Brent's Bio

Acclaimed by Opera News as a "standout...with a breathtakingly lush voice," American bass, Brent Michael Smith has been building an exciting international career. He joined the Ensemble at Opernhaus Zürich in 2021, and has since made multiple role debuts, with more coming.

This season Brent makes his debut as Angelotti in Tosca at Opernhaus Zürich singing alongside Jonas Kaufman, Bryn Terfel and Sondra Rodvanovsky with Gianandrea Noseda conducting. He also debuts as Sir Gualtiero Raleigh in Roberto Devereux, a new production by David Alden’s. He will sing Gremin in Eugene Onegin with Noseda conducting followed by Frère Laurent in Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette, a new production by Ted Hufmann. He returns as Bass Soloist in Christian Spuck’s ballet Monteverdi and closes the season singing Hermit in Der Freischütz.

Brent has sung around the United States at companies such as Opera Philadelphia, The Santa Fe Opera, The Ravinia Festival, Arizona Opera, Detroit Opera, Kentucky Opera, Central City Opera and The Glimmerglass Festival.
 

He is a former studio member/apprentice artist of the International Opera Studio at Opernhaus Zürich, The Santa Fe Opera, The Glimmerglass Festival, Michigan Opera Theatre and Central City Opera, among others.
 

Brent is the Third Prize winner in Il Concorso Lirico Internationale di Portofino (2021), a Finalist in The Queen Sonja International Music Competition (2021), a National Semifinalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions (2020), the Second Prize winner in The Giargiari Bel Canto Competition (2019), a winner of the Sachi Liebergesell Award of the Opera Index Competition (2018), the Third prize winner in the Opera Birmingham International Competition (2018) and First Prize winner of the Grand Rapids Opera Competition (2012).