Highly in demand on prestigious stages around the world, Irish-born, Canadian-raised tenor Michael Colvin has garnered critical acclaim for appearances as Duke of Cornwall in new productions of Reimann’s Lear at Opéra National de Paris, Teatro Maggio Musicale di Fiorentino and Salzburg Festival; Monostatos Die Zauberflöte, Bardolfo Falstaff and Rodolphe in a new production of Guillaume Tell at Royal Opera House, Covent Garden; The Witch Hansel and Gretel and Monostatos Die Zauberflöte at the Canadian Opera Company; Herod Salome, Bob Boles Peter Grimes, and Painter/Second Client in William Kentridge’s acclaimed production of Lulu for English National Opera.
Following on heals of a successful return to the 2023 Salzburg Festival as Bardolfo Falstaff, Michael’s 2023/24 season begins with a highly anticipated company debut at Milan’s Teatro alla Scala in one of his signature roles: Bob Boles in Robert Carsen’s new production of Peter Grimes conducted by Simone Young. Other highlights of the season include his debut at Madrid’s Teatro Real in Reimann’s Lear and his Hamburg Opera debut as Arturo Lucia di Lammermoor.
The 2022/23 season marked a return to Opéra National de Paris for Monostatos in Robert Carsen’s Die Zauberflöte and Spoletta Tosca under the baton of Gustavo Dudamel. He also appeared with the hometown Canadian Opera Company as Basilio Le Nozze di Figaro, Second Jew/Herodes cover Salome and Spoletta Tosca. Other recent highlights include Monostatos at both the Royal Opera House and the Canadian Opera Company and Don Basilio Le Nozze di Figaro at the Opéra National de Paris, also conducted by Gustavo Dudamel.
Closely associated with English National Opera, Michael’s many appearances with the company include Herod in a new production of Salome; Arturo in David Alden’s production of Lucia di Lammermoor; Painter/Second Client Lulu; Flute A Midsummer Night’s Dream; Peter Quint The Turn of the Screw under the baton of the late Sir Charles Mackerras and the title role in Peter Grimes conducted by Edward Gardner.
At home in Canada he has been seen as Dr Caius Falstaff; Basilio Le Nozze di Figaro and the Witch Hansel and Gretel, all with Canadian Opera Company. Other engagements include Cornwall in Reimann’s Lear at Opéra National de Paris and Teatro Maggio Musicale di Fiorentino; Laios in Enescu’s Oedipe and Cornwall Lear at the Salzburg Festival; Rodolphe Guillaume Tell and Bardolfo Falstaff at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden; L’Aumonier Dialogues des Carmélites for Dutch National Opera; and Jaquino Fidelio with Le Cercle de l’Harmonie in Lyon and Paris. A fine Britten interpreter, he has performed to great acclaim the role of Bob Boles Peter Grimes at English National Opera; the Enescu Festival; Opera de Oviedo; Vlaamse Opera; with the London Philharmonic Orchestra under Vladimir Jurowski; and Accademia di Santa Cecilia and Sir Antonio Pappano.
Recent concert engagements include Shepherd Oedipus Rex at the Edinburgh International Festival; a recital with Scottish Opera as part of their Sir Walter Scott and Opera series; Beethoven Missa Solemnis for the Richard Eaton Singers of Edmonton; Mahler Das Lied von der Erde for Louisville Orchestra; Handel Messiah with National Arts Centre Orchestra in Ottawa, Seattle Symphony, Vancouver Symphony and Toronto Symphony Orchestra; Haydn Creation with New Mexico Symphony; Schubert Mass in A Flat at Festival Vancouver; Beethoven Symphony No.9 with Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, and l’Orchestre Symphonique de Quebec; Elgar Dream of Gerontius; Haydn Die Schöpfung and Verdi Requiem for the Elora Festival.