MALCOLM MACKENZIE
BARITONE
BIOGRAPHY
With a voice described as having a “rich vocal range full of inviting nuance,” Malcolm MacKenzie has firmly established himself as a strong presence in the dramatic baritone repertoire. Opera News recently praised him as a “confident, commanding Count di Luna…of robust tone, ardent address, arching phrases and genuine baritonal squillo.” Mr. MacKenzie has been heard at leading opera houses throughout the U.S. and Europe, appearing at the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, Paris Opera (Bastille), Finland’s Savonlinna Festival, Washington National Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, San Diego Opera, Arizona Opera, Fort Worth Opera, and Pittsburgh Opera, in roles including Simon Boccanegra, Iago, Tonio, Baron Scarpia, Don Giovanni, Count di Luna, Renato, Jack Rance, Marcello, Germont, and Count Almaviva.
Most recently, MacKenzie reprised his performance of Mark Torrence in The Shining at The Atlanta Opera, sang Germont in La Traviata with both Eugene Opera and Knoxville Opera, was seen as Uncle John in Ricky Ian Gordon and Michael Korie’s The Grapes of Wrath with MasterVoices in his Carnegie Hall début, and covered Owen/Johnson in San Francisco Opera’s production of Omar. Upcoming in the 24/25 season, he will return to the Metropolitan Opera stage to sing the role of Stubb in their production of Moby Dick, and he sings Sharpless in Madama Butterfly with both Austin Opera and Opera San Antonio.
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Mr. MacKenzie recently appeared as Alfio in Opera Colorado’s Cavalleria rusticana, joined Quad City Symphony for their Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, reprised his performance of Mark Torrance in The Shining with Lyric Opera of Kansas City, and returned to The Metropolitan Opera to cover Rodrigue in the premiere of their five-act Don Carlos, which he also covered the previous season. Mr. MacKenzie’s 2021-2022 season featured him in the title role of Gianni Schicchi at Piedmont Opera, a reprise of his much-lauded Germont in La Traviata at Toledo Opera, and the dual roles of Master Johnson and Master Owen in Omar at Spoleto Festival.
Recently, he has returned to Pittsburgh Opera as Stubb in Jake Heggie’s Moby-Dick, returned to The Metropolitan Opera as Dancaïro in Carmen at the Metropolitan Opera, and made role débuts in North Carolina Opera's Rigoletto in the title role, Baron Scarpia in Opera Omaha's Tosca, and with Opera San Jose as Don Alfonso in Così fan tutte. He returned Dayton Opera as Tonio in Pagliacci, created the role of Roger Chillingworth in Colorado Opera's world premiere of The Scarlet Letter by Lori Laitman, and returned to LA Opera as Stubb in Jake Heggie’s Moby-Dick. Additionally, he has sung Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor with Eugene Opera; Germont in La Traviata with Virginia Opera; Schaunard in La bohème with San Diego
Opera; the title role in Simon Boccanegra with Kentucky Opera; Belcore in L’elisir d’amore with San Diego Opera; Iago in Otello with Nashville Opera; Count di Luna in Il trovatore with Arizona Opera; Alfio/Tonio in Cavalleria rusticana/ Pagliacci with Arizona Opera; and Jack Rance in La fanciulla del West with Nashville Opera. Other notable performances have included La Traviata with Glimmerglass Opera, where Opera News described him as “a stentorian Germont, singing with a steely beauty that matched the character’s resolve;” Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia, and Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro with Sacramento Opera; Sharpless in Madama Butterfly for San Diego Opera.
On the concert stage, Mr. MacKenzie has performed frequently as the baritone soloist for Carl Orff’s Carmina burana, most recently with Los Angeles’ New West Symphony, the Symphony Orchestra of the University of California, Davis and the Savannah Symphony. The UC Davis performance is available on YouTube and has received over 13 million views. He has also appeared with the Los Angeles Master Chorale, the Pacific Chorale, the Los Angeles Mozart Orchestra, and the Madison Symphony.
Current as of June 22, 2024
CRITICAL ACCLAIM
"... opulent, ruddy baritone..." – San Diego Story
Hänsel und Gretel – “Malcolm MacKenzie has appeared in a dozen San Diego Opera productions, but he is emblazoned in my memory as the vocally and dramatically imperious Sergeant Belcore in the 2014 production of The Elixir of Love. His opulent, ruddy baritone gave this opera’s Peter—the children’s caring father—bold authority and easily communicated his unalloyed affection."
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“... a commanding force…” – Opera News
Tosca – “The real stars of the production, however, were the two male principals, Scarpia and Cavaradossi. In his Opera Omaha and role debut, baritone Malcolm MacKenzie, Scarpia, was a commanding force from the moment he entered in Act I. His rich, warm, and dark tone was bolstered by a relentless legato line which amplified the sensuous sleaziness of his Scarpia."
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"... one to savor in the part…” – Classical Voice North Carolina
Rigoletto – “Malcolm MacKenzie's first lines as Rigoletto quickly established his rich, freely produced baritone as one to savor in the part. His assured negotiation of the character's punishing high tessitura continued to thrill throughout the lengthy role.”
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"... a dynamic presence..." – Opera News
The Scarlet Letter – “Baritone Malcolm MacKenzie, as (Hester) Prynne's ever-angry husband Chillingworth, produced a confident baritone and a dynamic presence.”
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"... hardy baritone voice..." – New York Times
La Traviata – “Malcolm MacKenzie brought his hardy baritone voice and dramatic authority to the role of Alfredo’s father, Germont.”