Our Artists

David Hibbard

David graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University in 1981, after which time he studied privately in New York (with Daniel Ferro) and in London (with Sir Peter Pears). Whilst in the UK, he appeared in productions of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Julius Caesar and Moses in Egypt (for English National Opera), Simon Boccanegra (for Glyndebourne Festival Opera) and Rigoletto (for English Touring Opera).

David returned to Australia in 1988 for engagements with Opera Australia, performing the roles of Jacopo Fiesco in Simon Boccanegra, Ramfis in Aida, Count Monterone in Rigoletto, Speaker in The Magic Flute and Publio in La clemenza di Tito. In 1990, he joined Cologne Opera after receiving Opera Foundation Australia’s German Operatic Award. In 1992, he joined the Bremen Stadtstheater as a principal first bass, performing the roles of Jacopo Fiesco in Simon Boccanegra, Padre Guardiano in La forza del destino, Sparafucile in Rigoletto, Baron Ochs von Lerchenau in Der Rosenkavalier, Prince Gremin in Eugene Onegin, Colline in La bohème and Alvise Badoero in La Gioconda.

Since 1994, David has divided his time between Europe and Australia, performing in various continental productions including Peter Maxwell-Davies’ The Lighthouse (in Barcelona) and Don Giovanni (in Amsterdam). Other performances include the roles of Snug in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the Grand Inquisitor in Don Carlos (for Opera Australia), Sarastro in The Magic Flute (for West Australian Opera), Marquis d’Obigny in La traviata, Officer in The Barber of Seville, The Bonze in Madama Butterfly, Duke of Verona in Romeo and Juliet, Doctor Bartolo in The Marriage of Figaro, Old Hebrew in Samson et Dalila, Nourabad in The Pearl Fishers, Brander in The Damnation of Faust, Angelotti in Tosca, Fléville and Schmidt in Andrea Chénier and the title role in The Mikado (for Opera Queensland), The Bonze in Madama Butterfly, Doctor Bartolo in The Marriage of Figaro, Colline in La bohème, Geronte di Ravoir in Manon Lescaut, George Benton in Dead Man Walking, Fafner in Der Ring des Nibelungen and the title roles in Don Pasquale and The Mikado (for State Opera of South Australia) and Don Alfonso in the touring production of Così fan tutte (for NBR New Zealand Opera).

On the concert platform, David has appeared in Walton’s Façade (with the Queensland Symphony Orchestra), Bartók’s Bluebeard’s Castle (with the Sydney Youth Orchestra) and Verdi’s Requiem (with the Stanford University Orchestra and for the InterVarsity Choral Festival). Other performances include a concert tour of Scandinavia (with the Sydney Youth Orchestra), Opera in the Paddock and appearing in the Sydney Opera House’s 30th Birthday Celebrations.

Engagements in 2011 include the role of Sciarrone in Opera Queensland's production of Tosca.