Lyric bass Michael Colman, hailed by Opera News for “fielding a fine, dark bass-baritone”, has performed leading and supporting roles with many premier opera companies across the United States.

In his 2023 season, Michael returned to Chautauqua Opera as Judge Turpin (and Sweeney cover) in Sweeney Todd, made a role and house debut as Sparafucile in Rigoletto with Vashon Opera before returning to sing the title role in their production of Le nozze di Figaro, stepped in to sing Coach/Red in Laura Kaminsky’s February with Opera on the Avalon, and made a role and house debut as Vodnik in Rusalka with Opera Ithaca.

Upcoming in his 2024 season, Michael returns to Vashon Opera as Frère Laurent in Roméo et Juliette along with three more house debuts – Étienne Grandet in Naughty Marietta with Winter Opera St. Louis, Schaunard in La bohème with Fort Worth Opera, and Howard Bard (cover) with Opera Philadelphia.

He has become especially well known for his interpretation of The Commentator in productions of Derrick Wang’s Scalia/Ginsburg with Opera Carolina, Opera Grand Rapids, Chautauqua Opera and Opera in the Rock. English opera role highlights include Bonobo/David in Second Nature with Opera Fayetteville, The Police Officer in Night Trip with Opera NexGen, Grandpa Moss in The Tender Land with Utah Festival Opera, Collatinus in The Rape of Lucretia with The University of Kansas, and Balthazar in Amahl and the Night Visitors with Dayton Epiphany.

Other roles include Basilio in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Chautauqua and Virginia Operas, Guglielmo and Don Alfonso in Così fan tutte with Opera Grand Rapids and Charlottesville Opera, Schaunard in La bohème with Indianapolis Opera, Ceprano in Rigoletto with Toledo Opera, Dottore Grenvil in La traviata with Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Toledo Opera, and Opera on the James, Angelotti in Tosca with St. Petersburg Opera, King of Egypt in Aida with Tulsa Opera, Leporello in Don Giovanni with The Janiec Opera Company, Colline in La bohème with Indiana University, and Figaro in Le nozze di Figaro with The University of Kansas.

A growing list of operetta and music theater roles include The Sergeant of Police in The Pirates of Penzance with Dayton Opera, and Pharaoh in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat with Utah Festival Opera. Michael covered the role of Emile de Becque in South Pacific with Indianapolis Opera, The Pirate King in The Pirates of Penzance with Dayton Opera, and Judge Frollo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame with Utah Festival Opera.

Concert credits include Handel’s Messiah with the Dayton Philharmonic, Mozart’s Requiem with The Virginia Consort, covering Verdi’s Requiem with Utah Festival Opera and recital collaborations with Warren Jones and Martin Katz.

A native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, Michael earned degrees from Baylor University, The University of Kansas, and Indiana University. Young artist programs include Virginia Opera, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Chautauqua Opera, Sarasota Opera, Toledo Opera, Dayton Opera, Indianapolis Opera, Charlottesville Opera, Utah Festival Opera, and The Janiec Opera Company at Brevard.