Australian bass-baritone Daniel Sumegi made his debut in 1988 and has an impressive career behind him. In the 34th year of his career, with over 110 roles in his repertoire, he has sung at the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Covent Garden and the Paris Opera, as well as major opera companies across the United States, Europe, Asia, South America and Australia.
In December 2023 Sumegi will make his overdue debut as Wotan/Wanderer in Opera Australia's new production of Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen, followed by a re-engagement by the MET to cover Padre Guardiano in their new La Forza del Destino. Other engagements in 2023 included performances as The Old Hebrew in Samson et Dalila for Seattle Opera, covering König Heinrich in Lohengrin for the MET, Verdi's Requiem at Carnegie Hall and a return to Atlanta Opera for Das Rheingold in the role of Fafner.
January 2022 saw Daniel Sumegi making his Atlanta Opera debut in The Pirates of Penzance. He added another new role to his vast repertoire: King Henry in Wagner's Lohengrin for Opera Australia in May, starring superstar tenor Jonas Kaufmann. In June he returned to Los Angeles Opera, stepping in for an ailing colleague for Aida. In September he returned to the Metropolitan Opera for Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk, and in November, he took part in Opera Australia's spectacular new Carmen, performed on Sydney Harbour's Cockatoo Island naval yards, reprising the role of the Toreador Escamillo.
In March 2021, Sumegi made his stage debut in the title role of Bluebeard's Castle for Opera Australia. He also appeared for them as Ramfis in Verdi's Aida, before Covid once again shut down the remainder of the season after opening night. November 2021 saw Sumegi's company and role debut in the Irish National Opera's new production of Beethoven's Fidelio.
In 2020, Daniel Sumegi took part in Singapore's premier performance of Wagner's Die Walküre, staged by Orchestra of the Music Makers, before reviving his beloved John the Baptist for Victorian Opera's critically acclaimed new production of Salome. The rest of his planned year was ultimately cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Sumegi's recent projects included Baron Ochs in Der Rosenkavalier for Melbourne Opera as well as Hunding in act one of Die Walküre for Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, led by Sir Andrew Davis. in 2018/19 he appeared as Pogner in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg for Opera Australia, Jokanaan in Salome for his Isreal Opera debut, and made his title role debut in Der fliegende Holländer for Malmö Opera in Sweden. Another debut included act one of Die Walküre for his first appearance with the Stuttgarter Philharmoniker, and he returned to his beloved Seattle Opera for Zuniga in a new production of Carmen, directed by Paul Curran. His season concluded with his first musical theater engagement, as Judge Turpin in Sweeney Todd, starring theater legend Anthony Warlow.
2017 comprised of concert performances of Pelléas et Mélisande with Sydney Symphony Orchestra under Charles Dutoit, and Thaïs with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra under Sir Andrew Davis. Madama Butterfly was the first of four operas Sumegi took part in for Seattle Opera, the others being Il barbiere di Siviglia, Beatrice and Benedict, and Aida.
The 2016 season began with Sumegi's appearances as Count Walter in Verdi's Luisa Miller for San Francisco Opera, followed by performances for Opera Australia as Sarastro in The Magic Flute, Nourobad in Les pêcheurs de perles and Wurm in Luisa Miller. He made his debut with the Singapore's Orchestra of the Music Makers in Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, after which he returned to Seattle Opera for Daland in Der Fliegende Holländer. A revival of Kevin Puts' Manchurian Candidate for Austin Opera was proceeded by Opera Australia's acclaimed and award- winning revival of Wagner's Ring Cycle. 2016 was rounded out with his debut at the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra for Act 1 of Wagner's Die Walküre.
In 2015 Daniel Sumegi took part in the world premiere of The Manchurian Candidate for Minnesota Opera from the same team that created the Pulitzer Prize winning Silent Night. He returned to Opera Australia for Sarastro in Julie Taymor's award winning Magic Flute as well as the Grand Inquisitor in Elijah Moshinsky's sumptuous production of Don Carlo.
In 2013/14 Daniel Sumegi appeared in Opera Australia's first ever complete Ring Cycle, as Fasolt and Hagen, for which he was nominated for a 2014 Helpmann Award, and also performed for them as Sparafucile in Rigoletto and Prince Gremin in Eugene Onegin. He returned to Los Angeles Opera for Billy Budd, as Mr. Flint, and also completed engagements for West Australian Opera, as Sarastro in Magic Flute and West Australian Symphony Orchestra as soloist in programs of Brahms' Four Serious Songs and Rossini's Stabat Mater. He also portrayed the role of Death in Emperor of Atlantis for Lost and Found Opera. In August 2014 he made his role and company debut in concert with Victorian Opera, as Oroveso in Norma, before making his Hong Kong Opera debut as Jokanaan in Salome.
2012/13 was given over mainly to the Bicentennial of Richard Wagner. Sumegi appeared as Fasolt, Hunding and Hagen in an epic 7-hour compact Ring Cycle undertaken at the famed Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires. He also returned to Seattle Opera to take part in the last outing of their acclaimed 'Green Ring', repeating his assignments as Fafner and Hagen. Amongst these projects he toured to Japan for Escamillo in Carmen for Al Productions. as well as Duke Bluebeard in Bluebeards Castle, in concert for both the Perth and Brisbane International Arts Festivals.
Other recent engagements include Macbeth and Don Giovanni (Opera Australia), Madama Butterfly and Billy Budd (Metropolitan Opera), Elektra (Perth International Arts Festival) and The Lighthouse (Dallas Opera). He also performed in concert with the Western Australian and Melbourne Symphony Orchestras.
Other past performances include the Ring Cycle (Seattle Opera) and Der Fliegende Holländer (State Opera of South Australia). Götterdämmerung (New National Theater, Tokyo), a return to the Metropolitan Opera to cover Daland in Der Fliegende Holländer, and his first time as Wotan and the Wanderer, serving as cover for Los Angeles Opera's Ring Cycle. Mr. Sumegi appeared in Salome (Washington National Opera), Rigoletto (Los Angeles Opera), Götterdämmerung (Opera du Rhin. Strasbourg) and San Francisco Opera's Ring Cycle.
2008/2009 assignments featured Act 1 of Die Walküre (Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra). The Mikado (Arizona Opera). The Messiah (Sydney Philharmonic and Royal Melbourne Philharmonic), Opera Australia's New Year's Eve Gala at the Sydney Opera House and Die Zauberföte and Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk (Opera Australia).
2007/2008 engagements included Tannhäuser (Opera Australia). Tosca (Knoxville Opera), Elektra (Washington Opera) as well as concerts with Portugal's Gulbenkian Orchestra and an opera highlights concert with Opera Hamilton. Daniel Sumegi also gave his Australian Recital debut at the Art Gallery of New South Wales with a program including Mussorgsky, Songs and Dances of Death.
2006/2007 appearances included Barbiere di Siviglia (Glimmerglass Opera) and Der Rosenkavalier (Scottish Opera) a revival of Macbeth (Frankfurt), A Midsummer Night's Dream, Parsifal, and Die Frau Ohne Schatten (Hamburg), Mahler's Symphony No. 8 in Madrid and Der Fliegende Holländer (Seattle Opera).
2005/2006 performances included Nabucco (Opera Australia), Don Carlo and Barber of Seville (Welsh National Opera), Salome (Opera North), Salome, A Midsummer Night's Dream (Hamburg State Opera) and Aida (Montreal).
The 2004/2005 season saw debuts in Frankfurt (Title role in Ernst Bloch, Macbeth), Los Angeles (La Boheme). Barcelona (Parsifal) and the Cincinnati May Festival (Shostakovitch 13th Symphony under James Conlon). He returned to the Metropolitan Opera (Der Rosenkavalier), Cologne Opera (Götterdämmerung) and Washington Concert Opera (Luisa Miller)
In the 2003/2004 season Daniel Sumegi's performances included: Cologne Opera (Götterdämmerung). Opera Australia (Salome, Flying Dutchman), Minnesota Orchestra (Messiah), Austin Lyric Opera (Flying Dutchman). the Metropolitan Opera (Götterdämmerung). Welsh National Opera (Carmen). and Mahler's 8th Symphony under Sir Simon Rattle in Birmingham.
In the 2002/2003 season Daniel Sumegi's performances included: Washington Opera (Japan Tour of Tosca, Otello and Sly), Welsh National Opera (Tosca), Opera Montpellier (Medea), Dallas Opera (Turandot), Minnesota Opera (Der fliegende Holländer). Opera Australia (Carmen), Sydney Philharmonic (Elijah) and Washington Concert Opera (Stiffelio).
He has previously appeared in the United States with the Metropolitan Opera (Boris Godunov, Peter Grimes, Don Carlo), San Francisco Opera (Andrea Chenier, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Der Rosenkavalier, Capriccio, La Boheme, Die Meistersinger, Pique Dame, II Trovatore, Tannhauser, The Fiery Angel, Salome, Aida), Washington Opera (Il Guarany, Boris Godunov, The Crucible, I Puritani, Otello, Tosca, Don Carlo). Houston Grand Opera (Macbeth, Aida, Don Giovanni), San Diego Opera (Die Zauberflöte, Der Fliegende Holländer), Minnesota Opera (Faust), Utah Opera (Fidelio), Palm Beach Opera (Samson et Dalila). Washington Concert Opera (Il Pirata) and Glimmerglass Opera at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (L'incoronazione di Poppea). An Adler Fellow with the San Francisco Opera Center from 1992 until 1994 he also toured the U.S. in Western Opera Theater's mounting of La Boheme and traveled with that production to Japan.
The Australian born bass-baritone has performed with all of Australia's major opera companies in productions of Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Il barbiere di Siviglia, Die Zauberflöte, Aida, Faust, La boheme, Samson et Dalila, Eugene Onegin, Simon Boccanegra, Les contes d'Hoffmann, Tristan and Isolde, Tosca, Carmen and Salome. In 1988 he sang the role of Ramfis in the Sydney season of the International Opera Festival production of Aida, subsequently singing the role of the King for their season in Tokyo, marking his international debut. He was a San Francisco Opera Center/Merola Opera Program participant in 1991, making his U.S. debut as Dr. Grenvil in La Traviata. Mr. Sumegi made his first European appearance in 1992 at Vienna's Konzerthaus in concert performances of Bellini's Beatrice di Tenda and made his British debut in recital for the London Opera Festival at the Southbank Centre. He also took part in the Barcelona Olympic Games Arts Festival in the world premiere of the opera Asdrubila. In 1994 Daniel Sumegi made his Italian debut in Der Freischütz, and in recital for the Teatro Giuseppe Verdi of Trieste, and, also in 1994. he sang the title role in the North American premiere of Sir Michael Tippett's King Priam for the San Francisco Opera Center. In January 1995 Daniel Sumegi sang once again in Italy, at the Teatro Regio di Torino in A Midsummer Night's Dream followed by seasons of Faust and Macbeth for Holland's National Reisopera, and in June 1996 he returned to the San Francisco Opera for a centennial production of La boheme.
Successful in voice competitions the young artist is the recipient of numerous scholarships and awards including the 1994 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions - Bruno Walter Prize and the 1995 William Matthews Sullivan Foundation Award. He was a winner of the Placicio Domingo World Opera Contest/Operalia 2, which was held in Madrid in October 1995 and a finalist in the 1992 Pavarotti/Philadelphia Opera contest. He has won most of the singing prizes that exist in Australia.
He has worked under noted conductors such as James Conlon, Sir Andrew Davis, Charles Dutoit, Dan Ettinger, John Fiore, Asher Fisch, Valery Gergiev, Nicola Luisotti, Sir Charles Mackerras, Renato Palumbo, Sir Simon Rattle, Carlo Rizzi, Donald Runnicles, Nello Santi, Sir Jeffrey Tate, Simone Young, Edo de Waart, and Sebastian Weigle.
Other international engagements include Paris Opera (Billy Budd), Cologne Opera (Götterdämmerung), Bonn Opera (Die Zauberflöte), Opera Nantes (Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk), Welsh National Opera (Der Rosenkavalier, Tosca), Vlaamse Opera (Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg). Teatro Municipal Santiago (I Lombardi), Nationale Reisopera (Faust, Macbeth), Oviedo Spain (Don Giovanni), State Opera of South Australia (Aida, Der Ring des Nibelungen. Parsifal, Verdi Requiem, Tosca), Opera Australia (Aida, Barbiere, Faust, La Boheme, Samson et Dalila, Simon Boccanegra, Les contes d'Hoffmann, Tristan and lsolde, Carmen, Salome), Sydney Symphony Orchestra (Beethoven Symphony No.9, Mahler 8th Symphony, Siegfried). Orquestra Sinfonica de Tenerife (Beethoven 9th. Dvorak Stabat Mater), and the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden (Richard Tucker Gala).
Daniel Sumegi can be heard on CD in Beatrice di Tenda from Vienna's Konzerhaus, and on Seattle Opera's newly released 2013 Ring Cycle. He also appears on video in the San Francisco Opera Production of Capriccio, and on DVD/Blueray in Don Giovannifrom Opera Australia and Teatro Colon's Ring Cycle.