Zaikuan Song, operatic bass, is a native of China. Mr. Song is acclaimed for his powerfully resonant voice and compelling dramatic presence across a wide range of operatic repertoire. His roles span from the comic characters of Donizetti, Mozart, Puccini, and Rossini to the noble and dramatic portrayals of Verdi.
Mr. Song’s notable engagements include The Bonze in Madame Butterfly, Colline in La Bohème, Raimondo in Lucia di Lammermoor, Dragon/Dog in The Big Swim, Rambaldo in La Rondine, The King and Ramfis in Aida, Timur in Turandot, Commendatore in Don Giovanni, Banco in Macbeth, and Sarastro in The Magic Flute. He has sung the roles of Germano in La Scala di Seta, Simone in Gianni Schicchi, Frank Maurrant in Street Scene, Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro, Dulcamara in L’elisir d’amore, Mr. Emerson in A Room with a View. Past season credits include leading roles with Utah Opera, Opera Tampa, Opera Delaware, Opera on the James, Opera Orlando, Houston Grand Opera, Opera Grand Rapids, Opera Carolina, Toledo Opera, Opera Southwest, MSU opera theatre, and concert appearances with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis Gerdine Young Artist Program in 2022.
As an accomplished recital and concert artist, Mr. Song has been the bass soloist in Verdi Requiem with Pacific Symphony, Fairbanks Symphony Orchestra, Opera Orlando, National Philharmonic, Beethoven Symphony No.9 with Pacific Symphony, Handel’s Messiah with Chapel Music at Duke University in North Carolina, and bass soloist in Bach Cantata at the MSU auditorium building in East Lansing, a guest singer at Opera Carolina Gala at Belk Theater, and Celebrating Music that United our community at Halton Theater in North Carolina.
Mr. Song is the recipient of the Top Prize at the National NATS Competition (Advanced College/Independent Studio Men’s Division, Las Vegas) and was a Midwest Regional Finalist in the 2020 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, winning Third Prize. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from Michigan State University and both Master’s and Bachelor’s degrees in Vocal Performance from the China Conservatory of Music.