Christian Van Horn

In the 2025/26 season, Van Horn returns to The Metropolitan Opera, bowing as Giorgio Walton in a new production of Bellini’s I Puritani, which will be part of The Met’s Live in HD series, and as Escamillo in Bizet’s Carmen. He also sings Escamillo at the Wiener Staatsoper later in the season. Van Horn returns to the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées as Méphistophélès in Berlioz’s La Damnation de Faust, and sings Filippo II in Verdi’s Don Carlo at The Dallas Opera, a role he debuted last season in the opera’s French version. He brings his “chilling” (Operawire) interpretation of the title role in Bartók’s Bluebeard’s Castle to Canadian Opera Company, and closes his season as Timur in Puccini’s Turandot at the Bayerische Staatsoper. On the concert stage, Van Horn will join the LA Phil for Mozart’s Requiem, performed at the Hollywood Bowl.

Last season, Van Horn returned to The Metropolitan Opera, starring as the Four Villains in Offenbach’s Les contes d’Hoffmann, which received a Live in HD broadcast. He made his role debut as Philippe II in Don Carlos at Opéra national de Paris, a performance Bachtrack praised, saying “the American bass-baritone reflects in his singing and his acting the multiple facets of this complex character that is Philippe II, and delivers a high-quality ‘Elle ne m’aime pas,’ with remarkable control.” Van Horn also sang the title role in Bluebeard’s Castle with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Esa-Pekka Salonen, returned to the role of Escamillo in Carmen for both San Francisco Opera and at the Royal Opera House, made his title role debut in Verdi’s Attila presented in concert at the Teatro Real, and returned to the Arena di Verona for Verdi’s Nabucco. He also joined Opera Baltimore for their 2025 Opera Gala, and returned to the Lyric Opera of Chicago for a special concert celebrating the Life of Sir Andrew Davis.

Van Horn is a beloved presence on the world’s greatest stages. Throughout his career, Van Horn has performed more than one hundred times each at The Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco Opera, and Bayerische Staatsoper. He has thrilled global audiences through the Met’s popular Live in HD series, including star turns in Wozzeck, Lucia di Lammermoor, Die Zauberflöte, Falstaff and The Exterminating Angel. In these broadcasts, The Guardian hailed him as “a revelation.”

“A bass-baritone of uncommon agility and power,” (The New York Times), Van Horn has stepped into the shoes of opera’s greatest villains and anti-heroes, including several iterations of the Devil himself. As Méphistophélès in Gounod’s Faust, Van Horn has brought his “sinister debonair charm” (Bachtrack) to Opéra National de Paris, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and others. At The Metropolitan Opera, he has sung the tempting Nick Shadow in The Rake’s Progress, as well as the title role in Boito’s rarely performed Mefistofele, which led The New York Times to proclaim, “Long may he reign in hell.”

Les contes d’Hoffmann’s Four Villains has become a signature for the bass-baritone, and he has performed it on some of the world’s preeminent stages, including The Metropolitan Opera, Opéra national de Paris, the Salzburg Festival, San Francisco Opera, LA Opera, and the Bayerische Staatsoper. Of his performances in Paris, Bachtrack said, “Van Horn’s laugh said it all – he savored every moment as the saboteur to Hoffmann’s joy and happiness … Van Horn sang with intense firmness throughout the night. He exuded confidence with every single note.”

While miscreant roles in Mozart’s Don Giovanni and Bluebeard’s Castle populate his resume, Van Horn’s versatility also allows him to play nice as Escamillo in Carmen, Raimondo in Lucia di Lammermoor, Colline in La bohème, and the title role in Massenet’s Don Quichotte, a performance Operawire called “A true portrait of a tormented hero.”

Van Horn has dazzled international audiences with his concert performances, and he has collaborated with renowned orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, Philadelphia Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Berlin Philharmonic, gracing prestigious venues from Carnegie Hall to the Salzburg Festival. His rich instrument has shone in recorded music as well, including the title role in Le Nozze di Figaro on Sony Classical. His many accolades include the 2018 Richard Tucker Award and top honors in the Metropolitan Opera National Council competition.

Born in Rockville Centre, New York, Van Horn earned his Bachelor of Music from the State University of New York at Stony Brook before attending the Yale School of Music, where he received both his Master’s degree and Artist Diploma. He is also an alumnus of the prestigious Lyric Opera of Chicago Ryan Opera Center.