Devon Opera people
Sam Young sings Marcello
Sam studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He is an Opera Prelude Young Artist and a previous Emerging Artist for Longborough Festival Opera. He will be returning to Longborough this summer to perform the role of Aeneas in Dido and Aeneas, and to cover the role of Bartolo in Il barbiere di Siviglia. He has previously worked for companies that include Glyndebourne and English National Opera.
Do you have any unexpected or surprising talents outside music? Nothing particularly exciting. I can do a few weird and niche impressions (but am terrible at accents).
Beach or woodland walk? I’d always opt for a beach walk, though it can be a pain if you’re lacking the appropriate footwear (sand can be a nightmare).
Mozart, Monteverdi or Massenet? Mozart’s the man - he can do it all!
What is your favourite book and why? I’m not a huge reader, but I’ve always been a fan of The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. It's a short, simple but very spiritual story, that is almost as much a self-help book as it is a novel. I came across it at a young age, and have often gravitated back to it as an adult.
How did you get involved in Devon Opera? I auditioned for the company in Autumn 2024, and was very fortunate to be offered a role in this production.
Who do you play in our production of La bohème? I am playing the role of Marcello, a struggling painter living in an apartment with Rodolfo. He has an on-off romance with the character Musetta throughout the show, somewhat mirroring the dynamic between Rodolfo and Mimi.
Do you do/have you done anything else for Devon Opera? This will be my first time working with Devon Opera.
What are you currently working on besides Devon Opera? I will be working with Longborough Festival Opera this summer, performing the role of Aeneas in their production of Dido and Aeneas, and also covering Bartolo in their production of Il barbiere di Siviglia.
Dogs or Cats? Dogs all the way!
What is your favourite Film? The Lord of the Rings trilogy - extended editions of course.
Your Desert Island luxury? Chocolate (so long as it doesn’t melt!)
What is your musical guilty pleasure? I wouldn’t call it a ‘guilty’ pleasure, but I am extremely passionate about modern metal music. The sort of music you wouldn't necessarily play unsolicited for a group of people! I’m even part of a metal project myself, which is a real far-cry from my day job!
And most importantly, what is your favourite Opera and why?It’s cliché, but mine would genuinely be Bohème. It’s not too long, has beautiful music, moments of both great fun and poignancy. It’s hard to ask more out of a show. But I think Pagliacci would be a close second!