The English bass, Michael Rippon, studied at Cambridge University from 1957 to 1960 and RAM in 1963. Michael Rippon sang Giannni Schicchi at Royal Academy of Music in 1962. His professional début was in 1963 in London as Nireno in George Frideric Handel's Giulio Cesare. He sang with WNO between 1967-1974, debuted as Bartolo in Le nozze di Figaro. He appeared at Glyndebourne in the years 1970-1973, debuted there as Armed Man in Die Zauberflöte. Michael Rippon is a fine exponent of solo roles in Belshazzar's Feast, 8 Songs for a Mad King, and Henze's El Cimarrón. He sang in the first performances of The Martyrdom of St Magnus (1977) and The Lighthouse (1980).