Michael Volle

German baritone Michael Volle sings Guy de Montfort (Les Vêpres siciliennes) for The Royal Opera in the 2013/14 Season. Volle made his Royal Opera debut in 1997 as the Herald (Lohengrin), and returned in 2006 as Count Almaviva (Le nozze di Figaro). Since then he has sung Jokanaan (Salome), Dr Schön/Jack the Ripper (Lulu), Kurwenal (Tristan und Isolde), Amonasro (Aida) and Scarpia (Tosca) for The Royal Opera.

Volle grew up in Southern Germany and was introduced to music by singing in his church choir and playing violin in local orchestras. He studied singing with Josef Metternich, and with Rudolf Piernay at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. From 1999 to 2007 he was a member of Zürich Opera, where he sang roles including the title role in Eugene Onegin and Beckmesser (Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg). In 2007 he joined Bavarian State Opera, where his roles have included Wolfram von Eschinbach (Tannhäuser), Kurwenal, Amfortas (Parsifal), Amonasro and the title role in Wozzeck. Other notable appearances have included Hans Sachs in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Salzburg Festival), Mandryka in Arabella (Paris Opéra), the title role in Der fliegende Holländer and Dr Schön/Jack (Berlin State Opera) and Wotan in Das Rheingold (La Scala, Milan).

Volle also sings regularly in concert and recital, and has a particular love of Lieder and Russian music.