Norman E. Brown, Founding Artistic Director
Canadian baritone Norman E. Brown is celebrated for his rich vocal tone and versatile repertoire. Critics describe his voice as “full, rich – a pleasure to the ear” and “extremely well-projected.” With an extensive career spanning opera, oratorio, and concert performances, Norman has performed across Canada, the United States, Europe, and Japan.

Operatic Roles

Norman’s diverse operatic roles include:

• Mozart: Don Giovanni (Don Giovanni), Speaker (The Magic Flute)

• Puccini: Sharpless and Bonze (Madama Butterfly), Michele (Il Tabarro)

• Wagner: King Heinrich (Lohengrin)

• Donizetti: Raimondo (Lucia di Lammermoor)

• Gounod: Count Capulet (Romeo and Juliet)

• Menotti: Melchior and Balthazar (Amahl and the Night Visitors)

• Verdi: Marchese d’Obigny (La Traviata)

• Rossini: Don Magnifico (Cenerentola)

• Other roles: Benoit/Alcindoro (La Bohème), Medico/Notaro (Gianni Schicchi)

Norman has appeared as a soloist with prominent companies and ensembles, including Opera Lyra Ottawa, Stara Zagora State Opera (Bulgaria), Wakayama Opera (Japan), Opera by Request (Toronto), Southern Ontario Lyric Opera, Pellegrini Opera (Ottawa), Accademia Europea dell’Opera (Italy), Cathedral Bluffs Symphony Orchestra-Tryptich Opera, Mississauga Symphony, and Abridged Opera (Windsor) and New Opera Lyra.

Conducting Career

In addition to his singing, Norman is an accomplished conductor. He has led several Ottawa-based choirs and worked with the Ottawa Choral Society, including conducting performances in Canada and Italy. He served as assistant conductor for Suor Angelica and Così fan tutte with AEDO in Italy.

With OperOttawa, Norman has conducted productions of:

• Handel’s Messiah (most recently 2024)

• Alcina (2024)

• The world premieres of What is Love (2022) and Gates of Heaven: Requiem for a Life of Peace (2024)

• Suor Angelica and The Magic Flute during the 2023–24 season

• Giulio Cesare in Egitto (2025)

Recent Highlights

Norman was awarded a Canada Council grant in conducting and received mentorship from Leslie Dala (Vancouver Opera) during the 2023–24 season. He also collaborated with the Vancouver Bach Choir, Early Music Vancouver (Alexander Weimann), and Orchestre Classique de Montréal (Simon Rivard, Jacques Lacombe) as a conducting auditor.

Additional invitations included a workshop with the Elmer Iseler Singers (Lydia Adams) and a conducting fellowship with the Boise Baroque Orchestra (Robert Franz) in June 2024.

Norman was Guest Conductor of Rachmaninov’s Aleko with New Opera Lyra in March 2025

Future Projects

Norman E. Brown continues to excel as a baritone and conductor, contributing significantly to the world of opera and choral music.