony Orchestra.
Acclaimed operatic roles for Giles include Fafner (Das Rheingold) and Hunding (Die Walküre), Timur (Turandot), and Raimondo (Lucia di Lammermoor), with Edmonton Opera, as well as Colline (La bohème) with Toronto’s Against the Grain Theatre and Don Basilio (Il barbiere di Siviglia) with Scottish National Opera. A frequent performer with the Canadian Opera Company, Giles sang the roles of Parson/Badger in their production of The Cunning Little Vixen (Janáček) as well as Zuniga in Carmen with Manitoba Opera and The King in The Little Prince with Pacific Opera Victoria.
Giles sang Ed in Crow Theatre’s powerful Dora-Award winning production of Octet, exploring the perils of internet addiction. Giles starred as Gandalf with Cantabile Choirs of Kingston in their production of Dean Burry’s The Hobbit.