Adam Lau, Bass http://www.adampaullau.com/
American bass Adam Lau, praised as “a bass whose singing resonates in every sense of the word”, continues a busy and active career with a wide range of engagements in the 2022-23 season, including debuts with four opera companies.
In the autumn, he makes his first appearance with New Orleans Opera, in one of his signature roles, that of Don Basilio in THE BARBER OF SEVILLE. He then will make his debut with San Francisco Opera as Dr. Grenvil in LA TRAVIATA. He next returns, in the same role, to the Metropolitan Opera, where he made his debut last season, in THE MAGIC FLUTE and TOSCA. In the spring, he will make his debut with Opera Company of Philadelphia as Colline in LA BOHEME, followed by his first performances with Florentine Opera of Milwaukee, again as Don Basilio.
The 2021-22 season was also busy for Mr. Lau. In addition to his Met debut, he sang Don Basilio with Utah Opera, Colline with North Carolina Opera and two roles with Dallas Opera- the Bonze in MADAMA BUTTERFLY and again, Don Basilio. That spring, he sang with Atlanta Opera, as Kobun in THE (R)EVOLUTION OF STEVE JOBS, and he returned to Opera Theatre of Saint Louis as Sarastro in THE MAGIC FLUTE.
Adam Lau won First Prize in the 2016 Jensen Vocal Competition and Top Prize in the 2015 George London Competition. He was also a finalist in the 2016 Dallas Opera Competition. He has appeared with such opera companies as Seattle Opera, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Dallas Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Portland Opera, Utah Opera, and North Carolina Opera, as well as with some of the nation’s leading summer programs including Merola Opera Center, Aspen Opera Theater, and Santa Fe Opera.
Opera Repertoire
| Composer | Opera | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Barry | The Importance of Being Earnest | Lane/Merriman |
| Corigliano | The Ghosts of Versailles | Louis XVI |
| Donizetti | Viva la Mamma! | Poeta |
| Harbison | The Great Gatsby | George Wilson |
| Massenet | Thaïs | Palémon |
| Morrison | Oscar | Leggatt/Butler |
| Mozart | Don Giovanni | Leporello |
| Mozart | Don Giovanni | Masetto |
| Mozart | Le Nozze di Figaro | Figaro |
| Mozart | Le Nozze di Figaro | Bartolo |
| Mozart | Le Nozze di Figaro | Antonio |
| Mozart | Die Zauberflöte | Sarastro |
| Mozart | Die Zauberflöte | Sprecher |
| Portman | The Little Prince | Baobab/Hunter |
| Puccini | La Bohème | Colline |
| Puccini | Gianni Schicchi | Simone |
| Puccini | Tosca | Angelotti/Sciaronne |
| Puccini | Turandot | Timur |
| Rossini | Il Barbiere di Siviglia | Don Basilio |
| Verdi | Nabucco | High Priest of Baal |
| Verdi | La Traviata | Barone |
Concert Repertoire
| Composer | Composition | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Beethoven | Symphony 9 | |
| Händel | Messiah | |
| Haydn | The Creation | |
| Haydn | Pauckenmesse | |
| Stravinsky | L’Histoire du Soldat | Narrator |
Press Acclaim
“Adam Lau as Oroveso brought feeling and dignity to his characterization. His voice is supple and fluid and made the pain he feels at Norma’s confession palpable as he tries to understand what motivated Norma to turn her back on her religion.”
Adam Lau‘s (Oroveso) gorgeous bass voice lends regal command to his role as leader of the druids. He shows the turmoil and absolute heartache of attempting to balance his position as both a father and political leader perfectly.
“Adam Lau as Kōbun Chino Otogawa has a wonderful, rich, and clear bass sound and his comedic timing is spot on.”
“...the superb bass ADAM LAU as Creon. Lau made a strong impression!”
“Adam Lau’s BRILLIANT Mephistopheles. whose bold, dramatic singing off-book characterized the diabolic intent to drag the old scholar out of his study!”
THE DAMNATION OF FAUST, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic
The strongest of them was Lau, which was probably just as well, since his airs tend to have the strongest dramatic impact. His committed internalization of “Why do the nations so furiously rage together” was so strong that he delivered the entire performance without opening his score. ”
Messiah with San Francisco Symphony
“Also making a stunning impression was thirty-year-old bass Adam Lau, who displayed a uniformly beautiful tone and keen acting skills in Claggart’s aria from “Billy Budd”. Lau’s final “I will destroy you” seemed to hang in the air for some time after he finished singing.”
Tai Oney’s puppy-doggish Oronte and Adam Lau’s Berardo had less to do, but each singer delivered the vocal goods convincingly. Lau is a bass to keep an eye on.
Berardo is sung by bass Adam Lau, and he shows wonderful power. Admittedly, here the low beauty of his voice is blessed by being surrounded by an array of very high voices, but he is clearly an outstanding talent.
Bass Adam Lau was an attractive, sympathetic Berardo, the servant who saves Costanza, with an attractive, well-used voice.
The best performance was delivered by Adam Lau, an outstanding Alfonso in every sense, vocal as well as theatrical, and stylistically even more accurate than his young colleagues.
“…But the real find here was Adam Lau as the philosopher Colline. Lau, has a bass of real quality with sonorous low notes that project admirably. Lau gave an elegant performance of this very brief, but moving aria.”
“Adam Lau as Don Giovanni’s base servant Leporello was the crowd favorite for his likable mimickry of a contemporary “gangsta rapper” look, while filling the theater with a compelling bass voice. His thuggish coat tugs and streetsmart strut along with his athletic crawling and groveling on the floor added a lot of excitement and humor to the show.”
“Three FGO Young Artists gave strong performances… Adam Lau’s deep bass once again delivered power and excellence as the High Priest of Baal.”
“Adam Lau as The Speaker did not disappoint- again, providing a wise and steadfast bass/baritone. Lau is really a very lovely singer, and I am very excited to watch this young man’s career.”
“Lau rendered a magisterial “Thus saith the Lord” …excitement bristled in Lau’s aria “Why do the nations so furiously rage together.” MESSIAH with MO. JOHN NELSON, CINCINNATI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
“Adam Lau’s contribution as Colline, gives a hint that his fouth act aria will land, which it does with honor and some Pinza-ish tone. Lau is one Young Artist to watch out for.”
Media
Adam Lau, Bass as Kōbun in the (R)evolution of Steve Jobs with Seattle OperaAdam Lau, Bass, Claggart's aria, Billy Budd, Britten, George London Competition
Adam Lau, Bass, Di Due Figli ...Abbietta Zingara, Il Trovatore
Adam Lau, Bass, An die Musik, Schubert, FGO 2012
Adam Lau, Bass, Il Gran Sacerdote, Nabucco, Verdi FGO, February, 2014
Adam Lau, Bass, Sprecher, Die Zauberflöte, FGO, 2012
Adam Lau, Bass, Raphael, Credo Music Festival, 2014
Adam Lau, Bass, Raphael recit: And God made the firmament, Wheaton College Artists Series, 2014
Adam Lau, Bass, Danse Macabre, Saint-Saëns
Gallery
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Adam Lau as Don Basilio Portland Opera's production of Il barbiere di Siviglia Photo by: Cory Weaver -
Adam Lau as Oroveso in Bellini's Norma with Utah Opera Photo Credit: Doug Carter Images -
as Kobun in The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs with Seattle Opera Photo by: Jacob Lucas -
Adam Lau as Mustafà in Rossini's L'italiana in Algeri with Santa Fe Opera, 2013 -
Adam Lau, Headshot -
Adam Lau as Basilio in Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia, SFO Merola Program, 2011 -
Adam Lau as Il Gran Sacerdote in Verdi's Nabucco, Backstage of Florida Grand Opera, 2014
