BIOGRAPHY
Bass-baritone Matthew Burns is celebrated for his musical and comedic capabilities in equal measure. Opera News recently singled out the “vocal and comedic flexibility” in his acclaimed Leporello in Don Giovanni at Detroit Opera. Engagements in his 2022-2023 season include Sergeant of Police in The Pirates of Penzance with Nashville Opera, Sulpice in La fille du regiment with Utah Opera, and covering Richard in The Hours at The Metropolitan Opera. 2021-2022 engagements included the title role in Don Pasquale at Inland Northwest Opera, Dr. Bartolo in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Pensacola Opera, Don Magnifico in La Cenerentola with Annapolis Opera, Sacristan in Tosca with Seattle Opera, and covering roles in Rigoletto and Die Zauberflöte at the Metropolitan Opera. His 2018-2019 season included Suplice in La fille du regiment with Opera Carolina, Dulcamara in L’elisir d’amore with Virginia Opera, Dr. Bartolo in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Opera Roanoke, and Dansker in Billy Budd with Central City Opera.
A master-interpreter of comedic roles, Mr. Burns is highly sought after as Leporello in Don Giovanni, 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 (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 Il barbiere di Siviglia, and Figaro in Le nozze di Figaro (Virginia Opera, Opera Grand Rapids).