Samuel Chan
singer, musician, and opera in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Canadian baritone Samuel Chan has been praised by critics for his “Velvet tones” and for his “vocal versatility” on the operatic, concert and recital stage. An artist whose repertoire spans from Dowland to Rorem, Samuel has particular focus on Baroque and Classical vocal repertoire, as well as in 19th and 20th century Lieder and Mélodies, most specifically the Mélodies of Francis Poulenc and Gabriel Faure, and the Lieder of Schubert and the Second Viennese School.
On the operatic stage in the 2014-15 season, Samuel appeared as Ruggiero in Handel’s Alcina with CCM Opera D’arte/2015 Cincinnati Early Music Festival. Oratorio engagements include the role of one of the Evangelists in Arvo Pärt’s Passio with the Cincinnati Cammarota, and the bass soloist in Cantata BWV 61, Nun Komm der Heiden Heilandwith the Cincinnati Bach Ensemble. Recital engagements included Fellowship recitals with the 2015 Toronto Summer Music Festival, selections of Schubert’s 1815 Liederwith pianist Lucas Barkley in Pittsburgh, Dutilleux’s Quatre Mélodieswith pianist Sam Martin, and Poulenc’sBanalités, Le travail du peintre,and Debussy’s Fetes galantes IIwith pianist Kseniia Polstiankina in Cincinnati. During the 2014 summer season, Samuel performed Alban Berg’s Op. 2 Liederand Strauss’s Op. 15 Liederwith pianist Javier Arrebola with the Steans Music Institute at the 2014 Ravinia Festival in Chicago, and on a recital of Romantic French melodies with the Vancouver International Song Institute.
In the 2013-14 season, operatic engagements included the roles of Apollo/Pastore II in Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo with Cincinnati Chamber Opera, the Page in Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors with the Clermont Philharmonic Orchestra, and covering the role of Ernesto in Cincinnati Chamber Opera’s production of Haydn’s Il mondo della luna. In oratorio, Samuel was the baritone soloist in Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical Songsin Cincinnati. In recital, Samuel performed Poulenc’s Calligrammeswith Kseniia Polstiankina in Cincinnati. During the summer season of 2013, Samuel performed as a featured recitalist on Graham Johnson/Martha Guth’s recital Let the Music Praise!With the 2013 Songfire Festival in Vancouver.
Future engagements in the 2015/2016 season include the role of Bob in Menotti’s The Old Maid and the Thief with Fear No Opera in Victoria, BC, as well as a f