About
American baritone Ben Kazez’s love for languages, harmony, and counterpoint has led to a career in Europe and the U.S.
Ben’s 2023–24 includes Pilatus in Bach’s St Matthew Passion with Netherlands Bach Society, stepout solos in Bach Cantata 46 ‘Schauet doch’ on a radio broadcast from Thomaskirche, Kuhnau Magnificat solos at Musikfest Bremen, Italian polyphony at Rome’s Palazzo Altemps, Herod in Bach’s Christmas Oratorio with Vox Luminis, and solo quartets with Vox Luminis in Zelenka’s Missa Paschalis for television broadcast on ARTE.
Ben has performed as a soloist under William Christie, Masato Suzuki, Václav Luks, Christian Curnyn, Andrea de Carlo, and Lionel Meunier. Highlights include Bach and Handel solos at Barcelona’s Petit Palau de la Musica Catalana, Charpentier opera scenes and leçon de ténèbres in Les Arts Flo Masterclasses with William Christie, and Buxtehude at the London Handel Festival. Ben’s repertoire includes J.S. Bach’s major bass roles and 40 cantatas, Charpentier masses, Monteverdi Vespers, Schubert and Schumann song cyles, French chansons, Haydn’s Creation, and requiems of Mozart, Brahms, and Fauré.
In addition to his solo work, Ben sings regularly in ensembles such as the Monteverdi Choir, Netherlands Bach Society, Vox Luminis, Ghislieri, Les Epopées, and Accentus. Highlights include Monteverdi Vespers at Chapelle Royale de Versailles, Monteverdi operas at the Salzburg Festival and La Fenice (released on DVD for Opus Arte), and Berlioz operas at Royal Albert Hall for the BBC Proms. In 2024 he will join Ensemble Correspondances for Charpentier’s David et Jonathas.
Ben’s enthusiasm for under-recognized vocal music inspired him to create VMII, a searchable catalogue of vocal music. The site won the REMA New Technology Prize and now helps 250,000 people each year to discover early vocal music.
Ben grew up in Ohio singing and programming computers. He initially created award-winning language and travel apps while studying singing on the side. After earning his master’s from London’s Guildhall School in 2018, Ben became a Britten–Pears Young Artist and was awarded the Salvat Bach Grant. He has trained with Dame Emma Kirkby, Max van Egmond, Dame Sarah Connolly, Yvonne Kenny, and Martin Katz. Ben speaks French, Italian, and his native English.