Countertenor Russell Harcourt is a graduate of both the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where he is now a member of the vocal faculty, and the Royal Academy of Music (MA with Distinction in Opera Performance). During his time in London, Russell furthered his studies with Yvonne Kenny, was an Associate of the Jette Parker Young Artists’ Program at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, studied part-time at the National Opera Studio, and was made an Alumnus of the Britten–Pears Young Artist Program.
Russell starts his year in the role of Mantacore (Siegfried and Roy:The Unauthorised Opera) for Sydney Festival. His concert performances will include appearances at the Canowindra Baroque Festival.
2024 saw Russell Harcourt give two major company debuts: with Opera Australia as Rosenkrantz (Hamlet: Dean) and with West Australian Opera in the title role of Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice. He also returned to the Bach Akademie Australia in performances which included the Bach solo cantata No. 170: “Vergnügte Ruh”.
Russell’s most recent engagements include the role of Andronico (Giustino) for Pinchgut Opera; Micah (Samson) and Haydn Nelson Mass with Sydney Philharmonia Choirs; The Marias Project at Blackheath Chamber Music Festival; a series of concerts with the Bach Akademie Australia; Ruggiero (Alcina) with National Opera Canberra; and Messiah with Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. He has also participated in a series of concerts with Sara Macliver for the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra; performed Evanco (Rodrigo) for the Gőttingen International Handel Festival; Roberto (Griselda) for Irish National Opera; Sesto (Julius Caesar) for Bury Court Opera; Megabise (Artaxerxes), Andronico (Bajazet) and Corrado (Griselda) all for Pinchgut Opera; John Adams’ Gospel According to the Other Mary at Bonn Opera; Schnittke’s Faust Cantata; Recitals with the Lithuanian National Philharmonic; Bach B minor Mass with Florilegium; Pisandro (Return of Ulysses) for Iford Arts Festival; Narciso (Agrippina) and a concert tour of works by Vivaldi, for English Touring Opera, and covered the roles of David (Saul) and Rosencrantz for Glyndebourne Festival & Glyndebourne on Tour. He also stepped in at short notice to perform the title role in Handel’s Oreste for the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden at Wilton’s Music Hall.
Russell made his operatic début in 2007 as Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), and his Australian concert début in 2009 as a guest artist at the Australian Festival of Chamber Music. For Brisbane Baroque, Russell appeared in the role of Nerone in the Australian Premiere of the Göttingen International Handel Festival’s production of Agrippina (for which he received a Helpmann Award nomination as Best Male Performer in a Supporting Role in opera) and in concert in The Art of the Countertenor. He has also appeared as soloist in Vanguard with the Australian Ballet, and Messiah under Richard Gill with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra in Wellington.
Prizes and scholarships include The Sir Robert Askin Travelling Scholarship, Tait Memorial Trust Grant, Australian Music Foundation Award, Ian Potter Cultural Trust Grant, The Marten Bequest Travelling Scholarship, and an Australia Council Grant.