Biography

Praised for his beautiful voice and elegant stage presence, Canadian baritone Michael Adair is sought after on both the concert and operatic stages worldwide. After completing his undergraduate and Masters at the University of Toronto, Michael won a place in the prestigious International Opera studio at the Zurich Opera where he worked with renowned conductors John Eliot Gardiner, Carlo Rizzi and Nello Santi. Subsequently, Michael relocated to Germany after making his concert debut in Handel’s Israel in Egypt under the baton of Helmuth Rilling.

He now works with leading ensembles including Aarhus Symphony Orchestra, Rotterdam Philharmonic, Bach Collegium Stuttgart, Cappella Amsterdam, Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, Nürnberg Symphoniker, Gürzenich-Orchester, Bochumer Symphoniker, Sing-Akademie zu Berlin, Heidelberger Sinfoniker, Neue Philharmonie Westfalen, Duisburg Philharmoniker, and the Südwestdeutsche Philharmonie Konstanz.

Recent projects include Britten’s War Requiem with the Philharmonischer Chor Köln, the Duisburg Philharmoniker, and the Vienna Sing Mit! Festivalchor, Vaughan William’s Sea Symphony with the Südwestdeutsche Philharmonie Konstanz, Mendelssohn’s Elias with the Geneva Symphonia, Mendelssohn’s Humboldt Cantata with the Sing-Akademie zu Berling, Bankier/Theater Director in Berg’s Lulu at Theater Wupperthal, Gugliemo in Cosí fan tutte at the Teatro Comunale di Sulmona, Messiah with the Aarhus Symphony Orchestra, Bach’s Matthäus Passion with the Rotterdam Philharmonic, Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem with the Brussels Choral Society, Frank Martin’s Golgotha with the Bochum Symphoniker, Bach's Mass in B minor (one to a part) with Musica Floria and Bach’s Johannes Passion with the Aachener Domchor.

Upcoming projects include Michael’s debut in Orff’s Carmina Burana with the Brussels Choral Society, Britten’s War Requiem, celebrating the Bielefelder Musikverein’s 200th anniversary, Zemlinsky’s Lyrische Symphonie in Düsseldorf, a Belgian tour of Matthäus Passion with deChorale, an international tour of CPE Bach’s Der Tod Jesu with Ensemble Diderot, and Elgar’s The Apostles.

Regularly performing major works of Bach, Handel, Haydn, Britten and Vaughan Williams, Michael’s repertoire also includes Berlioz’s L’enfance du Christ, Frank Martin’s In terra pax, Mendelssohn’s Paulus, Mahler’s Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen and rarities by C.H Graun, M. Duruflé, and CPE Bach.