Bio
Bass-baritone Matthew Burns is celebrated for his musical and comedic capabilities in equal measure. Engagements last season included Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the Delaware Symphony, The Pirates of Penzance (Sergeant of Police) with Nashville Opera, Daughter of the Regiment (Sulpice) with Utah Opera, and The Hours (Richard, cover) at The Metropolitan Opera. In the 2023-24 Season, he sings The Marriage of Figaro (Bartolo) with Portland Opera, Lucia di Lammermoor (Raimondo) with Pensacola Opera, and returns to The Hours (Richard, cover) with The Metropolitan Opera. Burns recently made his Seattle Opera debut in Tosca (Sacristan). Other recent highlights include the title role in Don Pasquale at Inland Northwest Opera, Don Giovanni (Leporello) at Detroit Opera, La Cenerentola
(Don Magnifico) with Annapolis Opera, Daughter of the Regiment (Sulpice) with Opera Carolina, The Elixir of Love (Dulcamara) with Virginia Opera, and Billy Budd (Dansker) with Central City Opera. A master interpreter of comedic roles, Mr. Burns is highly sought after in Don Giovanni (Leporello), which he has performed with Detroit Opera, Utah Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, Austin Lyric Opera, Opera Memphis, Opera Cleveland, and Opera Omaha. He is also well-known for his performances of Doctor Bartolo (Pensacola Opera, Opera Roanoke, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Virginia Opera, Opera Omaha, Orlando Philharmonic) and Don Basilio (Dayton Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Sarasota Opera), both in The Barber of Seville, and Figaro in The Marriage of Figaro (Virginia Opera, Opera Grand Rapids).