Biography
Having the distinction of making debuts at three of the four theaters at New York’s Lincoln Center, Matt Morgan is rapidly establishing himself as a tenor to watch. His New York debut came as Don Gomez in Weber’s Die drei Pintos with Leon Botstein and the American Symphony Orchestra. The very same season, his New York City Opera debut occurred in the world premiere of Charles Wuorinen’s Haroun and the Sea of Stories. Following these successes, Mr. Morgan debuted with the National Chorale at Avery Fisher Hall as the tenor soloist in Handel’s Messiah.
During the 2008-2009 season, Mr. Morgan made debuts at Opera Colorado as Ferrando in Così fan tutte, Greenwich Music Festival as Der Soldat in Viktor Ullmann’s Der Kaiser von Atlantis, and Sacramento Opera as Frederick in The Pirates of Penzance. After successes as Laurie in Little Women, he returned to Dayton Opera as Camille in The Merry Widow. He also returned to Avery Fisher Hall for performances of Handel’s Messiah, Opera Theater Pittsburgh, and the Johnstown Symphony 80th. The 2009-2010 season sees his debut in the title role of Faust with Opera Idaho, Hamlet in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead with AOP and the Mark Morris Dance Company and a return to New York City Opera as Tapioca in L’etoile.
He has performed at New York City Opera for three consecutive seasons to great audience and critical acclaim in a variety of repertoire ranging from Rameau’s Platee to works of the 20th century. Most recently he appeared in their new production of The Pirates of Penzance where Mr. Morgan was as an “endearing and loveable” Frederick “with the right hero looks and a wonderful tenor voice”. Among his many appearances at Lincoln Center his other New York successes include his remarkable portrayal of Britten’s anti-hero in Gotham Chamber Opera’s wildly successful production of Albert Herring.
Outside of New York City, Mr. Morgan has appeared with Pittsburgh Opera, Opera Colorado, Fort Worth Opera, Portland Opera, New Orleans Opera, Dayton Opera, Toledo Opera, and many others in a variety of repertoire. His performances have included Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore, Ernesto in Don Pasquale, Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, Ferrando in Così fan tutte, Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, Almaviva in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Ramiro in La cenerentola, Romeo in Roméo et Juliette, as well as many works of modern opera and musical theater. A much sought after interpreter of this repertoire he has most recently starred at New York City Opera as Frederick in their new production of The Pirates of Penzance, after previously taking part in their premieres of The Mines of Sulphur, and The Little Prince. He also appeared recently with Fort Worth Opera as Curly opposite Anthony Dean Griffey in Of Mice and Men and as Tony in West Side Story with New Orleans Opera.
His busy concert schedule has taken him to sing with some of the country’s leading symphony orchestras and concert organizations including the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, the American Symphony Orchestra, the National Chorale, and the Bard Music Festival in a variety of repertoire ranging from the works of Handel to music of the 20th century. Mr. Morgan tours North America regularly, most recently playing to crowds of tens of thousands at the two largest Italian festivals in North America- (Milwaukee Festa Italiana and the Upper Ohio Valley Italian Festival). As a recording artist his DVD’s and CD’s are distributed internationally and are carried by every online music service and music seller worldwide. Mr. Morgan is an alumnus of the Pittsburgh Opera Center, National Opera Company, and Louisiana State University. He is based in New York City and continues his studies with Bill Schuman.
