Bass-baritone Eric Owens has a unique reputation as an esteemed interpreter of classic works and a champion of new music. Equally at home in orchestral, recital, and operatic repertoire, Mr. Owens brings his powerful poise, expansive voice, and instinctive acting faculties to stages around the world.
In the 2020-2021 season, Mr. Owens performs Sarastro in The Magic Flute and Ferrando in Il trovatore at the Glimmerglass Festival, while serving as Artist in Residence for the festival’s Young Artist Program. He also sings in a pop-up concert in New York City alongside other soloists and members of the Metropolitan Opera Chorus and Orchestra, led by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Previously scheduled engagements include returns to the Metropolitan Opera as Vodnik in Rusalka, San Francisco Opera as Rocco in Fidelio, Los Angeles Opera as Ramfis in Aida, and Washington National Opera as Don Fernando in Fidelio, as well as performances of Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis with the Philadelphia Orchestra.
In the 2019-2020 season, Mr. Owens starred as Porgy in James Robinson’s production of Porgy and Bess at the Metropolitan Opera, the recording of which won the 2021 Grammy for Best Opera Recording. He had also been scheduled to return to Lyric Opera of Chicago as Wotan in Sir David Pountney’s production of the complete Ring Cycle, conducted by Sir Andrew Davis, and to sing King Marke in Tristan und Isolde at Santa Fe Opera, conducted by James Gaffigan. In concert, he performed Schubert’s Winterreise with pianist Jeremy Denk at the Los Alamos Concert Association, and had been scheduled to sing Jochanaan in Salome with the Malmö Symfoniorkester.