Michael Spyres

Michael Spyres is an American operatic baritenor.[1][2] He is particularly associated with the bel canto repertoire, especially the works of Rossini, and heroic roles in French grand opera.

Biography

Michael Spyres was born in 1979 in Missouri, US, and studied singing at the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, Austria.[3] He won acclaim and international recognition for his performance in the title role of Rossini's Otello at the Rossini in Wildbad festival in Germany in 2008.[4] He made his debut at La Scala, Milan, in Rossini's Il viaggio a Reims in 2009 [3] and appeared the same year in the demanding leading role of Raoul in Meyerbeer's Les Huguenots at Bard SummerScape in New York.[5] Since then, his career has taken him to the Royal Opera House, London, in the title role of Mozart's Mitridate, re di Ponto,[3] to the Teatro Comunale, Bologna and La Monnaie, Brussels, as Arnold in Rossini's Guillaume Tell,[6] to Opéra National de Bordeaux for the title role in Berlioz' La damnation de Faust[7] and to the Liceu, Barcelona, in the title role of Offenbach's Les contes d'Hoffmann,[8] among many other engagements both in concerts and staged operas.[9] Spyres won widespread praise for his performance of the role of Vasco da Gama in Meyerbeer's L'Africaine at the Oper Frankfurt in 2018.[10] He sang the title role in a new production of Adam's Le postillon de Lonjumeau at the Opéra-Comique in Paris in March 2019.[11] Spyres made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera, New York, in a concert performance of La damnation de Faust as Faust in 2020.[12]

His many recordings include Berlioz's Les Troyens (title role of Énée), Requiem, the song cycle Les nuits d'été, La damnation de Faust, Rossini's Otello, Guillaume Tell and Le siège de Corinthe for Naxos Records, Les Huguenots for American Symphony Orchestra and the solo albums Espoir for Opera Rara, Baritenor for Erato.[13]

Spyres is the artistic director of Ozarks Lyric Opera (formerly Springfield Regional Opera) in Springfield, Missouri.[14]

Selected recordings

Complete operas

Orchestral works

Recitals

References
  1. Joshua Barone (8 September 2022). "Review: A Singer's Immense Sound Engulfs a Recital Room". The New York Times.
  2. Mark Pullinger (2021). "Michael Spyres: Baritenor". Gramophone (review of album Baritenor, Erato 9029515666).
  3. "Michael Spyres — People — Royal Opera House". www.roh.org.uk. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  4. "Rossini Otello – NAXOS 8.660275-76 [RH]: Classical Music Reviews – June 2010". www.musicweb-international.com. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  5. "Les Huguenots at Bard SummerScape 2009". www.operatoday.com. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  6. "Guillaume Tell, Rossini. Brussels". Opera World (in European Spanish). 12 March 2014. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  7. "La Damnation de Faust à l'Auditorium de Bordeaux – Un sauveur nommé Spyres – Compte-rendu". Concertclassic (in French). 23 February 2015. Retrieved 2 November 2018.
  8. "Les Contes d'Hoffmann (Michael Spyres – Liceu) – Jacques Offenbach – Critique DVD". Tutti-magazine (in French).
  9. "Bio". Michael Spyres – Baritenor.
  10. "Meyerbeers Oper L`Africaine in Frankfurt". faustkultur.de (in German).
  11. Brodie, Susan. "Old French Delight Is Polished Anew By Opéra Comique". Classical Voice North America. Retrieved 25 April 2019.
  12. Zachary Woolfe (26 January 2020). "Dear Met Opera: Please, More Concerts Like This Berlioz". The New York Times.
  13. "Recordings". Michael Spyres – Baritenor.
  14. "Artistic Staff – Artistic Director". Ozarks Lyric Opera. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
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