Donald Maxwell was born in Perth, Scotland. After graduating he studied singing with Joseph Hislop. He made his début with Scottish Opera in 1976 and has since sung with all major British Opera companies at the BBC Proms and abroad at La Scala, The Met., Vienna Staatsoper, Teatro Colón and Houston Grand Opera. He has a wide repertoire including Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus, Bottom in Midsummer Night’s Dream, Iago, Wozzeck, Rigoletto, Golaud, Faninal, Don Alfonso and Falstaff. Maxwell’s recordings include Sir John in Love, Noye’s Fludde, Kismet, Carmina Burana and several Gilbert and Sullivan operas. He was director of the National Opera Studio from 2001–2008 and has been closely associated with the Buxton Festival since its inception, directing Beautiful Galatea and Piminone.