Matthew Cairns Tenor

Matthew Cairns obtained his master’s degree in opera performance at the University of Toronto. He was the winner of the 2022 Metropolitan Opera Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition and a finalist in the 2022 Neue Stimmen competition. He was the First Prize winner of the 2018 Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio Competition and winner of the CBC Music Young Artist Development Prize. In his first year in the Lindemann Young Artists Program, he made his Metropolitan Opera debut as the Messenger (Aida) and covered Bob Boles in Peter Grimes.

He also performed as Macduff (Macbeth) at the Canadian Opera Company in Toronto and Don José (Carmen) at Des Moines Metro Opera. As a former member of the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio, he appeared as the Prince of Persia (Turandot), the Witch (Hansel and Gretel), the Gamekeeper (Rusalka), and covered Alfredo in La traviata.

He performed Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni) and Gherardo (Gianni Schicchi) with the Centre for Opera Studies in Italy, Liberto (L'incoronazione di Poppea) with Opera Theatre of St. Louis, and (The Student Prince) at the Chautauqua Institution, where he placed first in its Sigma Alpha Iota Competition. Other roles include Count Belfiore (La finta giardiniera), Sam Kaplan (Street Scene), Sam Sharkey/Lumberjack (Paul Bunyan). During the 2023/24 season, Matthew Cairns is covering Walther von der Vogelweide in Tannhäuser and Leonard in Kevin Puts’ new opera, The Hours. He then performs in Bravissimo Opera’s Greatest Hits concert with the Canadian Opera Company and makes his debut in France as Nicias (Thaïs) with Opéra de Toulon. Next season, he will return to the Canadian Opera Company as Ismaele (Nabucco) and Drum Major (Wozzeck).

Paris Opera debut