Martin Snell bass
Martin Snell was born and educated in Dunedin.
After law studies and professional qualification
he commenced postgraduate vocal studies with
Patrick McGuigan at the Royal Northern College
of Music, Manchester, in September 1991,
graduating with distinction in 1994. He has
received many awards and scholarships, including
the 1993 Mobil Song Quest and a scholarship
from the Peter Moores Foundation, London.
Notable opera engagements include his
début as Ein Notar in Richard Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier at Teatro alla Scala,
Milan, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden and Opéra de Paris Bastille; Lorenz von
Pommersfelden (Mathis der Maler), Don Pedro (Béatrice et Bénédict), and
Foka (Charodeyka) and Montolino in Bellini’s La Straniera at Theater an der
Wien; diverse roles for the Bayreuth Festival 2005-2013; The King of Heaven in
Somtow Sucharitkul’s The Silent Prince and Daland (Der fliegende Holländer)
with Bangkok Opera; Lo zio Bonzo in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly for NZ Opera
in Christchurch and Carlo in Bellini’s Bianca e Fernando for Opera St Moritz.
Notable concert performances include Verdi Requiem in Bremen, Chemnitz
and Munich, Janàcek’s Glagolitic Mass as well as Kuno (Der Freischütz) with
Sir Colin Davis and the London Symphony Orchestra, Schubert Mass Nr.6 and
Haydn’s Die Jahreszeiten in Madrid, Tannhäuser with Marek Janowski and the
Rundfunkorchester Berlin, his début as Fasolt in Wagner’s Das Rheingold in
Biel/Bienne, the title-role in Mendelssohn’s Elijah in Wellington and Zürich,
Mozart Requiem in Basel and Milan, Haydn’s Die Schöpfung in Switzerland,
Händel’s Messiah and Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis in New Zealand.
Future engagements include concert and opera appearances in Switzerland,
Germany, New Zealand and Romania.
13