The “powerful bass-baritone” (Wall Street Journal) Musa Ngqungwana, a native of Port Elizabeth, South Africa, has been hailed for his “rich, glowing voice and elegant legato” (The New York Times) and his “striking stage presence and a dignity that never falters” (The Arts Desk).
This season, the “standout performer” (The Times) joins the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra Summermusik Festival for Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 and returns to Garsington Opera in 2025 as Pizzaro in Fidelio. He covers King Amonasro in the Metropolitan Opera’s production of Aida and covers Pizzaro in the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s presentation of Fidelio.
Last season, Musa returned to the Royal Danish Opera for Verdi’s Aida, portraying King Amonasro, after making his house debut in the 22/23 season (“impeccable legato”, Opera Traveller). Musa also sang Don Bartolo in two productions of Rossini’s comedic masterpiece, The Barber of Seville, first at Pittsburgh Opera (“His warmly burnished tones and naturally appealing stage presence make him a pleasure in any role he takes”, onStage Pittsburgh) and then at North Carolina Opera. In concert, he appeared with the New World Symphony in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony (praised for his “warm, mellow bass and subtle phrasing”, South Florida Classical Review) and gave a Distinguished Alumni Recital at his alma mater, the University of Cape Town.
A versatile performer, Musa has been recognized for his talent in both dramatic and lighter roles, his portrayals described as being “played with anguished magnificence” (The Guardian) as well as “brilliantly comedic” (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette). Musa has received particular critical acclaim for his portrayal of the title role in Porgy and Bess, appearing at the Glimmerglass Festival, Washington National, Atlanta, Grange Park, and Malmö Operas, and with the Lithuanian State Symphony Orchestra as well as the Frankfurt Radio Symphony. Financial Times celebrated his Porgy, writing “his rich bass-baritone plumbs depths of feeling in a moving portrayal”, while Opera Today described him as “a force of nature […] with a voice of such jaw-dropping beauty, richness, and power”.
In 2014, Musa was nominated for the Marian Anderson Award at the Kennedy Center, and was the 2013 Grand Finals Winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. He graduated with Honors in Performance (First Class) from the University of Cape Town and is a graduate of the prestigious Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia. His memoir, Odyssey of an African Opera Singer, was published by Penguin Random House. For more information, visit www.musangqungwana.com.
