Biography

British Tenor, Michael Lafferty, is a dynamic artist, praised for the “melting warmth” of his voice, and “demonstrable affection and involvement” of his performances. (Opera Today - Hurn Court Opera recital, Salisbury Arts Centre, Nov ‘19). Michael studied at the Opera School at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama under the tutelage of David Pollard where he was generously supported by The Behrens Foundation, The Drake Calleja Trust and Countess of Munster Musical Trust. Prior to his studies at Guildhall, Michael studied at Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler in Berlin.

Michael has made his Operatic debut in the role of Officer in Glyndebourne Festival Opera's 2023 production of Dialogues des Carmélites (Poulenc), working with Barrie Kosky and Robin Ticciati. He has also performed the roles of Joseph de Rocher (Dead Man Walking, J.Heggie) for GSMD Opera and Black (Black el Payaso, Sorozábal) for Grimeborn festival 2022, a role for which he was nominated as a finalist for the OffWestEnd Awards. Michael is a Samling Artist, and a Jerwood Young Artist at Glyndebourne Festival Opera 2024, covering the role of Le Remendado in Carmen. He has also covered the role of Albazar in Il Turco in Italia for Glyndebourne Autumn season, and will sing the role of Janek in Scottish Opera’s production of The Makropulos Affair (Janáček)

He has had success in numerous competitions, with highlights including winner of the ‘Prix Andre-Bacand Prize’ for ‘Best Canadian work’ at the CMIM Competition 2022 in Montreal, semi-finalist at Wigmore Hall International Song Competition 2024, first prizes at the AESS Patricia Routledge National English Song Competition 2021, the Guildhall English Song Prize 2021, and the Freda Parry Foundation Competition 2017. Other successes include finalist for the 2021 Kathleen Ferrier Awards, finalist for the GSMD Gold Medal 2023 at the Barbican. Concert and recital performance highlights include Schumann’s ‘Requiem für Mignon’ as a soloist under the baton of Sir John Eliot Gardiner for Salzurger Festpiele 2021, Handel’s Messiah for Academy of St.Martin in the Fields, and Mozart Requiem with the RPO at Cadogan Hall.