The Boston Musical Intelligencer recently credited bass-baritone Matthew Burns with “a rare combination of comic timing, musical ability and stellar acting.” His 2018-2019 season included Suplice in La fille du regiment with Opera Carolina, Dulcamara in L’elisir d’amore with Virginia Opera, Dr. Bartolo in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Opera Roanoke, and Dansker in Billy Budd with Central City Opera. The 2019-2020 season sees him join the Metropolitan Opera roster for Die Zauberflöte, return to Michigan Opera Theatre as Leporello in Don Giovanni and Opera Omaha as Lorenzo in I Capuletti e i Montecchi, and join Festival Napa Valley for Goodbye Mr. Chips.

A master-interpreter of comedic roles, Mr. Burns is highly sought-after as Leporello in Don Giovanni, which he has performed with Utah Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, Austin Lyric Opera, Opera Memphis, Opera Cleveland, and Opera Omaha. He is also well-known for his performances of Doctor Bartolo (Opera Roanoke, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Virginia Opera, Opera Omaha, Orlando Philharmonic) and Don Basilio (Dayton
Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Sarasota Opera), both in Il barbiere di Siviglia, and Figaro in Le nozze di Figaro (Virginia Opera, Opera Grand Rapids).