British-Australian tenor Jacob Lawrence is recognized for his interpretations of vocal music from the Medieval to Classical eras. After studying at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music, he moved to Basel in 2016 to undertake studies at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis with Gerd Türk, and has since then cultivated a busy performing career, appearing with many of Europe’s leading early music ensembles.
Jacob was a laureate of the 10th edition of the Jardin des Voix, the young artist program of Les Arts Florissants, in which he sang the role of Emilio in Handel’s Partenope. Under the direction of William Christie and Paul Agnew the production toured throughout Europe in 15 performances, including at the Lucerne Festival, the Philharmonie de Paris, the Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia in Valencia, and the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona.
Jacob’s operatic repertoire includes the title role in Monteverdi’s Orfeo (Profeti della Quinta/Trigonale Festival and Lamento – Gare du Nord Basel/Schlosstheater Schwetzingen), Ubaldo in Haydn’s Armida (Pinchgut Opera), Eumete/Giove in Monteverdi’s Il Ritorno d’Ulisse in Patria and Soldato/Lucano/Liberto in L’incoronazione di Poppea (Pinchgut Opera), Aeneas in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas (Royal Melbourne Philharmonic/Peninsula summer music festival), and Hyllus in Handel’s Hercules (Canberra, Handel in the Theatre).
Jacob is a highly sought after consort singer and soloist, and is extremely passionate about music of the Medieval and Renaissance eras. He appears regularly in concert with groups such as Vox Luminis, Profeti della Quinta, Ensemble Correspondances, La Cetra Basel, Le Miroir de Musique, and Ensemble Leones. He also collaborates regularly with Elam Rotem and Early Music Sources.
In 2020, Jacob was the winner of the Schloss Weissenbrunn Competition for Historical Improvisation, and a prize winner in the Cesti International Singing Competition for Baroque Opera.