BIOGRAPHY

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Acclaimed by Opera News as a "standout... with a breathtakingly lush voice", American bass Brent Michael Smith has been building an exciting international career. As a former Apprentice Artist with Des Moines Metro Opera, his performance as Billy Jackrabbit in Puccini’s La Fanciulla del West received critical acclaim from Opera News as well as Colorado Music Buzz, who praised him for “making the most of his brief appearances”. During his first season, 2015-16, as a Resident Artist at the Detroit Opera, Brent made his debut as Colline in Puccini’s La Bohème. 

 

B. M. Smith has participated in several young artists programs: Sarasota Opera, Central City Opera, Detroit Opera and Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia. In his professional beginning, he debuted in the American opera houses: Toledo Opera, Santa Fe Opera and Opera Philadelphia, singing roles such as Zuniga in Carmen, Asby in La Fanciulla del West, Antonio in Le Nozze di Figaro, Fafner in Das Rheingold, Truffaldino in Ariadne auf Naxos, Colline in Puccini’s La Bohème and more.

 

Brent was a Finalist in the Queen Sonja Music Competition 2022, a Third Prize winner in the Concorso Lirico Internazionale di Portofino 2021, a grant recipient of the Zachary L. Loren Society 2021, a National Semifinalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions 2020, an encouragement award winner for the Young Patronesses of the Opera Competition 

2019, a Second Prize winner in The Giargiari Bel Canto Competition 2019, a major prize winner of the Opera Index Competition 2018, a Third prize winner in the Opera Birmingham International Competition 2018 and First Prize winner of the Grand Rapids Opera Competition 2012.

 

In the fall of 2020, Brent joined the International Opera Studio of Opernhaus Zürich. During the 2020-21 season, he performed as Chernikovsky in Boris Godunov and Pietro in Simon Boccanegra. Brent M. Smith started the 2021-22 season as a member of the ensemble at the Zurich Opera House, making multiple role debuts and some revivals: Lorenzo in Bellini’s I Capuleti e i Montecchi, Pietro in Simon Boccanegra, Bass Soloist in a new ballet by Christian Spuck entitled Monteverdi, Sparafucile in Rigoletto, Count Lamoral in Strauss’ Arabella and Pistola in Verdi’s Falstaff.

 

In 2022/23, Brent began with a debut as Angelotti in Tosca, alongside Sandra Radvanovsky, Jonas Kaufmann and Bryn Terfel. Following this, he sang Sir Walter Raleigh in David Alden’s new production of Roberto Devereux. He made his professional debut in the roles of Prince Gremin in Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin and sang Frère Laurent in Ted Huffman’s new production of Roméo et Juliette by Gounod, recorded and streamed on ARTE TV. He closed that season singing Ein Eremit in Von Weber’s Der Freischütz. In May, another important debut: he sang Raimondo in Lucia Lammermoor, alongside Lisette Oropesa in the title role. In Summer 2022, he debuted at the Ravinia Festival as Masetto in Don Giovanni, conducted by James Conlon.

 

In the 2023/24 season, Brent begins by singing his fully staged debut of Masetto in Don Giovanni, at Opernhaus Zürich and, later this season, makes his mainstage debut as Il Commendatore at San Diego Opera. He sings for the first time with the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra as Raphael and Adam in Haydn’s Die Schöpfung, as well as debuts with the Phoenix Symphony, singing the solo parts in Haendel’s The Messiah. Rounding out his concert season, Brent sings his first Mozart’s Requiem, in his debut with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic. A major highlight this season is his professional debut as Fafner in Das Rheingold, as part of Andreas Homoki’s first full Ring Cycle at Opernhaus Zürich, conducted by Gianandrea Noseda. Closing this season, Brent sings Comte Vaudemont in a new production of Verdi’s I Vespri Siciliani alongside Anja Harteros, in addition to Pietro Fléville in a semi-staged version of Giordano’s Andrea Chénier.

 

Highlights of Brent M. Smith’s 2024/25 season include his house debuts at the Royal Theatre of La Monnaie De Munt, singing the solo part in Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, and at the Theater St.-Gallen, singing the role of Banco in Verdi’s Macbeth. In Zurich, Brent will sing Sparafucile and Pietro in Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra, among others.

 

The 2025/26 season has started for Brent with Angelotti in Tosca, alongside Sonya Yoncheva, Jonas Kauffmann, Sir Bryn Terfel and conducted by Marco Armiliato, at the Opernhaus Zürich. Then, he will make his house debut at the Semperoper Dresden, singing Frère Laurent in Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette; he will sing the bass solo in Franz Schmidt’s Das Buch mit sieben Siegeln, with the Coro y Orquesta Nacionales de España, conducted by Fabio Luisi; and will sing for the International Masterclasses for Young Opera Conductors, at the Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège. In Zurich, Brent will also perform as Sparafucile in Rigoletto, Der Führer in Hindemith’s Cardillac, Graf Lamoral in Strauss’ Arabella and Tom in Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera, among others.

   

Brent Michael Smith has already collaborated with conductors such as Marco Armiliato, Fabio Luisi, Gianandrea Noseda, James Gaffigan, Kirill Karabits, Fabio Biondi, Leonardo Sini, Markus Poschner, Enrique Mazzola, Riccardo Minasi, Andrea Sanguineti and Cristoph Koncz; and the directors Barrie Kosky, Tim Albery, Corrado Rovaris and Andreas Homoki, among others.