John Hudson studied singing at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

In 1992, he spent a year with the chorus of Welsh National Opera and in 1993 was offered a principal contract with English National Opera for whom he made his acclaimed début as Macduff (Macbeth). There, he  sung the roles of Rodolfo (La Bohème), Ottavio (Don Giovanni), Alfredo (La Traviata - production by Jonathan Millar), des Grieux (Manon), Leicester (Mary Stuart) and Licinius (La Vestale), Nadir (The Pearl Fishers), Ernesto (Don Pasquale), Steersman (The Flying Dutchman), Tamino (Magic Flute), Duke (Rigoletto), the title role in Ernani, Pinkerton (Madam Butterfly), Don José (Carmen), Turiddu (Cavalleria Rusticana), Cavaradossi (Tosca) and Radames (Aida).

He returned to WNO to sing Alfredo, Don José and concert performances of extracts from Madam Butterfly.  In 1999 he made his debut with Scottish Opera singing Rodolfo. He returned for Don José,  Manrico (Il Trovatore), Duke (Rigoletto), Radames (Aida) and Cavaradossi.  He has sung Turiddu and Don José at the Royal Albert Hall for Raymond Gubbay Productions, as well as the role of Don Jose in their recent production of Carmen at the o2 Arena, Rodolfo, Dick Johnson (La fanciulla del West) and Pollione (Norma) for Grange Park Opera, Turridu for Dorset Opera and the title role of Andrea Chénier for Opera Holland Park. 

 

 

Abroad, he has sung Alfredo for Auckland Opera in New Zealand, the title role of Ernani and Jacapo Foscari (I due foscari) for the Nationale Reisopera in the Netherlands, Don José for West Australian Opera in Perth, and Aben (La Dona Branca) for Lisbon National Opera. Last year he toured in the eponymous role of Puccini’s Edgar.

He has made concert appearances all over the world.  He also appeared on BBC 2's television programme Viva la Diva with Lesley Garrett. He took part in the 50th birthday celebration for the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace. He has recently completed performing the role of Erik in The Flying Dutchman for Dorset Opera. Future engagements include various concerts and a tour of West Europe.

"This is where John Hudson's Cavaradossi scored so strongly. At the great climaxes his upper register rang out with a thrilling quality, and in the score's lyrical sections he shaped his line with flair. He was also more deeply inside the role than before as an actor, moving and responding with purposeful intelligence"  Opera Magazine

"John Hudson is someone we should keep quiet about lest we lose him: His tenor is now heroic in scale yet full and liquid of timbre...it is a long time since I have heard Manrico so beautifully sung" The Times