Philippe Rouillon

Career Trajectory

Philippe Rouillon's four-decade career exemplifies the classical European baritone trajectory: rigorous training at France's premier conservatories, early success at the Opéra national de Paris, and international breakthrough following his 1983 Rio de Janeiro Competition victory. From there, he built a reputation as one of the continent's most reliable interpreters of the dramatic baritone repertoire, commanding the great Verdi roles—Scarpia, Iago, Germont, Macbeth—alongside the French grand opéra tradition and the demanding Wagnerian parts. His artistic identity rests on vocal authority, dramatic intelligence, and the kind of stylistic versatility that has kept him active across Europe's major houses for generations.