Michael Mofidian

Winner of the 2018 Royal Over-Seas League Singers’ Prize and the 2017 Pavarotti Prize, Michael Mofidian was born and raised in Glasgow, and educated at the University of Cambridge and the Royal Academy of Music.

A Jette Parker Young Artist at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden from 2018-2020 roles included Narumov Queen of Spades, Alcade Forza del destino, Angelotti Tosca, Zuniga Carmen, Minotauros Phaedra (Linbury Studio Theatre), Johan Werther, Bass 1 Death in Venice, Dr Grenvil La Traviata, Judge and Chelsias Susanna and Deputy Don Carlo as well as covering the roles of Figaro Le nozze di Figaro and Colline La bohème.

In 2018 he was a Jerwood Young Artist for  Glyndebourne Festival where roles included the Doctor in Pelléas et Mélisande and the Imperial Commissioner in Madam Butterfly.

While in residence at the Grand Théâtre de Genève in the 21/22 season, Michael's roles included Lord Rochefort Anna Bolena, Nourabad Les Pêcheurs de Perlse, Pfleger des Orest Elektra, Maire Jenufa, Mandarin Turandot and Idas & Phobétor Atys, in a co-production with Château de Versailles.

Recent engagements have included a return to the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden for Masetto Don Giovanni, soloist at First Night of the Proms 2021 and first night of the Edinburgh International Festival both with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Angelott i Tosca alongside Anna Netrebko, Yusif Eyvazov and Ludovic Tézier at Salzburg Festival, Don Alfonso Così fan tutte for Scottish Opera. He also made his debut with Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia under Sir Tony Pappano for a performance and recording of Turandot (Mandarin) released on the Warner Classics label and returned to Salzburg Festival as Kuligin Káta Kabanová in a Barrie Kosky production, conducted by Jakub Hrůša.

Michael has worked under conductors including Sir Tony Pappano, Edward Gardner, Alexander Joel, Julia Jones, Jonathan Nott, David Reiland, Tomáš Hanus and Keri-Lynn Wilson. Over the past few seasons he has been directed by Mariame Clément, Lotte de Beer, Michael Sturminger, to name a few.

Concert work has included Verdi Requiem; Jesus, Pilate and arias in both Bach Passions, Haydn Creation, Handel Messiah, Stravinsky Les noces, Beethoven 9th Symphony, Mozart Requiem, Fauré Requiem; and Dvořák Stabat Mater and Mahler Kindertotenlieder with Britten Sinfonia under Sir Mark Elder.

Future performances include Thesus A Midsummer Night's Dream for Rouen Opera, Colline La Boheme at Royal Opera House, Masetto Don Giovanni Glyndebourne Festival, concerts with Halle Orchestra, performances and a recording of Theodora with Arcangelo Consort, Dunedin Consort and recitals including a programme of Brahms and Sibelius at Oxford Lieder Festival with Keval Shah.

Michael was a joint winner of the 2017 Oxford Lieder Young Artist Platform and has given recitals for the Wigmore Hall, Oxford Lieder, Leeds Lieder, St John’s Smith Square London, Queen's Hall, Edinburgh for the Edinburgh Fringe and at City Halls in Glasgow for a BBC broadcast performing with pianists Keval Shah, Jâms Coleman, Sholto Kynoch and Malcolm Martineau. 

Michael is also a composer; his works include pieces for orchestra, instrumental chamber music, art songs and works for vocal ensemble, and his teachers have included Sir James MacMillan, Richard Causton and Robin Holloway.