American countertenor Matthew Shaw has quickly established himself as one of the most exciting talents of his generation, with performances of leading roles at internationally-acclaimed theaters. His interpretations of both Baroque and Contemporary repertoire have gained world-wide attention. Mr. Shaw's 2015/16 season includes his debut in Hungary, where he will perform Ottone in L'Incoronazione di Poppea at the Müpa Budapest with the Orfeo Orchestra. He remains in Hungary for his debut with the Hungarian State Opera as Edgar in Aribert Reimann's Lear. His 2014/15 season included his debut at the Theater Erfurt singing Ottone (L'Incoronazione di Poppea), a return to the Semperoper Dresden to perform Tolomeo (Giulio Cesare), and his debut at the Nationaltheater Mannheim, where he sang the leading role in Achim Freyer's World Premiere production of Lucia Ronchetti's Esame di mezzanotte. Highlights his previous seasons included performances of the title role in Giulio Cesare at both Theater Dortmund and Oper Kiel, Endimione in La Calisto and Ottone in L'Incoronazione di Poppea at the Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden, his Scandinavian debut as Edgar in Lear at the Malmö Opera, and his debut at Theater an der Wien as Athamas in Robert Carsen’s production of Semele, opposite Cecilia Bartoli and under the baton of William Christie. He was also heard as Tolomeo in Giulio Cesare with Deutsche Oper am Rhein, Ottone in L'Incoronazione di Poppea at the Semperoper Dresden, and Endimione in La Calisto at the Grand Théâtre de Genève. Prior to his swift and critically-acclaimed transition to countertenor as Endimione in La Calisto at the Landestheater Linz in 2008, he achieved considerable success as a baritone on both concert platform and operatic stage. Matthew Shaw received his BA of Music from Pennsylvania State University and his MA degree from the Manhattal School of Music. In 2011, he received the Pennsylvania State University College of Arts and Architecture Alumni Award.
Education and training:
Pennsylvania State University - BA
Manhattan School of Music - MA
Awards and distinctions:
Pennsylvania State University College of Arts and Architecture Alumni Award (2011)
Professional work:
Müpa Budapest with the Orfeo Orchestra
Hungarian State Opera
Semperoper Dresden
Nationaltheater Mannheim
Theater Erfurt
Semperoper Dresden
Nationaltheater Mannheim
Theater Dortmund
Oper Kiel
Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden
Malmö Opera
Theater an der Wien
Deutsche Oper am Rhein
Grand Théâtre de Genève
Landestheater Linz (2008)
Principal roles:
C. Monteverdi: L'Incoronazione di Poppea - Ottone
A. Reimann: Lear - Edgar
G. F. Händel: Giulio Cesare - Tolomeo
S. Sciarrino: Superflumina
L. Ronchetti: Esame di mezzanotte - Giro Lamenti (Achim Freyer's World Premiere production)
F. Cavalli: La Calisto - Endimione
G. F. Händel: Semele - Athamas (Robert Carsen’s production with Cecilia Bartoli, William Christie)
