Biography

William Shimell (born Brentwood, Essex, 23 September 1952) is an English baritone who has had an active international career performing in opera and on the concert platform since the 1980s, and more recently has appeared in non-singing roles in films. Shimell studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and at the National Opera Studio. For his student performance at the Guildhall the Opera critic noted "William Shimells's Figaro stood out from all the others. His is a rich, full-toned baritone voice, and he used it to great musical and dramatic effect. " He joined the chorus of Kent Opera in 1978 and sang an usher in Rigoletto with them in 1980 and Venus and Adonis in the UK and Venice.