Artist Roster

Biography

“Chen-Ye Yuan fulfils the immensely demanding role of Rigoletto to perfection. Both his voice and acting are consistently and plain fully, convincing. He really is the court jester with a past he despises but will not disclose, and a deformity that makes moving about difficult” –Rigoletto in Welsh National Opera.” Oxford Mail

As a young singer, baritone Chen-Ye Yuan’s developed his craft as a member of the finest training programs in the business, including the Houston Grand Opera Studio and the San Francisco Opera’s Merola Program. Mr. Yuan proved his mettle as an up and coming singer when performing the role of Germont in La Traviata with San Francisco Opera. Since being a member of the Houston Grand Opera Studio he has been invited back to sing many roles including, Tonio in I Pagliacci, Escamillo inCarmen, Marcello in La Bohème, and Bhaer in Little Women which aired on PBS’s Great Performances and released on CD by Ondine.

 Mr. Yuan’s clear and supple voice, matched with his facility to portray vastly different characters, have earned him international acclaim. For his Rigoletto with the Welsh National Opera, The Evening Herald described him as, “… outstanding in the title role, combining great vocal power with heartfelt emotion.” Mr. Yuan has put his stamp on this title role having performed it with Houston Grand Opera, Michigan Opera Theatre, Minnesota Opera, Lyric Opera of San Antonio, Sacramento Opera, Palm Beach Opera, Opera St. Louis, and the Welsh National Opera which was broadcast live on BBC.

 In addition to performing with many of the United States and Canada’s premiere Opera Houses and Symphonies, Mr. Yuan has favored the stage of many highly acclaimed venues stretching across Europe and Asia, including his native country China.  Mr. Yuan is widely known for his compelling interpretations of the standard repertoire such as Mozart, Beethoven, Puccini and Verdi; however, this auspicious baritone is no stranger to the challenge of a world premiere.  Mr. Yuan sang the Dragon King in the premiere Legend of YaoJi. In Beijing, at the National Center for the Performing arts, he showcased his seasoned artistry in the roles of Cheng Ying in Chinese Orphan and Zhou LuoPing in A Village Teacher. Also, in Hong Kong, Mr. Yuan debuted the role of Umeya Shokichi in Dr. Sun Yat-Sen.

Mr. Yuan’s schedule continues to be exciting, including upcoming performances of Marcello in La Bohème with the Hang Zhou Philharmonic Orchestra and Chou En-Lai in Adams’ Nixon in China with San Francisco Opera and at the Culture Center in Hong Kong, a role with which Mr. Yuan is especially familiar. “Chen-Ye Yuan sang Chou En-Lai with a gorgeous, burnished baritone, his poise bringing the mysterious figure to life.” Kansas City Star

 Just a few of Mr. Yuan’s symphony performances include: Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with Singapore Symphony Orchestra, excerpts of Adams’ Nixon in China with the Chicago Symphony and as a soloist in the Domingo Gala at Kennedy Center.