Pinchgut Patter with David Webb

November 2026

Welcome back to Pinchgut Patter, our monthly feature where we introduce the exceptional artists and creatives bringing our productions to life.

This month, we're delighted to have a chat with tenor David Webb who is making his Pinchgut Debut in Semele.

What have you recently been up to?

Before coming to Australia, I’d just finished at the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival. It was lovely to be at the heart of Sullivan’s music, promoting my album Sullivan Songs for Tenor and performing in HMS Pinafore and The Mikado. Both shows were warmly received, and I had a lot of fun. Then I took a much-needed holiday.

This is your first time visiting Australia. How have you been finding it so far?

I was meant to come here on a rugby tour when I was younger, but we couldn’t afford it, so this trip has been a long time coming. I’m having the best time. It’s such an outdoorsy place, and as someone who likes training and being active, I’ve loved the weather. The coffee is delicious, and working with Pinchgut has been a real joy. The rehearsal room is so much fun. I’m already trying to find a way to move to Sydney!

What are you most excited about with the upcoming production of Semele?

I’ve always wanted to work with Erin, having heard so much about his musicality and artistry. It’s been wonderful to see how he’s helped shape the role and the arias. I also saw Neil’s Hamlet at Glyndebourne, so I knew what he could create. Working with them both has been a pleasure. And having two close friends, Alex and Catherine, in the company makes it all the more special.

Is there a particular moment or piece of music you’re especially looking forward to performing?

Just before I come on, Alex sings “O Sleep, Why Dost Thou Leave Me?” It’s a beautiful, tender moment, and she sings it incredibly well. We’re hoping the audience can connect with the very human emotions in the story, even though the characters are gods. I’m also looking forward to singing “Where’er You Walk”—Handel’s best-known tenor aria. It’s a privilege to sing something so beloved, and I can’t wait to perform it with the orchestra and for an audience.

What’s your favourite way to spend a day off?

A gym session, a few pints of Guinness with my best friends, maybe a festival, and watching some sport. But really, it’s about being with the people I love. That’s my perfect day off.

Who inspired you to pursue music?

My mum inspired me from the very beginning. She gave me the chance to audition to be a chorister, and when it came to choosing a career, she told me to do what made me happy. Singing is what makes me happy, and I’m grateful for that every day.

What’s your favourite book?

It’s a tie between The Choice by Edith Eger and Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. They’re remarkable stories of resilience, and both remind me that even when we can’t control what happens, we can choose how we respond. That’s a lesson I find valuable in life and especially in singing and opera.

If you weren’t a singer, what would you be?

My mum always taught us to do what makes us happy. I’ve always wanted to sing, so I’m not sure what I’d be doing if I weren’t a singer. I’m just very proud that I get to call it my career.

What are some of your goals for the next few years?

I’d love to make music with as many people as possible, come back to Sydney for another Pinchgut production, and record a second album.

What’s something you’d love to learn?

I’d love to learn more languages. Language is such an incredible skill, and although my English and French are pretty good, I’d love to add a few more.

What’s your pre-show ritual?

I usually go to the gym to wake my body up, drink plenty of water and eat a good meal a few hours before the show. Then I take some time to relax, look over the show in my head and make sure I know what I’m doing and where I need to be for my colleagues. In the dressing room, I get myself psyched up, picture a good performance and then go out and give the audience what they paid for.

And finally, what’s your go-to coffee order?

Usually a cortado or a flat white, depending on the time of day.