Chuanyuan Liu
Praised for his "otherworldly flourish" (The Wall Street Journal), "intense stage presence" (Classical Voice North America), and "natural, sensitive feel with embedded lyrical nuance" (The Millbrook Independent), Chinese countertenor Chuanyuan Liu (刘川源) is proving himself a strong presence amidst the new generation of countertenors. His deep passion for story-telling inspires him to connect with his audience through empathy, authenticity, and creativity. Raised in China, but having spent his adulthood in the US, Chuanyuan is dedicated to seeking out musical projects that celebrate both the commonalities and the differences of the two worlds. He will begin his 2023-24 season with one such project, performing the title role in White Snake Projects' world premiere of Monkey by Jorge Sosa and Cerise Jacobs.
During the 2022-23 season, Chuanyuan returns to Toledo Symphony Orchestra as the alto soloist in Handel's Messiah, and to Pittsburgh Opera for his role debut of Polinesso in the Pittsburgh premiere of Handel's Ariodante. Later in the season he debuts the role of Ottone in a new production of Handel's Agrippina with CCM Opera. He also makes his company and role debut with Victory Hall Opera in their innovative Orpheus & Erica: a Deaf opera, playing Amore and covering Orfeo. In summer 2023, Chuanyuan will be a Renée Fleming Artist at the Aspen Opera Theater and VocalARTS (AOTVA) program, debuting the role of César in Jimmy Lopez and Nilo Cruz's Bel Canto.
The 2021-22 season provided a wonderful outlet for Chuanyuan’s passion for contemporary music, seeing him in three world premiere operas. He made his professional operatic debut at Pittsburgh Opera in Christopher Cerrone and Stephanie Fleischmann's critically acclaimed In a Grove (The Priest/The Medium), and made his Verizon Hall and Philadelphia Orchestra debut in the concert version of Kevin Puts and Greg Pierce’s The Hours (Man Under the Arch/Hotel Clerk). Chuanyuan then covered the leading role of Song Liling in Huang Ruo and David Henry Hwang's imaginative and intersectional work, M. Butterfly 蝴蝶君 during Santa Fe Opera’s summer 2022 season.