Northern Irish tenor Michael Bell recently graduated from the Royal College of Music, having previously held a choral scholarship at St. John’s College, Cambridge.
His many recent appearances include his full debut at the prestigious Verbier Festival as Basilio Le nozze di Figaro, his debut at English National Opera as 1st Priest/1stArmed Man The Magic Flute, the world premiere of Conor Mitchell’s Riot Symphonywith the Ulster Orchestra, Michael Ventris in the premiere of Ciphers at the Tête à Tête Opera Festival, and a UK tour as CountAlmaviva Il barbiere di Siviglia for Diva Opera.
His current and future plans include further performances as Count Almaviva Il barbiere di Siviglia for Diva Opera, Quint (cover) The Turn of the Screw for ENO, and performances of Messiah with the Ulster Orchestra.
Other stage roles include the Madwoman in the Moscow premiere of Curlew River and the creation of the role of the Acrobat in Conor Mitchell’s Les Selenites for Wexford Festival Opera, as well as Tamino Die Zauberflöte, Nemorino L'elisir d’amore, Grimoaldo Rodelinda, Die KnusperhexeHänsel und Gretel, Spoletta Tosca, Der Sänger in Schreker's Flammen, the Prince in Alma Deutscher's Cinderella, Pastore Orfeo, Vašek The Bartered Bride and Damon Acis and Galatea with companies including Garsington Festival Opera, the Lithuanian State Orchestra, Wexford Festival Opera, Irish National Opera and Waterperry Opera.
A regular on the concert stage, he has performed with choral societies and orchestras across the country in a diverse repertoire that has included Bach’s Passionsas both Evangelist and arias soloist, Beethoven Symphony No. 9 and Britten St Nicolas. His recent concert debuts include performances with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, the Royal Northern Sinfonia and the Philharmonia. Most recently, he sang Evangelist Bach St John Passion with the Royal Swedish Orchestra in Stockholm.
Michael is also a keen recitalist and has appeared in recital at the Lewes Festival of Song, the London Song Festival, the Wigmore Hall and the Salle Cortot. This year he continues a collaboration with NI Opera giving song recitals in each of Northern Ireland’s six counties and makes his debut at the Lichfield Festival for a recital of English song to include Britten’s Winter Words. Michael is a Musicians’ Company Young Artist and a Samling Artist.