Mikhail Smigelski

MIKHAIL SMIGELSKI, bass-baritone
Hailed as “phenomenal” (The Harvard Chrimson), “impressively epic” (schwäbische.de), and for his “wine-dark bass” (The Boston Globe), bass-baritone MIKHAIL SMIGELSKI enjoys a career of vast and various genres, including opera, oratorio, musical theatre, and contemporary music. Born in St. Petersburg, Russia, Mikhail has performed on the world’s most prestigious stages including Carnegie Hall, Saint Petersburg’s and Moscow’s Philharmonias, Berliner Philharmonie, Kölner Philharmonie, and has collaborated with established European and American opera and concert companies such as Saint Petersburg Chamber Opera, Theater Aachen, Theater Solingen, Theater Leverkusen, Ferus Featival, Cohen New Works Festival, Miami Lyric Opera, The Cleveland Opera, Opera Leggera, and others.

Mikhail Smigelski’s extensive vocal repertoire includes over thirty operatic roles and more than a hundred art songs. As a passionate advocate for contemporary classical music, Mikhail performed in a number of world and USA premieres with East Coast Contemporary Ensemble, Density 512, and other musical alliances.

Dr. Smigelski began his musical studies at the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory in St. Petersburg, where he received the Bachelor of Music degree and, subsequently, Hochschule für Musik und Tanz in Cologne, Germany, where he completed the Master of Music degree in opera performance. Upon moving to the United States, he earned the Master of Music degree in choral conducting at Sam Houston State University and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in opera performance at the University of Texas at Austin. In addition to his performance career, Dr. Smigelski teaches voice, works as a freelance audio producer, and serves as a Director of Music Ministries at The Woodlands Christian Church in Houston, TX.

Smigelski’s wine-dark bass [complimented his] body language for Henry’s self-absorption [in the world premiere of Aylward’s Switch], gamely channeling his impulsive, awkward attempts at connection.” BOSTON GLOBE

“Mikhail Smigelski was a striking Alidoro, tall and regal with a rotund Slavic bass. The depth and resonance of his sonority and smooth, even cantabile line shone impressively in his scene.” SOUTH FLORIDA CLASSICAL REVIEW

“As the skulking, spying CEO Alfonso, [Smigelski] cuts an elegant and dark figure, wonderful on his own or when lending a sonorous depth to intimate duets and trios.” AUSTIN CHRONICLE

“Mikhail Smigelski had the regal bearing and low bass notes for the lieutenant Zuniga.” SOUTH FLORIDA CLASSICAL REVIEW

“Deep-toned bass Mikhail Smigeliski was a smoothly flowing Zbigniew.” CLEVELAND CLASSICAL

“Smigelski is a phenomenal singer, with a robust, melodious bass-baritone with serious
power.” HARVARD CRIMSON