
Baritone
Michael Volle is a German operatic baritone. After engagements at several German and Swiss opera houses, he has worked freelance since 2011. While he first appeared in Mozart roles such as Guglielmo, Papageno and Don Giovanni, he moved on to title roles such as Verdi's Falstaff, Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin and Alban Berg's Wozzeck. He has performed at major opera houses in Europe and the Metropolitan Opera, in roles including Mandryka in Arabella and Hans Sachs in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. His awards include Singer of the Year by the magazine Opernwelt and Der Faust.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Signature Roles
Currently starring in Die Walküre as Wotan · Wiener Staatsoper · Jun 7, 2026
Michael Volle's career trajectory traces a disciplined ascent from his 1990 debut at Mannheim through formative ensemble positions in Bonn, Düsseldorf, Cologne, and Zürich, establishing himself as a baritone of interpretive depth and vocal authority. His transition to freelance status in 2011 catalyzed an international career of remarkable scope, encompassing the world's greatest opera houses and festivals, where his commanding presence and sophisticated musicianship—particularly in the Wagnerian and Straussian repertoires—have secured his position among Europe's most distinguished baritones.
Musikhochschule Trossingen and Musikhochschule Stuttgart, studying voice with Josef Sinz, Georg Jelden, Josef Metternich, Rudolf Piernay, and Manfred Schreier
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A chronological journey through key moments
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