During HGO’s 2025-26 season, Butler Studio alumnus Michael Sumuel performs the role of Porgy in Porgy and Bess. Sumuel has been seen regularly at HGO in roles such as Sharpless in Madame Butterfly (2024); Marcello in La bohème (2018); Belcore in The Elixir of Love (2016); Papageno in The Magic Flute (2015); Superintendent Frank in Die Fledermaus (2013); Masetto in Don Giovanni (2013), and many more. During the 2025-2026 season, Sumuel returns to the Metropolitan Opera to sing Papageno in The Magic Flute. He also makes debuts at the Bavarian State Opera in Munich as Leporello in Don Giovanni, as well as the Deutsche Oper Berlin, performing Alberich in Wagner’s complete Ring Cycle and Achilla in Giulio Cesare. During the 2024-25 season, Sumuel returned to the Metropolitan Opera and debuted with Opera Australia in Sydney to sing the title role in The Marriage of Figaro; performed in his first performances as Porgy in Porgy and Bess with Washington National Opera; and performed as Sharpless in Madame Butterfly with the Canadian Opera Company and LA Opera. During the 2023-24 season Sumuel’s engagements included singing Reginald in a new production of X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X at the Metropolitan Opera and the Forester in The Cunning Little Vixen at Detroit Opera. Sumuel is the recipient of a Richard Tucker Career Grant. He is a Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Grand Finalist and a winner of the Dallas Opera Guild Vocal Competition.
Dr. Dulcamara: THE ELIXIR OF LOVE 2009-10 (Alternate cast)
Noble of Brabant: LOHENGRIN 2009-10
Sciarrone: TOSCA 2009-10 (Mainstage and Miller Outdoor Theatre)
Narumoff: THE QUEEN OF SPADES 2009-10
Sharpless: MADAME BUTTERFLY 2010-11 (Mainstage and Miller Outdoor Theatre), 2023-24
Motorcycle Cop/Prison Guard: DEAD MAN WALKING 2010-11
Antonio: THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO 2010-11
Lackey: ARIADNE AUF NAXOS 2010-11
Schaunard: LA BOHÈME 2012-13 (Mainstage, Miller Outdoor Theatre, and Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion)
Masetto: DON GIOVANNI 2012-13
Superintendent Frank: DIE FLEDERMAUS 2013-14 (Mainstage and Miller Outdoor Theatre)
Papageno: THE MAGIC FLUTE 2014-15
Belcore: THE ELIXIR OF LOVE 2016-17
Marcello: LA BOHÈME 2018-19