Biography
Michael Borth is a critically acclaimed German baritone whose expressive stage presence and colourful voice make him one of the most sought-after singers of his generation. Engagements at the Gran Teatre del Liceu, the Opéra national du Rhin, the Komische Oper Berlin, the Theater Basel, the Rossini Opera Festival Pesaro, and in major concert halls worldwide testify to his stylistic versatility and broad repertoire.Recent highlights of his career include appearances as Donner in Der Ring des Nibelungen at Theater Basel, directed by Benedikt von Peter and Caterina Cianfarini, under the musical direction of Jonathan Nott, as well as his debut at the Bregenz Festival as Kilian in Philipp Stölzl's spectacular open-air production of Der Freischütz.
In the 2025/26 season, Michael Borth will appear in the world premiere of Jan Müller-Wieland's melodrama Der Reisende (The Traveller) with the Dresden Philharmonic Orchestra under the musical direction of Gergely Madaras and alongside Ulrich Noethen, Birgit Minichmayr and Kangyoon Shine Lee. He will also return to the Theater Freiburg for a new production of Rigoletto and make his debut as Clov in György Kurtág's opera Fin de Partie at the Theater Basel, directed by David Marton and conducted by Gábor Káli.
Other important roles in recent years include Joseph de Rocher in Dead Man Walking (Landestheater Detmold), Nick Shadow in The Rake's Progress and Mackie Messer in Die Dreigroschenoper at Theater Freiburg, Papageno in Die Zauberflöte (Opéra national du Rhin), Mark Rutland in Nico Muhly's Marnie – a performance that earned him a nomination as "Singer of the Year" in the 2023 Opernwelt critics' poll – and his highly acclaimed debut as Platon Kuzmich Kovalyov in Shostakovich's The Nose at Theater Basel, directed by Herbert Fritsch.
At Theater Freiburg, where Michael Borth was a member of the soloist ensemble from 2018 to 2023, he sang numerous central roles in his field, including Onegin, Don Giovanni and Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro. He also sang Dr Falke in Die Fledermaus, Lescaut in Massenet's Manon, the Forester in The Cunning Little Vixen, the title role in Peter Maxwell Davies' Mr. Emmet Takes A Walk and Peter Vogel in Korngold's Der Ring des Polykrates.
Michael sang the role of the forester in a studio recording by SWR of Janáček's The Cunning Little Vixen, in a chamber orchestra version by Fabrice Bollon, which was nominated for the Golden Gramophone Award. Other important recordings include the live recording of Fabrice Bollon's second opera The Folly, in which Michael can be heard as Erasmus of Rotterdam, and a DVD production of Turandot at the Gran Teatre del Liceu Barcelona in 2019.
Early international engagements took him to the Teatro Massimo Palermo, the Rossini Opera Festival Pesaro, and the Gran Teatre del Liceu. He also made a successful guest appearance as Il Dio in Handel's Silla with Europa Galante under Fabio Biondi in Japan. Michael has worked with a number of internationally renowned conductors, including Hartmut Haenchen, Roberto Abbado, Henrik Nánási, Michele Spotti, Josep Pons, André de Ridder, and Emmanuel Villaume.
Michael Borth studied in Weimar with Siegfried Gohritz and at the Hanns Eisler Academy of Music in Berlin with KS Roman Trekel. As a member of the Centre de Perfectionnement Plácido Domingo opera studio in Valencia, he made his debut as Albert (Werther) and Starveling (A Midsummer Night's Dream), among other roles.
Artist Website
www.michaelborth.comManagement
Artist Manager
Natascha van Randenborgh
Associate Director
natascha@orlob.net
Mobil: +49-173-7 76 88 20
News
We're thrilled to welcome baritone Michael Borth
German baritone Michael Borth is known for his expressive stage presence and a voice of great warmth and nuance. He has performed at major venues including the Komische Oper Berlin, Theater Basel, the Bregenz Festival, and the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona.
Recent highlights include Donner in the new Ring at Theater Basel, his debut as Kilian in Der Freischütz at the Bregenz Festival, and the critically acclaimed world premiere of Jan Müller-Wieland’s Der Reisende with the Dresden Philharmonic. Most recently, he debuted as Monterone in Rigoletto at Theater Freiburg in a highly praised new production.
Upcoming projects feature György Kurtág’s Fin de Partie in a new production by David Marton, conducted by Gábor Káli—marking the Swiss premiere at Theater Basel—and his summer debut as Beckmesser in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. Presented by the Richard Wagner Association Minden, the production will take place at the Stadttheater Minden as the tenth and final performance of the Bayreuth Canon, directed by Jakob Peters-Messer with Frank Beermann conducting.
Recent highlights include Donner in the new Ring at Theater Basel, his debut as Kilian in Der Freischütz at the Bregenz Festival, and the critically acclaimed world premiere of Jan Müller-Wieland’s Der Reisende with the Dresden Philharmonic. Most recently, he debuted as Monterone in Rigoletto at Theater Freiburg in a highly praised new production.
Upcoming projects feature György Kurtág’s Fin de Partie in a new production by David Marton, conducted by Gábor Káli—marking the Swiss premiere at Theater Basel—and his summer debut as Beckmesser in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg. Presented by the Richard Wagner Association Minden, the production will take place at the Stadttheater Minden as the tenth and final performance of the Bayreuth Canon, directed by Jakob Peters-Messer with Frank Beermann conducting.
Media
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Press
Der Reisende / Kulturpalast Dresden / 11.11.2025 / sueddeutsche.de
"Die zweite Gesangspartie vereint den Schwager und den illoyalen Geschäftspartner, Michael Borth singt sie mit grandioser Klarheit."
Der Reisende / Kulturpalast Dresden / 11.11.2025 / deropernfreund.de
"Der Tenor Kangyoon Shine Lee als der hilflose, schwärmerisch naive Sohn Eduard im Pariser Exil und der stimmlich und deklamatorisch hervorragende Bariton Michael Borth in den Rollen des Geschäftpartners Becker und des Schwagers Ernst ergänzen die Gruppe der Solisten."
Der Reisende / Kulturpalast Dresden / 10.11.2025 / backstageclassical.com
"Borth verleiht der Rolle eine tiefe Lebendigkeit, indem er Willi mit einer gewissen Gefühltskälte singt, ihn aber auch nicht als einen bloßen Opportunisten intoniert, sondern auch seine innere Spaltung zeigt."