Michel de Souza

Baritone

Website: www.micheldesouzabaritone.com

Biography

Born in Brazil, Michel de Souza won the Maria Callas Vocal Competition in São Paulo and the Margaret Dick and Ye Cronies Competition at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, where he attended the Alexander Gibson Opera School, gaining a master’s degree in opera with distinction. He went on to join the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme at the Royal Opera Covent Garden, which led to many appearances with the company and the beginning of his international career in principal theatres, both in Europe and South America. He also appears regularly in concert, including with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra at the Proms, with L’Orchestre National de Lyon and the Orchestra of Scottish Opera as well as giving recitals of Lieder, Chanson and Brazilian song. He was an Emerging Artist at Scottish Opera.

The versatility of de Souza as singer and actor is remarkable. His electrifying entry aria, ‘Largo al factotum della città’ (‘I am the factotum of the city’), showed how capable he is of playing a wide range of roles. Many will remember him as the domineering, interfering Giorgio Germont for Nevill Holt’s 2019 La traviata. As Figaro he shows his many-sided versatility in abundance, as well as his significant virtuoso skills.
Seen and Heard International – Clive Peacock – 24th June 2022

Michel de Souza was a poised and self-possessed Figaro, one who was always in control and delighted in it. De Souza’s approach to his famous aria was vividly done, without making too much of the buffo element (easy enough to do given the lively staging), and throughout there was a sense of the character anchoring the action, guiding it and always there was a lively gleam in De Souza’s eye. A strong performance that made its presence felt not only in the aria, but as a lively partner in the recitatives and ensembles.
Planet Hugill – 26th June 2022

The three principals, all alumni of the Royal Opera’s Jette Parker Young Artists Programme, were estimable, with Michel de Souza as Germont Père outstanding both in timbre and conviction.  This is always an ambivalent role, emotionally stifled yet ultimately humane, but de Souza had its measure; indeed, he surmounted the near-doggerel of “Di Provenza” with such sincerity that doubts about its value seemed fatuous.
Opera – Mark Valencia, November 2021

Best of all was Michel de Souza’s Germont, his character revealed as a blend of harshness and sympathy, expertly realised from a vocal point of view.
Opera Now – George Hall, October 2021

Roles performed

Videos

In Concert

Beethoven SYMPHONY 9 ~ Orchestre National de Lyon, Auditorium Orchestre National de Lyon & Festival Berlioz;
Beethoven MISSA SOLEMNIS ~ Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro; Theatro Municipal de São Paulo
Berlioz: SCENE HEROIQUE ~ Orchestre National de Lyon, Festival Berlioz
Bernstein : MASS ~ Theatro Municipal in São Paulo
Händel: MESSIAH ~ Usher Hall Edinburgh; Theatro Municipal de São Paulo
Orf: CARMINA BURANA ~ National Theatre of Brasilia
Walton: BELSHAZZAR’S FEAST ~ Glasgow Concert Hall
Vaughan Williams: SERENADE TO MUSIC ~ Proms BBC Scottish National Orchestra
Verdi: MESSA DA REQUIEM ~ Glasgow Concert Hall ; Usher Hall Edinburg; Sage Gateshead.

Conductors he has collaborated with

Paolo Arrivabene; Maurizio Benini; Claudio Cohen; Placido Domingo; Rubén Dubrovsky; Mark Elder; Dan Ettinger; Stephen Higgins; Alexander Joel; Mikhail Jurovsky; Ira Levin; Gianluca Marcianò; Roberto Minczuk; David Murphy; Henrik Nanasi; John Nestling; Antonio Pappano; Valentina Peleggi; Simon Rattle;  Matthew Rogers; Donald Runicles; Leonard Slatkin; Robin Ticciati; Silvio Viegas.