Australian tenor and composer David Hobson is one of Australia’s best known operatic and recording artists. David began his career with the Victorian State Opera in 1984 and has a long association with the Victorian Opera.
He has sung many roles for both Australian and international opera companies, including his award-winning performances of Rodolfo (La bohème) and the title role in Orphée. His numerous other roles include: Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni), Ferrando (Cosi fan Tutte), Count Almaviva (The Barber of Seville), Nadir (The Pearl Fishers), Lindoro (L’Italiana in Algeri), Frederic (The Pirates of Penzance), The Architect (in the world premiere of The Eighth Wonder), Eisenstein (Die Fledermaus), Lewis Carroll (Through The Looking Glass), Nemorino (The Elixir Of Love), the title role in Candide, Danilo (The Merry Widow) and Aristaeus/Pluto (Orpheus in the Underworld).
In the world of music theatre, David has played the roles of Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Buddy in Sondheim’s Follies and Nicky Arnstein in Funny Girl.
Special engagements include appearing with the San Francisco Opera in the world premiere of Dangerous Liaison, a performance in the Great Hall, Canberra, for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, Schubert’s Winterreise for the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and singing the National Anthem at the AFL Grand Final. David has performed his solo show, at the Sydney Opera House and at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, and toured nationally with Marina Prior, Lisa McCune, Yvonne Kenney, Teddy Tahu Rhodes and, more recently, his close friend Colin Lane.
He is also well known from his appearances on Carols by Candlelight, Carols in the Domain, Spicks and Specks, It Takes Two, Dancing with the Stars and as a presenter on the Foxtel’s Arts channel, STVDIO.
David has recorded numerous albums, with many reaching No 1 chart status. He has also won awards including Operatic Performer of the Year, the Sydney Critics Circle Award, The Age Performing Arts Award for Best Performer in Opera and an Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA) Award.
Later in 2025, David will play the dual roles of Lewis Carroll and Rev. Charles Dodgson in the Victorian Opera’s production of Boojum!
