Biography
Mezzo-Soprano Megan Mikailovna Samarin, praised by Opera News as a “poised, classy singer with an impressively even, supple mezzo-soprano,” is a recent alumna of the Houston Grand Opera Studio.
Recently, Ms. Samarin debuted with the New York Philharmonic in Mozart’s Requiem under the baton of Manfred Honeck, and with the Lexington Philharmonic in Retablo de Navidad by Joaquin Rodrigo. She also sang alongside Joseph Li in an Emerging Artist Recital, as part of Opera America’s Onstage at the Opera Center Recital Series in New York City. In addition, she performed Siebel in Gounod’s Faust with San Antonio Opera and Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro with the Aspen Music Festival. In the 2019-20 season, she is covering the role of Ankhesenpaaten in Glass’ Akhnaten at the Metropolitan Opera.
In the 2017-18 season, Ms. Samarin was featured at Houston Grand Opera as Sesto in Giulio Cesare, and as Carla Mae in the world premiere of Ricky Ian Gordon’s The House Without a Christmas Tree. She made her Mercury Orchestra debut in “Loving Clara Schumann,” a theatrical multi-media project utilizing the music of both Robert and Clara Schumann. Ms. Samarin also returned to Wolf Trap Opera as ldamante in ldomeneo. Concert highlights included Wolf Trap Opera’s Aria Jukebox Concert, Wolf Trap Opera’s Vocal Colors Recital at the Philips Collection, and The Richard Tucker Music Foundation Rising Stars Concert in Vail, Colorado.
Read moreReviews
“Watch for mezzo-soprano Megan Mikailovna Samarin, an artist with vocal intrigue and acting skill to back it up as she proved as Romeo in Bellini’s I Capuleti e I Montecchi, in this season’s Faust and Nixon in China.”
“Megan Mikailovna Samarin offered a sonorous, cushy mezzo and an appealing earnestness.”
More Reviews
“Watch for mezzo-soprano Megan Mikailovna Samarin, an artist with vocal intrigue and acting skill to back it up as she proved as Romeo in Bellini’s I Capuleti e I Montecchi, in this season’s Faust and Nixon in China.”
“Megan Mikailovna Samarin offered a sonorous, cushy mezzo and an appealing earnestness.”
“Like her music, Samarin’s Olga is skittish and full of spirit. Her warm tone and winning stage presence give her character a sunny soul.”
“Mezzo-soprano Megan Samarin looked the part of Johanna—pretty, blond, virginal— but sang in a distinctly grand, operatic style.”
“…but the finest vocal performance was young artist mezzo-soprano Megan Samarin’s anguished Marzia, Cato’s daughter and Caesar’s lover.”
