Pelham Andrews, bass

Pelham Andrews is an acclaimed classical Bass singer who calls South Australia home. He trained in Europe and Australia and has been a principal artist for major opera companies and orchestras in Australia, New Zealand and the UK. Known for his versatility and characterisation, Pelham is most often seen performing in opera, but he is also a dedicated interpreter of concert and song repertoire from the 16th to the 21st centuries.

Some of Pelham’s performing highlights include for State Opera South Australia: Raimondo (Lucia di Lammermoor), Banquo (Macbeth), Bartolo (Marriage of Figaro), Judd/Bonner (Voss), Nourabad (Pearl Fishers), Padre Guardiano (Forza del Destino), Colline (Boheme), Mikado (Mikado), and Bhaer (Little Women – Australian Premiere). For the Adelaide Festival of Arts: Bass soloist in Verdi’s Requiem with the Zurich Ballet, Soloist (A Child of Our Time), Japanese Envoy (Nightingale) and Snug (A Midsummer Night’s Dream). For Opera Australia: Timur (Turandot), Sparafucile (Rigoletto), Lodovico (Otello) and Farfarello (Love for Three Oranges). For Auckland Philharmonia: Commendatore (Don Giovanni), King (Aida), and Geronte (Manon Lescaut). Don Fernando (Fidelio) for Sydney Symphony, Faure’s Requiem for Adelaide Symphony, and the Cantatas of J.S.Bach for the Adelaide Cantata Band and Baroque ensembles.

Pelham is committed to the presentation of contemporary musical works that speak of contemporary questions. He originated the bass roles in the Adelaide Festival’s premiere of Watershed – The Death of Dr Duncan by Twist, Valentine and Tsiolkas, and reprised the production for Opera Australia in 2024. Also in 2024, with Penelope Cashman and Celia Craig, Pelham premiered the chamber song-cycle As the Universe Expands by Glyn Lehmann.