Described by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution as a dignified and beautiful singer, bass-baritone Paul Max Tipton performs and records in opera, concert, and chamber music throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. In 2023-2024 he debuted at Seattle Symphony in Bach’s St. John Passion as Christus, returned to Tokyo for Handel’s Messiah with Bach Collegium Japan, and sang the role of Jupiter in John Eccles’ Semele with American Baroque Opera, being called “gloriously godly” by Scott Cantrell at the Dallas Morning News.
Recent seasons include Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with Bach Collegium Japan and Masato Suzuki for a debut in Tokyo, covering the title role in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro at Handel and Haydn Society under Raphaël Pichon, Haydn’s Creation with Pacific Symphony and Robert Istad, Christus in Bach’s St. Matthew Passion for a debut at Spoleto Festival USA, the role of Street Singer in Bernstein’s Mass in a collaboration between Austin Opera & Austin Symphony Orchestra under Peter Bay, the role of Archibald Grosvenor in Gilbert & Sullivan’s Patience with Odyssey Opera & Gil Rose, and Plutone in Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo with Göteborg Baroque, in addition to regular collaborations with Conspirare, Washington Bach Consort, True Concord, Kinnara, and Tenet Vocal Artists. Recent recordings include the role of Christus in Bach’s St. John Passion and the Mass in B Minor with Cantata Collective and Nic McGegan for Avie Records, the role of Phoebus in Bach’s Cantata No. 201, Geschwinde, ihr wirbelnden Winde with Dana Marsh & the Washington Bach Consort for the Acis label, and solo bass cantatas by Nicolaus Bruhns with Masaki Suzuki at Yale Institute of Sacred Music for BIS Records, along with several releases with Cut Circle & Jesse Rodin for Musique en Wallonie.
Mr. Tipton trained on full fellowship at the University of Michigan School of Music in Ann Arbor, being mentored by mezzo-soprano Luretta Bybee, tenor George Shirley, and collaborative pianist Martin Katz. He is a 2010 graduate of the Yale University Institute of Sacred Music in Oratorio & Early Music, studying with tenor James Taylor. In 2012 he was made a Lorraine Hunt Lieberson Fellow at Emmanuel Music in Boston. Mr. Tipton resides in New York City. www.paulmaxtipton.com
