The Swedish bass John Sax studied as a baritone with Kerstin Meyer CBE at the University College of Opera in Stockholm followed by studies at the Mozart Foundation in Prague. He won a number of Awards and Scholarships including a Scholarship from the Royal Swedish Academy of Music. He speaks Swedish, Norwegian, English, German, French and Italian.

John Sax made his operatic debut in the role of Melibéo in Haydn’s La fe Drottningholm Court Theatre.  He has sung at all the major opera houses in Sweden and appeared on many occasions at both the Royal Swedish Opera, Stockholm and Gothenburg Opera.  His roles have included Count Robinson Il matrimonio segréto (Cimarosa), Colas Bastien e Bastienne (Mozart), Masino La vera Costanza (Haydn), Bertarido Rodalinda, Macrobio La pietra del paragone (Rossini),

Le geôlier et 2eme Commissaire Les Dialogues des Carmelites, the title role in Eugene Onegin, Il Conte Le nozze di Figaro, Morales and Dancairo Carmen, Schaunard, Marcello La Bohème, Smirnov The Bear, Mr Gedge Albert Herring, and Hans Comedy on the Bridge (Martinů). He appeared as Dr Falke Die Fledermaus at the Wiener Kammeroper.

John Sax has also performed a number of contemporary roles amongst which are The Prince Rapunzel (L Harrison) at Oper der Stadt Bonn, Jim O’Connor The Glass Menagerie (A Bibalo) for The Norwegian National Opera and Opera Vest, Paver Friend Harry Persson (Lars-Åke Franke-Blom), Erik Swells (Daniel Börtz) Royal Swedish Opera, The Smith The Sleeping City (G Riedel) at the Stockholm City Theatre, the title role Signor Deluso (Pasatieri) and The Uncle Tintomara (L J Werie).

John Sax has a busy concert diary and amongst his repertoire are; Mozart Requiem, Verdi Requiem,

St John Passion by Bach and Messiah by Handel.

John Sax gives regular lieder recitals and has performed a number of song cycles such as Die Winterreise (Schubert); Dichterliebe, Liderkreis Kerner Lieder Op 35 (R Schumann); Des Knaben Wunderhorn and Sieben Lieder aus letzter Zeit (Mahler); Vier ernste Gesänge (Brahms) and King Erik’s Songs (T Rangström). He has recorded a CD of Schubert’s Winterreise for Sterling. In recital he has performed with the pianists Craig Rutenberg and Viktor Åslund.

Recently John Sax has moved into the bass repertoire and appeared at the Gothenburg Opera as Angelotti in Tosca, Truffaldin in Ariadne auf Naxos, Colline in La Bohème at the Opera in Kristiansund and as Basilio in Il Barbiere di Siviglia.

In 2021 John will sing the role as Masetto in Don Giovanni at Norrlandsoperan.

Jan 2021