Keenlyside was born in London, the son of Raymond and Ann Keenlyside. Raymond played second violin in theAeolian Quartet, and Ann's father was the violinistLeonard Hirsch.[1] When he was eight, he was enrolled inSt John's College School, a boarding school for the boy choristers of theChoir of St John's College, Cambridge and spent much of his childhood touring and recording with the choir under the direction of choirmasterGeorge Guest.[2]
Keenlyside made his first appearance in a major operatic role in 1987 as Lescaut inManon Lescaut at the Royal Northern College of Music.Opera magazine remarked on it being an "astonishingly mature" performance, and that he "used his warm and clear baritone with notable musicianship".[3] The Richard Tauber prize, which he won in 1986, allowed him to go to Salzburg for further study. His money ran out before he could finish his four-month term there, but Rudolf Knoll, a teacher at theSalzburg Mozarteum, gave him private lessons for free. Knoll encouraged him to work on the Italian repertoire while he was still young, and introduced him to the Hilbert agency which got him singing jobs in Germany. His professional debut as a baritone came in 1988, at theHamburg State Opera as Count Almaviva inThe Marriage of Figaro.[2]
Keenlyside sang in the world premieres of two 21st-century operas, creating the roles of Prospero inThomas Adès'The Tempest in 2004, and Winston Smith inLorin Maazel's1984 in 2005.[4] He later participated in the EMI Classics world premiere recording ofThe Tempest.[5]
In 2010 Keenlyside sang the role of Rodrigo in a new production ofDon Carlo at the Metropolitan Opera oppositeRoberto Alagna to critical acclaim.[6]
Keenlyside added the role of Golaud inDebussy'sPelléas et Mélisande to his repertoire in a new production which premiered atWiener Staatsoper on 18 June 2017 (he previously sang the role of Pelléas for many years). The following afternoon, he was awarded the title ofKammersänger by the Austrian government in a ceremony in the Teesalon of the opera house.
Keenlyside is married to theRoyal Ballet former principal dancerZenaida Yanowsky.[1] Simon and Zenaida had their first child, a son called Owen, on 12th October 2008. Their second child, a daughter called Iona, was born on 7th March 2010.
2006:Laurence Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Opera, for his work in the ROH production of1984 and ENO'sBilly Budd in 2005.[43] He was a nominee for this award in 2004 for The Royal Opera'sHamlet andDie Zauberflote.[44]
^Listed in the cast for the concert performances at Birmingham Symphony Hall and the Queen Elisabeth Hall (March 1995). SeeOpera, Vol. 45, Issues 7–12, p. 1299
