Darryl Taylor is a trailblazing countertenor renowned for his captivating performances and exceptional vocal talent. His performances effortlessly traverse genres, from Baroque to contemporary, showcasing his versatility and depth as an artist.
Taylor has appeared with recitalists and with orchestras in the United States, Europe, Cuba, and China. These include Or feo Català, Musica Angelica Orchestra, Santa Monica Chamber Orchestra, Brooklyn Chamber Orchestra, Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Bernardino Symphony, Bakersfield Symphony, Lyra Baroque Orchestra, Bach Collegium San Diego, the Johann Strauss Sinfonietta of Vienna, the W.A. Mozart Philharmonic of Cluj, Romania, Camerata Mediterania of Barcelona, and the Aspen Music Festival (Young Artists Series), under the batons of conductors Andreas Mitisek, Anthony Parnther, Martin Hasselböck, Jory Vinikour, Phil Nuzzo, Conxita Garcia, Cristian Florea, Gert Meditz, Gustav Meier, Richard Rosenberg, James Vail, Rebecca Burkhardt, and Bruce Nehring.
Among his operatic credits is the premier of the jazzopera by Nathan Davis, Just Above My Head, on the novel by James Baldwin (role of Jimmy), lead roles in operas by Glass, Purcell, Gluck, Mozart, Verdi, Handel, Britten, and Gershwin. Performance highlights include singing the heroic role of Orfeo in Gluck’s Orfeo ed Eurydice for De Utrechtse Spelen at Paleis Soestdijk (Holland) before 70,000 spectators; the title role in Phillip Glass; Akhnaten for Long Beach Opera (a role he learned with a week’s notice prior to performance); Second Witch in Dido and Aeneus for L.A. Opera; Pergolesi and Vivaldi Stabat Mater’s with Lyra Baroque Orchestra of St. Paul MN; performances with the Carmel Bach Festival; the Bach Collegium San Diego under Richard Egarr. Taylor’s international itinerary includes extensive tours of Spain, China, and Cuba, singing to enthusiastic, capacity audiences.
His recitals have regularly introduced audiences to works of an expansive range of composers, with many of these works written especially for Taylor’s voice.
Taylor has sung and recorded as soloist with some of the world’s most esteemed preservers of Spirituals, including the Albert McNeil Jubilee Singers, the Moses Hogan Chorale, Brazeal Dennard Chorale, and the American Spiritual Ensemble. Giving additional depth to his singing experience is his connection to Gospel via performance with legends Donald Vails, James Cleveland, Thomas Whitfield, and Larry Robinson.
A native of Detroit MI, Darryl Taylor holds degrees from the University of Southern California and the University of Michigan.
Albums
Dear Friends & Gentle Hearts
Catalog Number: TROY1990
DEAR FRIENDS & GENTLE HEARTS from Albany Records celebrates the decades-long friendship and shared mission of Louise Toppin and Darryl Taylor in promoting classical vocal music by Black composers. United by a common goal since their formative years at the University of Michigan and Aspen Music School, they have long championed underrepresented works through Toppin’s Videmus and Taylor’s African American Art Song Alliance.
This album, their first duet recording, features compositions by Black composers across generations, reflecting on cultural and societal issues. Many pieces were commissioned for or dedicated to the artists, highlighting their deep connections with the composers.