Bio
Praised by Opera News as a “vocally charismatic” performer with a “golden tenor,” Martin Bakari’s recent engagements include the title role in Charlie Parker’s Yardbird with Atlanta Opera, Arizona Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, Dayton Opera, New Orleans Opera, and Indianapolis Opera; the tenor soloist in Carmina Burana with Cecilia Chorus of NY at Carnegie Hall and Symphony San Jose; Kodály’s Psalmus Hungaricus with Grant Park Music Festival; Messiah and the premiere of Paul Moravec’s A Nation of Others with Oratorio Society of NY at Carnegie Hall; The Pirates of Penzance (Frederic) with Virginia Opera and Kentucky Opera; Madama Butterfly (Goro) with Dallas Opera and Opera Philadelphia; Das Rheingold (Mime) with Seattle Opera; Falstaff (Dr. Caius) and the premiere of Jake Heggie’s Intelligence (Wilson, cover) with Houston Grand Opera; Turandot (Pong) with Opera Colorado; The Marriage of Figaro (Don Basilio) with Seattle Opera at the Seiji Ozawa Matsumoto Festival; Roméo et Juliette (Tybalt) with Vashon Opera; The Cartography Project with Washington National Opera at The Kennedy Center; and a United Kingdom recital tour with Mirror Visions Ensemble. Internationally, he has also appeared at major venues in Munich, Hamburg, Dresden, Frankfurt, Cologne, Tel Aviv, and Bari. Martin’s 2024-25 Season includes The Barber of Seville (Count Almaviva) with Indianapolis Opera; the premiere of Jubilee (Greene Evans) with Seattle Opera; Madama Butterfly (Goro) with Utah Opera; La traviata (Gastone) with Seiji Ozawa Music Festival in Japan; the premiere of Steele Roots (Michael) with Atlanta Opera; a workshop of The Factotum (Bootleg Joe) with Portland Opera; Messiah with the Boise Philharmonic and Calvin Oratorio Society; and Carmina Burana with the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra. Future seasons include his debut performances and recording with the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra and his return to Opera Colorado. A 2018 George London Competition award winner, Martin’s recording of Grigory Smirnov’s Dowson Songs (Naxos) was featured by Opera News as a “Critic’s Choice” album.