Adam Lau

Adam Lau, Bass http://www.adampaullau.com/

American bass Adam Lau, praised as "a bass whose singing resonates in every sense of the word", continues a busy and varied career in opera and concert with a wide range of engagements in the 2023-24 season.

He began the summer of 2023 in concerts with the Metropolitan Opera, both at Carnegie Hall and on the company's European tour, conducted by the Met's Music Director, Yannick Nezet-Seguin. He next appeared as Sarastro in The Magic Flute at The Ravinia Festival, led by Marin Alsop.
 
In Autumn 2023, Mr. Lau rejoined San Francisco Opera, where he covered the role of Kobun in The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs and sang a Noble in Lohengrin. Early 2024 finds him making his debut with The Atlanta Symphony, singing Bruckner's Te Deum. Next, he returns to Utah Opera to sing a favorite part, the title role in The Marriage of Figaro. More Mozart follows as he joins Arizona Opera as The Commendatore in Don Giovanni. 
Returning to the concert stage, he sings Verdi Reuiem at Artosphere Festival and Beethoven's 9th Symphony with Saskatoon Symphony. In summer 2024 ,he will record the role of Oroveso in Norma.
 
The 2022-23 season was also a busy one for Adam Lau. He made his debut with four opera companies- San Francisco Opera, New Orleans Opera, Opera Company of Philadelphia and Florentine Opera, and he returned to the Metropolitan Opera.
 
Some of his most-performed roles are Leporello in Don Giovanni, Colline in La Boheme, Don Basilio in The Barber of Seville and Timur in Turandot, with such companies as Seattle Opera, Atlanta Opera, Dallas Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Portland Opera, North Carolina Opera and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, as well as with some of the nation's leading summer programs, including Merola Opera Center ,Aspen Opera Theater and Santa Fe Opera.
 
Adam Lau has won First Prize in The George London Competition and The Jensen Vocal Competition.

Opera Repertoire

Composer Opera Role
Barry The Importance of Being Earnest Lane/Merriman
Corigliano The Ghosts of Versailles Louis XVI
Donizetti Viva la Mamma! Poeta
Harbison The Great Gatsby George Wilson
Massenet Thaïs Palémon
Morrison Oscar Leggatt/Butler
Mozart Don Giovanni Leporello
Mozart Don Giovanni Masetto
Mozart Le Nozze di Figaro Figaro
Mozart Le Nozze di Figaro Bartolo
Mozart Le Nozze di Figaro Antonio
Mozart Die Zauberflöte Sarastro
Mozart Die Zauberflöte Sprecher
Portman The Little Prince Baobab/Hunter
Puccini La Bohème Colline
Puccini Gianni Schicchi Simone
Puccini Tosca Angelotti/Sciaronne
Puccini Turandot Timur
Rossini Il Barbiere di Siviglia Don Basilio
Verdi Nabucco High Priest of Baal
Verdi La Traviata Barone

Concert Repertoire

Composer Composition Role
Beethoven Symphony 9
Händel Messiah
Haydn The Creation
Haydn Pauckenmesse
Stravinsky L’Histoire du Soldat Narrator

Press Acclaim

“Adam Lau as Oroveso brought feeling and dignity to his characterization. His voice is supple and fluid and made the pain he feels at Norma’s confession palpable as he tries to understand what motivated Norma to turn her back on her religion.”

Edward Reichel, Utah Arts Review

Adam Lau‘s (Oroveso) gorgeous bass voice lends regal command to his role as leader of the druids. He shows the turmoil and absolute heartache of attempting to balance his position as both a father and political leader perfectly.

Jennifer Mustoe, Front Row Reviewers Utah

“Adam Lau as Kōbun Chino Otogawa has a wonderful, rich, and clear bass sound and his comedic timing is spot on.”

Molly Cassidy, Drama in the Hood

“...the superb bass ADAM LAU as Creon. Lau made a strong impression!”

Brian Kellow, OPERA NEWS

“Adam Lau’s BRILLIANT Mephistopheles. whose bold, dramatic singing off-book characterized the diabolic intent to drag the old scholar out of his study!”

THE DAMNATION OF FAUST, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic

The Guardian, Alfred Hickling

The strongest of them was Lau, which was probably just as well, since his airs tend to have the strongest dramatic impact. His committed internalization of “Why do the nations so furiously rage together” was so strong that he delivered the entire performance without opening his score. ”

Messiah with San Francisco Symphony

SF Examiner

“Also making a stunning impression was thirty-year-old bass Adam Lau, who displayed a uniformly beautiful tone and keen acting skills in Claggart’s aria from “Billy Budd”. Lau’s final “I will destroy you” seemed to hang in the air for some time after he finished singing.”

Brian Kellow, OPERA NEWS

Tai Oney’s puppy-doggish Oronte and Adam Lau’s Berardo had less to do, but each singer delivered the vocal goods convincingly. Lau is a bass to keep an eye on.

Chicago Tribune

Berardo is sung by bass Adam Lau, and he shows wonderful power. Admittedly, here the low beauty of his voice is blessed by being surrounded by an array of very high voices, but he is clearly an outstanding talent.

Broadway World

Bass Adam Lau was an attractive, sympathetic Berardo, the servant who saves Costanza, with an attractive, well-used voice.

St. Louis Today

The best performance was delivered by Adam Lau, an outstanding Alfonso in every sense, vocal as well as theatrical, and stylistically even more accurate than his young colleagues.

Sebastian Spreng KNIGHT ARTS

“…But the real find here was Adam Lau as the philosopher Colline. Lau, has a bass of real quality with sonorous low notes that project admirably. Lau gave an elegant performance of this very brief, but moving aria.”

Greg Stepanich, PALM BEACH ARTS PAPER

“Adam Lau as Don Giovanni’s base servant Leporello was the crowd favorite for his likable mimickry of a contemporary “gangsta rapper” look, while filling the theater with a compelling bass voice. His thuggish coat tugs and streetsmart strut along with his athletic crawling and groveling on the floor added a lot of excitement and humor to the show.”

Beeri Molaem, SAN JOSE CLASSICAL MUSIC EXAMINER

“Three FGO Young Artists gave strong performances… Adam Lau’s deep bass once again delivered power and excellence as the High Priest of Baal.”

Jean François LeJeune, OPERA NEWS

“Adam Lau as The Speaker did not disappoint- again, providing a wise and steadfast bass/baritone. Lau is really a very lovely singer, and I am very excited to watch this young man’s career.”

Judy O. Marchman, OPERAGASM

“Lau rendered a magisterial “Thus saith the Lord” …excitement bristled in Lau’s aria “Why do the nations so furiously rage together.” MESSIAH with MO. JOHN NELSON, CINCINNATI SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

Mary Ellen Hutton, THE CINCINNATI ENQUIRER

“Adam Lau’s contribution as Colline, gives a hint that his fouth act aria will land, which it does with honor and some Pinza-ish tone. Lau is one Young Artist to watch out for.”

Jeff Haller, CONCERTONET.COM

Media

Adam Lau, Bass as Kōbun in the (R)evolution of Steve Jobs with Seattle Opera

Adam Lau, Bass, Claggart's aria, Billy Budd, Britten, George London Competition

Adam Lau, Bass, Di Due Figli ...Abbietta Zingara, Il Trovatore

Adam Lau, Bass, An die Musik, Schubert, FGO 2012

Adam Lau, Bass, Il Gran Sacerdote, Nabucco, Verdi  FGO, February, 2014

Adam Lau, Bass, Sprecher, Die Zauberflöte, FGO, 2012

Adam Lau, Bass, Raphael, Credo Music Festival, 2014

Adam Lau, Bass, Raphael recit: And God made the firmament, Wheaton College Artists Series, 2014

Adam Lau, Bass, Danse Macabre, Saint-Saëns

Press Kit

Click on a file below to download.

Headshot - (.jpg)

Biography - (.pdf)