MICHAEL LION
Bass-Baritone
Valkyrie, Wotan
Source: Original sound (Andreas H. Hölscher, presentation: 6 Nov. 2022)
... above all Michael Lion as Wotan, who already gave a convincing performance in Rheingold
role debut. His Wotan is very accentuated, with a beautiful, warm baritone, many colors and clean declamation. He also shows the conflict between domineering God and loving father in a playful way. But his musical expression is that of a great man, and his touching farewell to Brünnhilde, Farewell, you bold, wonderful child, was perhaps the most emotional moment of the evening. With this performance, Lion is also a veritable candidate for the role of Wotan in larger houses.
Twilight of the Gods, Hagen
Source: Süddeutsche Zeitung, Egbert Tholl, April 2024
…everyone's voice is good, i.e. very robust, Lion is also a model example of conciseness and text comprehensibility, his Hagen dominates the scene .
Parsifal, Gurnemanz,
Source: Coburger Tagblatt, 11 April 2017
... A decisive focal point of this production, both in terms of acting and music, is Michael Lion's Gurnemanz, who gives this character a sensitive and compelling contour with his well-timbered bass. ...
Rossini, The Barber of Seviglia, Dr. Bartolo
Singapore Lyric Opera, July 2007
Source: Opera magazine, November 2007 issue
... SLO (Singapore Lyric Opera) had at its disposal a first-rate cast from half a dozen countries. Best of all was the German Michael Lion, with the kind of booming voice that would do justice to Hagen (one of his roles), but also with the flexibility and agility for a sensational Bartolo. ...
Valkyrie, Wotan
Source: Neue Presse
ML has been a rock in the (ensemble) surf for years, portraying his Wotan in a compelling way, especially in the second act, where he reveals his dilemma to Brünnhilde. Lion masters this mammoth role brilliantly and impresses not only with his vocal and acting presence, but also with his ability to understand the text.
Valkyrie, Wotan
Source: Opera glasses
Michael Lion played a Wotan with authentic strength of character.
Valkyrie, Wotan
Source: Wagner Association Bamberg, Monika Beer
Among the ensemble members, ML deserves the crown as a powerful and clever portrayal of Wotan…
Walküre, Wotan
Source: Coburger Tageblatt
As Wotan, ML confidently unfolds his potential as a singer-actor with intense vocal and acting skills.
Valkyrie, Wotan
Source: bachtrack.com
(Michael Vieth, presentation: 07 June 2022)
Michael Lion endowed Wotan with a sense of power and authority, ....
Lion's vocal performance was impressive, as he had noble bass depths and plenty of
He mastered the required baritone heights of his role as the father of the gods with ease.
... A climax when Wotan has to turn away from his dearly beloved daughter: Michael Lion's baritone withdrawn in emotion and after an exhausting part.
Tosca, Scarpia
Source: Coburger Tagblatt, 2 Oct. 2017
... Michael Lion managed to create a particularly close portrayal of the role of Scarpia. Caught between gallantry, the drive for power and sadomasochism, he is certainly one of the worst villains in the history of opera. With his powerful voice and his acting talent, Lion made the psychological ambiguity of the brutal police chief visible and audible in a deeply impressive way. ...
Rheingold, Wotan
Source: Coburger Tageblatt (Jochen Berger)
… First and foremost: Michael Lion, who portrays his Wotan with a confident bass as a man who pulls the strings and is only apparently successful.
Don Giovanni, Leporello (May 2024)
Source: Neue Presse, Bernd Schellhorn
Michael Lon (as his servant Leporello) fascinates as ever with his great acting and his bass voice, which effortlessly conveys every emotional state, from anxious to bold to boastful.
The Damnation of Faust
Source: Neue Presse, Bernd Schellhorn
... But Mephisto (baritone Michael Lion) enjoys every note of his satanic role and
acts divinely) does his job professionally and in the brightly colored
In Neil Barry Moss's production it becomes clear who is in charge here. ...
The Rosenkavalier, Ochs auf Lerchenau
Premiere: 16 March 2016
Source: The Opera Lover
Michael Lion was also excellent, singing an outwardly uncouth but nonetheless funny and not unsympathetic Baron Ochs auf Lerchenau with a distinctive, exemplary Italian-based and differentiated bass.
The Marksman, Kaspar
Source: The Opera Lover
… Michal Lion was a formidable opponent for him as Kaspar, who sang expressively and distinctively.
Don Giovanni, Commendatore
Source: The Opera Lover
Michael Lion exuded enormous vocal authority in the role of Commendatore.
The Barber of Bagdad, Barber
Source: The Opera Lover
In the title role, bassist Michael Lion was brilliant both as an actor as the ever-annoying and boastful barber and vocally. His great aria “I am an academic, doctor and chemist” and his closing speech “Hail to this house – Salamaleikum!” were deliciously sung.
Tosca, Scarpia
Source: Neue Presse, 2 Oct. 2017
... Bass Michael Lion celebrates his acclaimed role debut in the baritone repertoire, thereby expanding his repertoire considerably. His police chief Scarpia is not just a one-dimensional villain. The direction gives him self-destructive traits in his urge to conquer Tosca. Lion portrays this Scarpia with gripping singing and emphatic acting and ultimately earns the highest score on the applause scale. ...
Parsifal, Gurnemanz,
Source: Neue Presse, 11 April 2017
... Musically, the Coburg Parsifal is a rightly celebrated delight.
This is mainly due to the Coburg bassist Michael Lion, who brilliantly fills the role of Gurnemanz with his nuanced and always understandable voice and uses it to explain the entire plot of Parsifal, ...
Parsifal, Gurnemanz
Source: Original sound, Renate Freyeisen
... Extremely easy to understand, commanding in his demeanor and with a large, pleasantly dark bass that is always in perfect condition, Michael Lion's Gurnemanz is one of the most convincing characters in the performance.
Eugene Onegin, Gremin
Source: The Opera Lover
Gremin Michael Lions is a testament to a good school, a very well-groomed voice that effortlessly masters the low notes of this part, can change the phrasing in a flash and can face any dynamic challenge.
