Sanford Sylvan
Bass-baritone and vocal teacher
A graduate of the Manhatten School of Music, Sanford Sylvan is a Grammy and Emmy nominated vocal artist renowned for his expressive interpretations and wide-ranging musical tastes. He has performed with many of the leading orchestras of the world including the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, London Symphony, Academy of Ancient Music and the NHK (Japanese Broadcasting Corporation) Symphony. He has performed in chamber music with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Boston Symphony Chamber Players and Music from Marlboro. Sanford Sylvan has sung in nearly every New England Bach Festival since his New England Bach Festival debut in 1980. Sylvan’s festival appearances have also included the Edinburgh, Tanglewood, Vienna, Holland, Schleswig-Holstein, Ojai, and Carmel Bach. In 2003 he made his debut at Oregon Bach Festival and made his New York City Opera debut in Mozart’s The Magic Flute.
Sanford Sylvan has been highly praised for his performances in the opera productions of Peter Sellars and Craig Smith, both in the USA and Europe. He has sung in premiere performances of operas by Phillip Glass, Peter Maxwell Davies and John Adams, including the Death of Klinghoffer with performances in Lyon, Vienna, San Francisco and Glyndebourne.
Sanford Sylvan has given highly praised recitals throughout North America and Europe. With his longtime collaborator, pianist David Breitman, he has performed extensively throughout the USA, Canada and Europe in venues including Carnegie Hall and London's Wigmore Hall. Sanford Sylvan has been seen internationally in portrayals of Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro and Don Alfonso in Cosi fan tutti in segments of “Great Performances” on PBS. He received Grammy and Emmy awards for his role in John Adams’ Nixon in China, and received Grammy nominations for his recording with David Breitman, L ’Horizon Chimérique. His recordings appear on the Nonesuch, Decca, Harmonia Mundi, Musicmasters, Bridge, Koch, Virgin Classics, New World and CRI labels.
Mr. Sylvan is currently on the vocal faculty of the Schulich School of Music at McGill University in Montreal and many of his students have already won prestigious national and international awards and recognition.
