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Charismatic baritone Brian Major consistently garners praise from critics, celebrated for his enchanting "velvety voice" and commanding stage presence.
In the 2024 - 2025 season, Major will debut in the title role of Nabucco with Teatro Municipal de São Paulo. He will also perform Amonasro in Aida with the Boston Lyric Opera, return to the Metropolitan Opera as the Watchman in Die Frau ohne Schatten and Gardiner in Moby-Dick. With Opera Columbus he’ll revisit the role of Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro and perform Carmina Burana with the Bucks County Choral Society. Ending the season, he covers Wotan in Die Walküre and the title role of Rigoletto with The Santa Fe Opera.
Last season, he was at the Metropolitan Opera covering the role of Malcolm X in X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X. His schedule included debuts with Opera Roanoke as Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro, Marcello in La bohème with Florentine Opera, a concert debut with the esteemed Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Amonasro in Aida with Opera Maine. He also was a guest artist at the Summer Music Festival at Colorado College, where he performed Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9.
Previous performances include a notable debut as Ford in Verdi’s Falstaff with Maryland Lyric Opera. At The Metropolitan Opera, he debuted as Baron Douphol in La Traviata and covered Benny “Kid” Paret in Champion and Scarpia in Tosca with The Santa Fe Opera. He also debuted as Scarpia in Tosca with Opera Columbus and portrayed Taylor in the world premiere of Undying Love with Hearing in Color in Chicago. His return to Sarasota Opera as Ezio in Attila and his Boston Lyric Opera debut as Emile Griffith in Champion solidified his reputation as a versatile and accomplished artist. His performances continued with Amonasro in Aida with Opera Carolina and Schaunard in La Bohème with the Columbus Symphony. Additionally, he debuted with the Schenectady Symphony Orchestra as Don Giovanni and made noteworthy appearances at Carnegie Hall with MidAmerica Productions. He also joined Cincinnati Opera, covering Castor in the world premiere of Castor and Patience by Gregory Spears and Tracy K. Smith.
Additional appearances included the Princeton Festival for an Opera Gala and Opera Delaware for a concert of Shakespeare and a Studio Recital. He returned to Opera Grand Rapids as Gary in Douglas Pew’s Penny and participated in a filmed recital of Kurt Weill songs with Lyric Fest. Mr. Major has performed with Madison Opera for their production of La traviata as Baron Douphol and covered the role of Germont. Performances with Toledo Opera as Marcello in La bohème, a South American debut as Amonasro in Aida with Teatro Municipal de São Paulo, and a Princeton Festival debut as Germont in La traviata. He had a memorable turn in the title role of Gianni Schicchi, a recital for the Shivers Concert Series, and a performance of Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem with the Summer Music Festival at Colorado College.
Other notable credits include his debut with Opera Columbus and the Columbus Symphony Orchestra in a collaborative production of Aida, where he portrayed the role of Amonasro. His rendition of Kirke Mechem’s Songs of the Slave at Boston Symphony Hall was met with enthusiastic acclaim and a celebrated debut with Opera Theatre of the Rockies as Amonasro earning praise for his "honey-filled voice capable of organic, dramatic expression."
Beyond his operatic achievements, Mr. Major excels as a recitalist and concert artist. He has showcased his baritone soloist talents in Handel’s Messiah, Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical Songs, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Orff’s Carmina Burana, and Mendelssohn’s Elijah, among other notable works.
Major's excellence has been recognized on the competition circuit, earning him prestigious awards such as the 2022 Sullivan Foundation Award, 2nd Prize at the Harold Haugh Opera Vocal Competition, 1st prize at the Opera Ebony Vocal Competition, 3rd prize at the Annapolis Opera Vocal Competition, 2nd prize at the Opera at San Nicola Vocal Competition, 1st prize at Harlem Opera Theater’s Vocal Competition, 1st prize at the Atlanta Music Club Vocal Competition, and an Encouragement Prize at the Palm Beach Atlantic Vocal Competition. Mr. Major holds degrees from Morehouse College, Boston University, and Michigan State University.
In the 2024 - 2025 season, Major will debut in the title role of Nabucco with Teatro Municipal de São Paulo. He will also perform Amonasro in Aida with the Boston Lyric Opera, return to the Metropolitan Opera as the Watchman in Die Frau ohne Schatten and Gardiner in Moby-Dick. With Opera Columbus he’ll revisit the role of Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro and perform Carmina Burana with the Bucks County Choral Society. Ending the season, he covers Wotan in Die Walküre and the title role of Rigoletto with The Santa Fe Opera.
Last season, he was at the Metropolitan Opera covering the role of Malcolm X in X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X. His schedule included debuts with Opera Roanoke as Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro, Marcello in La bohème with Florentine Opera, a concert debut with the esteemed Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Amonasro in Aida with Opera Maine. He also was a guest artist at the Summer Music Festival at Colorado College, where he performed Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9.
Previous performances include a notable debut as Ford in Verdi’s Falstaff with Maryland Lyric Opera. At The Metropolitan Opera, he debuted as Baron Douphol in La Traviata and covered Benny “Kid” Paret in Champion and Scarpia in Tosca with The Santa Fe Opera. He also debuted as Scarpia in Tosca with Opera Columbus and portrayed Taylor in the world premiere of Undying Love with Hearing in Color in Chicago. His return to Sarasota Opera as Ezio in Attila and his Boston Lyric Opera debut as Emile Griffith in Champion solidified his reputation as a versatile and accomplished artist. His performances continued with Amonasro in Aida with Opera Carolina and Schaunard in La Bohème with the Columbus Symphony. Additionally, he debuted with the Schenectady Symphony Orchestra as Don Giovanni and made noteworthy appearances at Carnegie Hall with MidAmerica Productions. He also joined Cincinnati Opera, covering Castor in the world premiere of Castor and Patience by Gregory Spears and Tracy K. Smith.
Additional appearances included the Princeton Festival for an Opera Gala and Opera Delaware for a concert of Shakespeare and a Studio Recital. He returned to Opera Grand Rapids as Gary in Douglas Pew’s Penny and participated in a filmed recital of Kurt Weill songs with Lyric Fest. Mr. Major has performed with Madison Opera for their production of La traviata as Baron Douphol and covered the role of Germont. Performances with Toledo Opera as Marcello in La bohème, a South American debut as Amonasro in Aida with Teatro Municipal de São Paulo, and a Princeton Festival debut as Germont in La traviata. He had a memorable turn in the title role of Gianni Schicchi, a recital for the Shivers Concert Series, and a performance of Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem with the Summer Music Festival at Colorado College.
Other notable credits include his debut with Opera Columbus and the Columbus Symphony Orchestra in a collaborative production of Aida, where he portrayed the role of Amonasro. His rendition of Kirke Mechem’s Songs of the Slave at Boston Symphony Hall was met with enthusiastic acclaim and a celebrated debut with Opera Theatre of the Rockies as Amonasro earning praise for his "honey-filled voice capable of organic, dramatic expression."
Beyond his operatic achievements, Mr. Major excels as a recitalist and concert artist. He has showcased his baritone soloist talents in Handel’s Messiah, Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical Songs, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Orff’s Carmina Burana, and Mendelssohn’s Elijah, among other notable works.
Major's excellence has been recognized on the competition circuit, earning him prestigious awards such as the 2022 Sullivan Foundation Award, 2nd Prize at the Harold Haugh Opera Vocal Competition, 1st prize at the Opera Ebony Vocal Competition, 3rd prize at the Annapolis Opera Vocal Competition, 2nd prize at the Opera at San Nicola Vocal Competition, 1st prize at Harlem Opera Theater’s Vocal Competition, 1st prize at the Atlanta Music Club Vocal Competition, and an Encouragement Prize at the Palm Beach Atlantic Vocal Competition. Mr. Major holds degrees from Morehouse College, Boston University, and Michigan State University.
Brian Major © 2024