Michael Kuhn
Described as “an artist of almost terrifying magnetism” (The Observer), and praised for his “clear and robust” tenor (Opera News), Michael Kuhn (he/him) is a versatile singing-actor equally at home in the fields of opera, musical theatre, concert, and art song repertoire. Most recently, Michael was seen as Pedrillo in Die Entführung aus dem Serail with Opera Omaha; a performance where he “flirted his way through the opera with infectious energy” and “demonstrated just how amazing Pedrillo’s arias can be in the hands of a great singer” (Schmopera). This season, Michael makes returns to both Opera Omaha (Tobias in Sweeney Todd and Don Basilio/Don Curzio in Le nozze di Figaro) and On Site Opera (Gherardo in Gianni Schicchi), and makes a company and role debut with Des Moines Metro Opera as Francis Flute in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Michael has performed throughout the US at companies such as Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Opera Omaha, Florida Grand Opera, Central City Opera, Virginia Opera, Syracuse Opera, The Caramoor Festival, The Princeton Festival, Opera in The Heights, Livermore Valley Opera, and more. In New York City, Michael has made several appearances Off-Broadway as Basel in ¡Figaro! 90210, and was recently seen at Lincoln Center where he portrayed Romano in the world premiere of Stonewall with New York City Opera. He has also appeared internationally in France as a solo artist with Festival Lyrique-en-Mer.
In concert repertoire, Michael recently debuted at Carnegie Hall as the tenor soloist in Haydn’s Mariazellermesse with MidAmerica Productions. He was heard both nationally via broadcast and in Jordan Hall in the world premiere of Illuminessence, Prayers for Peace, a Vatican-commissioned oratorio performed as part of The New England Conservatory’s ten-year memorial concert for September 11th. Michael has performed as a soloist with the Omaha Symphony, MidAmerica Productions at Carnegie Hall, The Carolina Philharmonic, Cape Symphony, Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, Symphony by the Sea, Bourbon Baroque, The New York Choral Society, St. George’s Choral Society, and the Grace Chorale of Brooklyn.
A passionate recitalist, Michael recently premiered his self-directed and produced project in collaboration with the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (MASS MoCA) titled Nacht und Träume, a staged recital of German lieder programmed to represent a journey through a night of vivid dreaming, performed on a bed and surrounded by artwork curated as part of an exhibit called The Lure of the Dark. In 2021, Michael reprised an adaptation of the recital as part of the Kaufman Center’s Musical Storefronts series.
Michael is an alumnus of the New England Conservatory and Syracuse University. Learn more at www.michaelkuhntenor.com
