Nathan Berg
Hailed as “an extra-ordinary actor” (Forum Opéra), theatrically “Cinematic” (Classique News) and with “impeccable” technique (Opera News), Canadian bass-baritone Nathan Berg’s career to date has encompassed a vast range of styles and repertoire and he is in demand by some of the world’s most distinguished conductors including Esa-Pekka Salonen, Emmanuelle Haïm, Roger Norrington, Hans Graf, Philippe Herreweghe, Vasily Petrenko, Vladimir Ashkenazy, and Michael Tilson Thomas.
In recent seasons Nathan has added multiple dramatic roles to his repertoire, including the title role in Der fliegende Holländer in his Bolshoi Theatre debut; Alberich (Das Rheingold) with Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra under Myung-Whun Chung; and the Doctor (Wozzeck) with BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra. This continued in 2016 with Mariusz Trelinkski’s new production of Bluebeard’s Castle for Teatr Wielki and the Water Sprite (Rusalka) for Beijing’s National Centre for the Performing Arts. In 2014–2015 Nathan made his company debut for La Scala in Robert Carson’s world premiere production of Battistelli’s CO2.
A further highlight in 2015–2016 included Nathan’s company debut for Semperoper Dresden as Zoroastro (Orlando) in Andreas Kriegenburg’s production and a highlight of his upcoming season is his Salzburg Festival debut as the King in Handel’s Ariodante performing alongside Cecilia Bartoli. An active concert artist, Nathan will join the Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks for L’enfant et les sortilèges under Esa-Pekka Salonen, the Wratislavia Cantans International Festival for Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 under Jacek Kaspszyk, Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra for Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 under Andrés Orozco-Estrada, and the Orquesta Sinfónica del Principado de Asturias for Dream of Gerontius under Rossen Milanov. In Canada, Nathan returns to the Saskatoon Symphony for Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9.
A Grammy-nominated and Juno Award-winning artist with more than 30 audio and video releases to his credit, Nathan has recorded extensively with Les Arts Florissants, including Mozart’s Requiem and Handel’s Messiah. His lieder recordings include songs by Othmar Schoeck and the album Lieder Recital with pianist Julius Drake. He has also recorded Dvořák’s Stabat mater with Robert Shaw and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Recent DVD releases include Lully’s Armide from the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées under William Christie and Glyndebourne Festival Opera’s production of Rossini’s La Cenerentola.
Born in Saskatchewan, Nathan Berg studied in his native Canada, the United States, Paris, and at the Guildhall School of Music, where he won the Gold Medal for Singers.
