“An ideal fit for this aria, Burden demonstrated both musical phrasing and stylish ornamentation, as well as flashes of cleanly executed coloratura in a refined and highly-enjoyable performance.” - Classic Melbourne
Michael Burden is a Sydney-based countertenor who enjoys a varied career of operatic, concert, and choral repertoire. His performed roles include Ottone in Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea, Oberon in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Une Scythe in Gluck’s Iphigénie en Tauride, Sorceress / Second Witch / The Spirit in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, Secrecy/Summer in Purcell’s Fairy Queen and Hyacinthus in Mozart’s Apollo et Hyacinthus. Chorus credits include Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice and Iphigénie en Tauride, Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas and Fairy Queen, and Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte.
Michael has been a regular collaborator with the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra since 2021, most recently as a featured soloist in Vivaldi’s Gloria, and additionally as soloist and chorister in their Notre Dame, Ottoman Baroque, Noël! Noël!, and Paradisum concert series.
Additional concert credits include Vivaldi’s Nisi Dominus with Adelaide Baroque Orchestra, Handel’s Dixit Dominus with Royal Melbourne Philharmonic, Didymus in Handel’s Theodora, Joad in Handel’s Athalia (Concordia Ensemble), Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater and Magnificat, Handel’s Messiah and Dixit Dominus, Bach’s Cantatas BWV 1, 4, 70,78, 79, 166, 150 ,180 with various organisations including Bach Akademie Australia and the Sydney Cantata Project and Alto/ Soprano 2 solos in Charpentier’s Messe de Minuit pour Noël. He has extensive experience working with period orchestras across Australia, under conducters Dr Erin Helyard, Paul Dyer AO, Madeleine Easton, Stephen Mould and Elizabeth Scott.
A seasoned choral singer, Michael has held positions as Head Lay Clerk with St Paul’s College Choir, where he has sung in collaboration with Ensemble Apex (Four Seasons Recomposed), and with St Andrews Cathedral Choir for their regional tours to Brisbane, and international tours through England, France and Italy. He has also appeared regularly with Sydney Conservatorium Choir and Chamber Choir, under directors Neil McEwan, Elizabeth Scott, and Paul Stanhope.
A passionate exponent of new music, Michael has appeared with composer-collective Konzertprojekt, collaborating with composers to create works specific to the countertenor voice. He has premiered the role of Cyril Scott in Matthew’s/Smith’s Percy Grainger – The Opera, gave the live premiere for Felicity Wilcox’s Threading the Light, and has worked extensively in chamber vocal ensembles specialising in new solo and choral works.
Michael holds a Master of Music Studies (Opera Performance), completed with the guidance of Dr David Greco at the Sydney Conservatorium, having previously completed a Bachelor of Music Performance (Classical Voice) from the same institution with Andrew Dalton. He was supported during his postgraduate studies by the Donald Lionel Edgerton Scholarship.
“The singers poured emotion into the music, with Burden demonstrating his clear and beautiful tone” - Cut Common