Baritone Michael Niemann was born into a life of music. Originally from Detmold, Germany, he spent his childhood both in Europe and in California traveling with his parents who were both opera singers. His first role in an opera came at age five, when he performed Trouble in Madama Butterfly at the Los Angeles Music Center. He has sung roles with New York City Opera, New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players and Chautauqua Opera, among others.
Michael’s repertoire includes art songs, oratorio, musical theater and operetta, as well as the standard repertoire. His favorite roles include Figaro in The Barber of Seville, Dr. Malatesta in Don Pasquale, Guglielmo in Cosi fan tutte, Papageno in The Magic Flute, the Count in The Marriage of Figaro and Mercutio in Romeo et Juliette.
His work has earned him reviews in such publications as Opera News, The New York Times, The Richmond Times-Dispatch and The New York Concert Review. He has been called “a great presence,” “enticing,” “lyrical and appealing.” He has “a rich baritone,” “a comic flair” and “a relaxed, appealing stage presence.”
In addition, Michael has served as cantor of Metropolitan Synagogue of New York for High Holy Day services annually since 2000 and holds a commercial pilot license. He and his wife, Carolyn, are the parents of three adult sons. They make their home in northern New Jersey.
Michael made national news after a making miraculous full recovery from a rare and debilitating disease of the larynx. Read the ABC Good Morning America feature here.
