Michael Laurenz
Vienna State Opera - Das Rheingold
Michael Laurenz as Mime confirms what we know about him: pointed, with perfect diction – exactly the type of character tenor this role needs.
klassik-begeistert.de (June 20, 2025)Theater Basel - Das Rheingold
A highlight of this performance was Michael Laurenz's Loge. There is probably no better singer-actor of this demanding role today.
Der Opernfreund (September 26, 2024)Season 26/27 and Highlights
NHK SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
Schmidt – The Book with Seven Seals
Sep 12/13
WANDHAUS ORCHESTRA
Weill – Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny – Fatty
Oct 22/23
SEMPEROPER DRESDEN
Prokofiev – The Love for Three Oranges - Truffaldino
Dec 4/9/16/22
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TEATRO REAL
Janáček – Katia Kabanová – Tijon
Feb 13/16/19/22/25/28, March 3/5OPÉRA DE MONTE-CARLO
Wagner – Siegfried – Mime
Apr 5/8/11/15VIENNA STATE OPERA
Strauss - Arabella - Matteo
May 22/27/29, June 1
Biography
Michael Laurenz is acclaimed for his precise musical phrasing, compelling stage presence, and remarkable dramatic versatility. He is particularly sought after in character and Spieltenor roles that demand high levels of both vocal and theatrical nuance.
Highlights of the 2026/27 season include engagements at the Vienna State Opera as Matteo in Arabella , at the Semperoper Dresden as Truffaldino in The Love for Three Oranges , on Teatro Real Madrid He has performed as Tikhon in Katja Kabanova's opera, as Mime in Siegfried at the Opéra de Monte-Carlo, and as Fatty in Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny at the Gewandhaus in Leipzig. He can also be seen in Franz Schmidt's The Book with Seven Seals with the NHK Symphony Orchestra in Tokyo.
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He received his vocal training at the International Opera Studio of the Zurich Opera House, where he subsequently became a member of the ensemble for nearly a decade. From 2018 to 2020 he was a permanent member of the Vienna State Opera ensemble, with which he continues to maintain a close artistic relationship as a frequent guest.
A central focus of his career lies in the character tenor repertoire, with particular emphasis on roles in the works of Wagner, Strauss, Mozart, and contemporary composers. Numerous new productions and role debuts have taken him to major opera houses in Amsterdam, Geneva, Lyon, Antwerp, Hamburg, Berlin, Munich, and Paris, as well as to the Bregenz Festival, Glyndebourne Festival, and multiple appearances at the Salzburg Festival.
Among the outstanding engagements of the past seasons are Wenzel ( The Bartered Bride ) and the Witch ( Hansel and Gretel ) at the Vienna State Opera, the Officer ( Cardillac ) at the Zurich Opera House, and Tanzmeister ( Ariadne auf Naxos ) and Pedrillo ( The Abduction from the Seraglio ) at the Berlin State Opera. As Mime, Michael Laurenz also performed with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra under Fabio Luisi in concert performances of Das Rheingold and Siegfried .
His artistic work is shaped by collaborations with conductors such as Philippe Jordan, Christian Thielemann, Thomas Guggeis, Cornelius Meister, Franz Welser-Möst and Marc Minkowski, as is his close collaboration with directors who regularly engage him for demanding stage roles.
Particularly noteworthy are his performances in contemporary and rarely performed works such as Josef K. in Gottfried von Einem's * Der Prozess* , Cauchon in Walter Braunfels' * Jeanne d'Arc* , Orsino in Goldschmidt's *Beatrice Cenci* , and as Erich in HK Gruber's *Geschichten aus dem Wienerwald *. Laurenz consistently impressed with his strong stage presence, faithful interpretation of the text, and stylistic versatility.
With a repertoire ranging from Mozart to Wagner and contemporary music, Michael Laurenz has established himself as a distinguished specialist for character roles that require both musical precision and profound dramatic insight. His performances are marked by interpretative depth, artistic intelligence, and a vivid sense of theatricality.
2026/27
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