Menu
Charismatic baritone Brian Major consistently garners praise from critics, celebrated for his enchanting "velvety voice" and commanding stage presence.
Major’s 2023-2024 season has his return to the Metropolitan Opera covering the role of Malcolm X in X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X. His schedule includes 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. Last season, he made a role debut as Ford in Verdi’s Falstaff with Maryland Lyric Opera and made a significant impact at The Metropolitan Opera, making his house debut as Baron Douphol in La traviata and covering Benny “Kid” Paret in Champion and Scarpia in Tosca with The Santa Fe Opera.
Mr. Major debuted as Scarpia in Tosca with Opera Columbus, Taylor in the world premiere of Undying Love with Hearing in Color in Chicago. His return to Sarasota Opera as Ezio in Atilla and Boston Lyric Opera debut as Emile Griffith in Champion further solidified his reputation as a versatile and accomplished artist. The season unfolded with a return to Opera Carolina as Amonasro in Aida and the Columbus Symphony for the role of Schaunard in La bohème. He debuted with the Schenectady Symphony Orchestra as the titular character in Don Giovanni, and noteworthy appearances at Carnegie Hall with MidAmerica Productions. He also joined Cincinnati Opera as the cover of 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 selections 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. The subsequent year saw his return to Toledo Opera as Marcello in La bohème, a South American debut as Amonasro in Aida with Teatro Municipal de São Paulo, and a slated Princeton Festival debut as Germont in La traviata (COVID19). Closing out that season was 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 Colorado College Summer Music Festival.
Noteworthy past season credits include Mr. Major's debut with Opera Columbus and the Columbus Symphony Orchestra in a collaborative production of Aida as Amonasro. Kirke Mechem’s Songs of the Slave in Boston Symphony Hall and a reprise of the role Amonasro in a debut with Opera Theatre of the Rockies in their twentieth-year celebration, where his voice was lauded as "honey-filled and capable of organic, dramatic expression."
In addition to his operatic accomplishments, Mr. Major is an accomplished recitalist and concert artist. He has served as the baritone soloist in Handel’s Messiah, Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical Songs, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, and Mendelssohn’s Elijah to name a few.
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.
Major’s 2023-2024 season has his return to the Metropolitan Opera covering the role of Malcolm X in X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X. His schedule includes 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. Last season, he made a role debut as Ford in Verdi’s Falstaff with Maryland Lyric Opera and made a significant impact at The Metropolitan Opera, making his house debut as Baron Douphol in La traviata and covering Benny “Kid” Paret in Champion and Scarpia in Tosca with The Santa Fe Opera.
Mr. Major debuted as Scarpia in Tosca with Opera Columbus, Taylor in the world premiere of Undying Love with Hearing in Color in Chicago. His return to Sarasota Opera as Ezio in Atilla and Boston Lyric Opera debut as Emile Griffith in Champion further solidified his reputation as a versatile and accomplished artist. The season unfolded with a return to Opera Carolina as Amonasro in Aida and the Columbus Symphony for the role of Schaunard in La bohème. He debuted with the Schenectady Symphony Orchestra as the titular character in Don Giovanni, and noteworthy appearances at Carnegie Hall with MidAmerica Productions. He also joined Cincinnati Opera as the cover of 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 selections 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. The subsequent year saw his return to Toledo Opera as Marcello in La bohème, a South American debut as Amonasro in Aida with Teatro Municipal de São Paulo, and a slated Princeton Festival debut as Germont in La traviata (COVID19). Closing out that season was 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 Colorado College Summer Music Festival.
Noteworthy past season credits include Mr. Major's debut with Opera Columbus and the Columbus Symphony Orchestra in a collaborative production of Aida as Amonasro. Kirke Mechem’s Songs of the Slave in Boston Symphony Hall and a reprise of the role Amonasro in a debut with Opera Theatre of the Rockies in their twentieth-year celebration, where his voice was lauded as "honey-filled and capable of organic, dramatic expression."
In addition to his operatic accomplishments, Mr. Major is an accomplished recitalist and concert artist. He has served as the baritone soloist in Handel’s Messiah, Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical Songs, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, and Mendelssohn’s Elijah to name a few.
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