A graduate of the Lindemann Young Artist Development Programme at The Metropolitan Opera, South African bass Msimelelo Mbali is an alumnus of the National Opera Studio, London, United Kingdom for the 2019/2020 season. In 2018 he was awarded the Baroque Prize by the Umculo Music Incubator, at the Voices of South Africa International Opera Singing Competition, after-which he performed in the English National Opera’s award winning Porgy and Bess and their 2018’s production of Benjamin Britten’s WAR Requiem at the London Coliseum. In January 2019 he performed with the Dutch National Opera in their version of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess in Amsterdam, Netherlands. In July 2019 Msimelelo received the second prize in the Voices of South Africa International Opera singing competition, he then, acquired a place as a Young Artist at the National Opera Studio in London, United Kingdom for the 2019/2020 advanced opera programme where he received opportunities to perform on the UK stages in the programme’s residencies with roles ranging from Plutone in Monterverdi’s L’orfeo, 2nd Elder in Handel’s Susanna at Opera North(Leeds) and at the Welsh National Opera(Wales) as Don Alfonso in Mozart’s Cosi fan Tutte and Collatinus in Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia. In September/October 2020, Msimelelo made his debut as The Undertaker at Theater An der Wien, Austria in their production of Porgy and Bess. In October 2021, Msimelelo made his Metropolitan Opera House debut as The Undertaker in Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. In February 2022 he made his second appearance at The Metropolitan Opera House as the third Flemish Deputy in Verdi’s Don Carlos. In the Summer of 2022 Msimelelo performed in a Juneteenth celebration concert with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center where he rendered African American Spirituals in commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States. In September 2022, Msimelelo made his role debut at the English National Opera in London, as Angelotti in their production of Puccini’s Tosca. In December 2022, Msimelelo was the Bass soloist in three concerts of Beethoven’s ninth symphony with the Mzantsi National Orchestra conducted by Marin Alsop. In March 2023 Msimelelo performed in a staged production of Verdi’s Messa da Requiem at Konzert und Theater St. Gallen, Switzerland whereafter he joined their music theater ensemble for the 2023/2024 season, performing roles such as Professor Warnerkros in the world premiere of Tobias Picker’s Lili Elbe, Briefträger/Friederikes Vater in Elizabeth Naske‘s Die Feuerrote Friederike and Jago in Verdi‘s Ernani. Upcoming perfomances at Theater St. Gallen include Walter Furst in Rossini‘s Guillaume Tell and Lysander in Purcell‘s The Fairy Queen. In the fall of 2024 Msimelelo made his role debut as Sarastro in Opera North’s production of The Magic Flute by Mozart.…A graduate of the Lindemann Young Artist Development Programme at The Metropolitan Opera, South African bass Msimelelo Mbali is an alumnus of the National Opera Studio, London, United Kingdom for the 2019/2020 season. In 2018 he was awarded the Baroque Prize by the Umculo Music Incubator, at the Voices of South Africa International Opera Singing Competition, after-which he performed in the English National Opera’s award winning Porgy and Bess and their 2018’s production of Benjamin Britten’s WAR Requiem at the London Coliseum. In January 2019 he performed with the Dutch National Opera in their version of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess in Amsterdam, Netherlands. In July 2019 Msimelelo received the second prize in the Voices of South Africa International Opera singing competition, he then, acquired a place as a Young Artist at the National Opera Studio in London, United Kingdom for the 2019/2020 advanced opera programme where he received opportunities to perform on the UK stages in the programme’s residencies with roles ranging from Plutone in Monterverdi’s L’orfeo, 2nd Elder in Handel’s Susanna at Opera North(Leeds) and at the Welsh National Opera(Wales) as Don Alfonso in Mozart’s Cosi fan Tutte and Collatinus in Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia. In September/October 2020, Msimelelo made his debut as The Undertaker at Theater An der Wien, Austria in their production of Porgy and Bess. In October 2021, Msimelelo made his Metropolitan Opera House debut as The Undertaker in Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. In February 2022 he made his second appearance at The Metropolitan Opera House as the third Flemish Deputy in Verdi’s Don Carlos. In the Summer of 2022 Msimelelo performed in a Juneteenth celebration concert with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center where he rendered African American Spirituals in commemoration of the end of slavery in the United States. In September 2022, Msimelelo made his role debut at the English National Opera in London, as Angelotti in their production of Puccini’s Tosca. In December 2022, Msimelelo was the Bass soloist in three concerts of Beethoven’s ninth symphony with the Mzantsi National Orchestra conducted by Marin Alsop. In March 2023 Msimelelo performed in a staged production of Verdi’s Messa da Requiem at Konzert und Theater St. Gallen, Switzerland whereafter he joined their music theater ensemble for the 2023/2024 season, performing roles such as Professor Warnerkros in the world premiere of Tobias Picker’s Lili Elbe, Briefträger/Friederikes Vater in Elizabeth Naske‘s Die Feuerrote Friederike and Jago in Verdi‘s Ernani. Upcoming perfomances at Theater St. Gallen include Walter Furst in Rossini‘s Guillaume Tell and Lysander in Purcell‘s The Fairy Queen. In the fall of 2024 Msimelelo made his role debut as Sarastro in Opera North’s production of The Magic Flute by Mozart.WWWW…