He is one of the leading countertenors of the world.
He collaborated with the leading opera houses and concert halls of the world, he was the first countertenor in history who sang on the stage of Milan's La Scala. He took part in the historical performances of the Monteverdi opera series performed by Harnoncourt and Ponell at the Zurich Opera House. At the Salzburg Festival, he performed in the oratorios of Jephta and Saul by Handel, and in Monteverdi's Orfeo opera. He sang Oberon in Britten's Midsummer Night's Dream at the Cologne Opera and the title parts in the operas Admeto and Riccardo Primo by Handel at London's Royal Opera House Covent Garden. Especially for Paul Esswood, several opera parties were written, including the title role in Glass’ Akhenaten and the party of Death in Paradise Lost by Penderecki. His repertoire includes works by composers from Bach, Handel, Purcell, Monteverdi, Mozart, Haydn, Schubert and Schumann to works by Sznitke or Penderecki.
Using his extensive experience as a vocalist, he is also a great conductor.
Paul Esswood has made over one hundred and fifty disc recordings.
He is a professor of baroque interpretation and an Honorary Member of the Royal Academy of Music in London, he also runs masterclasses around the world.
