Samuel Chan

Recognised as one of CBC Music's Top 30 Canadian Classical Musicians under 30, Canadian baritone Samuel Chan has been lauded for his "agile and powerful baritone" (Neuemusik Zeitung). Samuel is establishing himself with a diverse career internationally. Originally from Calgary, Alberta, Samuel is based in Germany between the cities of Hamburg and Kiel.

A member of the Opernensemble at Theater Kiel since 2020, Samuel’s roles currently in rotation this season include critically lauded performances as Marcello in La Bohème; Ford in Falstaff; and Papageno in Die Zauberflöte. Past roles in repertory include Robert in Iolanta; Lescaut in Manon Lescaut; Guglielmo in Così fan tutte; Montano in Otello; Albert in La Juive; Pantalon/Farfarello in L’amour des trois oranges; the Gurilla in the world premiere of Giovanni Sollima’s Das Dschungelbuch; and Hans in Der Vetter aus Dingsda. Upcoming season roles include Dandini in La Cenerentola and Ottokar in Der Freischütz. He has recently worked with directors Sarah Kohrs, Alexandra Leidtke, Luise Kautz, Daniel Karasek, and Julia Burbach, alongside musical collaborations with conductors Francesco Cilluffo, Benjamin Reiners (GMD), Sergi Roca, Stephan Bone, and Daniel Carlberg.

Past seasons’ highlights include a jump-in role debut at the Canadian Opera Company (COC) as the title character in Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia, under the baton of Maestra Speranza Scappucci, new opera workshops for Tapestry Opera and City Opera Vancouver, and Dr. Falke in Die Fledermaus for Saskatoon Opera. A recent graduate of the COC Ensemble Studio, Samuel’s roles included Marcello/Sergeant in La Bohème; Dad in Ana Sokolovic’s The Old Fools (workshop); the Sycophantic Senator in the world premiere of Hadrian; the Captain in Eugene Onegin; the 2nd Japanese Envoy in The Nightingale and Other Fables; and the Usher in Rigoletto. Other past operatic engagements include Moralès in Carmen (Brott Music Festival); Don Asdrubale/Calandrino/Gomatz in Lo sposo deluso/L’oca del Cairo/Zaide (City Opera Vancouver); and Pastore II/Apollo in L’Orfeo (Cincinnati Chamber Opera).

Samuel’s academic studies were completed with a focus on Concert repertoire/Art Song. He has been recognized for this affinity with 2nd Place in Lieder and 3rd Place in Oratorio at the 2019 Stella Maris International Vocal Competition. Samuel’s concert repertoire includes Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9; Handel’s Messiah; Fauré’s Requiem; Arvo Pärt’s Passio; Monteverdi’s Selva morale et spirituale / Vespers; Bach’s St John Passion / B Minor Mass; and Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music / Five Mystical Songs.

Other competition highlights include 2nd Place in the COC’s Ensemble Studio Competition, and a district win/encouragement award from the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions’ Western Canada/Ohio district respectively.

Samuel received his Bachelor of Music from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. He has had further training at the National Arts Centre’s Young Artist Programme, Highlands Opera Studio, the Vancouver International Song Institute, Ravinia’s Steans Music Institute, and the Toronto Summer Music Festival.

March 2024

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