Samuel Sakker

Cassandra Digital Access premiered on Friday 19 March and is available on-demand until Sunday 19 December.

Last 3 major performances 

• Rodolfo, La bohème, Scottish Opera, 2020

• Faust, Faust et Hélène - Lili Boulanger, Royal Stockholm Symphony Orchestra conducted by Alan Gilbert & BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by James Gaffigan, 2018

• Alfredo, La traviata, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, 2016

Education/Training

• Jette Parker Young Artist, The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden

Age when you started singing

I was singing before I could walk. I think my poor parents couldn’t keep me quiet, so they settled with channelling my noise into something pleasant to listen to!

Favourite opera

Puccini’s 'spaghetti western’ La fanciulla del West - The Girl of the Golden West. Gorgeous music, a ripper story, and one of his rare happy endings! If you could transcribe love into music notation, it would be the big love duet of Act 2.

Favourite opera role to perform

I can’t wait to sing Dick Johnson in Fanciulla some day soon. He’s a goody and a baddy  but with a big heart, and singing great tunes - but really I love roles that are big, brash and ballsy with a healthy dollop of schmaltz. Give me anything Verismo and I’ll make a meal of it.

A fun fact not many people know about you

During the first UK COVID lockdown, I worked in PPE distribution for the NHS Supply Chain at St Thomas’ Hospital in London. My wife and I are very glad to now be here in Melbourne. Also, I’m a proud cat dad, who can do a mean Northern Irish accent, so I can.

Where’s the strangest place you’ve performed?

The Paradise Paladium Theatre in Moorunda. A former pig shed, converted into a theatre in a town of 15 people.

Tell us about your hobbies outside opera.

Since arriving back in Melbourne, my wife and I have become kitten foster parents, fostering poor little, neonate, orphans. Hand rearing these little cuties has brought a lot of happiness to our uncertain ‘Covid normal’.

Awards

Bel Canto Award 2020

GRAMMY Nominee “Best opera recording” Adams: Doctor Atomic 2018

Winner of the Wagner Society Singing Competition 2017

International Opera Award 2017

Ian Potter Cultural Trust Grant 2014

Dame Nellie Melba Opera Trust 2010-11

Quotes

L’etoile, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden

“Mr. Sakker, who first made me sit bolt upright as the First Armed Man in Die Zauberflöte, and has since sung the gruelling tenor part in Das Lied von der Erde wonderfully… his is a natural Wagnerian Heldentenor of amazingly dark, rounded power and heft – you know, like Kaufmann when he actually turns up”

Stephen Jay-Taylor, Opera Brittania 2016

L’Arlesiana, Opera Holland Park 

“Samuel Sakker sang Federico with great commitment and ringing top notes. His lament “È la solita storia” was plangently phrased and he rose well to the character’s delirium when Federico finds out that Metifio is going to abduct his girl from Arles.” 

Mark Pullinger, Bachtrack 2019

Der fliegende Holländer, Angers Nantes Opéra 

"En fiancé trahi, l’excellent Samuel Sakker, dans le rôle d’Erik, est digne de bien des éloges. Ses duos avec Senta sont des moments de pure beauté et de grande profondeur." [In betrayed fiance, the excellent Samuel Sakker, in the role of Erik, is worthy of much praise. His duets with Senta are moments of pure beauty and great depth.] 

Thierry Martin, unidivers.fr 2019

Faust et Hélène, BBC Symphony Orchestra 

"Skilfully serviced by the ardent Faust of the tenor Samuel Sakker”

Geoff Brown The Times 2019

Tosca, English Touring Opera, York

"Samuel Sakker phrased his Cavaradossi with a real appreciation of what the Italian was all about. His is a tenor with serious promise, beautifully focused throughout its range.”

 Martin Dreyer The York Press 2017