Biography
Jean-Philippe Lafont is a French bass-baritone opera singer and actor. Born on 11 February 1951 in Toulouse, he studied in his native city and at the Opéra-Studio in Paris. He made his operatic debut as Papageno in Mozart's The Magic Flute in 1974.
Lafont has performed at major venues including the Opéra-Comique in Paris, La Scala, the Metropolitan Opera and the Royal Opera House. He is known for roles such as the four villains in The Tales of Hoffmann, Golaud in Pelléas et Mélisande and title roles in Falstaff, Rigoletto and Macbeth. His film appearances include Achille Papin in Babette's Feast (1987) and Dancaïre in Carmen (1984).
