Arts Global

Swiss-born baritone David-Alexandre Borloz first completed trumpet studies in Paris, France, before beginning his singing training with French soprano Elizabeth Vidal. He then moved to London where he was accepted at the presigious Guildhall School of Music and Drama. At Guildhall he completed a Masters degree in Music Performance and a two-year Opera Course with Janice Chapman. In summer 2005, he was invited to participate at the Aix-en-Provence academy with Terenza Berganza, Hans Sotin and G. Cachemaille, where he won the festival Friends' Prize.

Mr Borloz has performed many operatic roles, including Papageno (Die Zauberflöte) Antonio (Le nozze di Figaro), Morales (Carmen), Pistola (Falstaff), Black Bob (The Little Sweep, Britten), Junius (The Rape of Lucretia), Lothario (Mignon), Ramiro (L'heure espagnole), Franck (Die Fledermaus) and Truffaldino in the British premiere of Jonathan Dove's The Little Green Swallow. In 2006, he became a member of the ENVOL Ensemble at Lausanne Opera, where he has participated in five productions. In 2007, Mr Borloz made two important debuts: in Amélia al Ballo of Menotti at the Opéra Comique de Paris, and at the Avenches Festival in the 6000-seat Open Arena, where he successfully sang Amonasro in Aida.

Mr Borloz has won several prizes and awards in various competitions: First Prize in the Moudon Competition in Switzerland, and First Prize in the Léopold Bellan Competition in Paris. He was a finalist in the first International Swiss Singing Competition in Bern, and a finalist in the French National Auditions (CFPL) in Paris. He also received the Lutherhulme Prize in London and the Leenaards Foundation prize in Switzerland.

This year Mr Borloz performed in two productions with Lausanne Opera, as well as the baritone solo in Orff's Carmina Burana at the Stavinsky Auditorium in Montreux. Under the auspices of the Swiss Global Artistic Foundation, he sang in recitals at the Jours des Arts festival in Montreux and Christie's Auction House in London.

Upcoming engagements included Messa di Gloria of Puccini in Lausanne Cathedral, and his debut in the title role of Falsaff for Grange Park Opera in July. This production would have toured the United Kingdom in September and October. Plans for 2008-2009 included Verdi's La Traviata and Montsalvage's Gatto con Bottas in Lausanne, and Masetto in Giancarlo del Monaco's production of Don Giovanni for the Avenches Arena Festival.

Mr Borloz passed away in 2008.