Biography

Dutch bass-baritone Berend Stumphius started his musical career as a cellist and conductor, but decided to switch to singing during the covid pandemic. In 2023, he debuted as a soloist at Dutch National Opera (replacing Misha Kiria on short notice as Napoleon in Alexander Raskatovs Animal Farm) and Opera Zuid (as Huub and Piet in their adaptation of Mozarts Der Schauspieldirektor). Other full roles he sang on stage include Figaro (Le Nozze di Figaro), Papageno (Die Zauberflöte), the bass roles in King Arthur and Ben (The Telephone). Next to singing these roles, he frequently worked as a freelance singer with the choruses of Dutch National Opera and the Wiener Staatsoper, he is active as an oratorio soloist (this season amongst others Carmina Burana, the requiems of Brahms, Fauré, Mozart and Duruflé, and the passions of Bach) and he forms a Lied duo with Dutch pianist Duco Burgers.

Since his first steps as a singer, Berends main coaches have been Annegeer Stumphius (his aunt) and Steve Sweetland. At the moment Berend receives regular lessons with Chelsea Bonagura. Other teachers who contributed to his development are Markus Eiche, Henny Diemer and Albert Pesendorfer. Away from singing, Berend is still an active chamber musician and conductor, and he leads a yearly chamber music course where some 140 young musicians participate.