Selected Reviews:
Le Monde
“The title role is sung by Sean Michael Plumb, whose robust baritone and vocal line both supple and richly textured, are perfectly suited to the spiritual strength of this messenger of God ready for martyrdom.” Billy Budd, Opéra de Lyon
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung
“Sean Michael Plumb, young, athletic, radiant, is vocally and dramatically the center of gravity.” Billy Budd, Opéra de Lyon
Les Echos
“The production also boasts a stellar cast... including the magnetic, utterly natural Billy Budd portrayed by American baritone Sean Michael Plumb.”
Billy Budd, Opéra de Lyon
Résonances Lyriques
“At the top of the cast, Sean Michael Plumb doesn’t just play Billy—he is Billy: natural, passionate, vibrant, youthful, enthusiastic, animated, impetuous, and irresistibly spontaneous, the actor lights up the stage from the very start, while the baritone astounds with his velvety tone and a remarkable composure in this wide range extending up to A. With a rather clear timbre and a resonant voice, he moves effortlessly from chest voice to mixed voice and even falsetto. The highlight of his performance, the monologue opening Act IV—delivered like a Lied—overflows with refinement and sensitivity”
Billy Budd, Opéra de Lyon
Opéra Magazine
“Sean Michael Plumb is remarkable thanks to a well-projected voice, firm low notes, and beautiful expressive qualities.”
Billy Budd, Opéra de Lyon
Le Figaro
“The young Billy Budd, portrayed with a clear, superbly resonant voice by Sean Michael Plumb. The American baritone shines.”
Billy Budd, Opéra de Lyon
Cult News
“His voice is capable of taking on a thousand colors… one cannot praise enough the softness and beauty of his final aria.”
Billy Budd, Opéra de Lyon
ClassyKeo
“His fresh, grounded voice, with its exquisite expressive delicacy, deeply touches the heart during his final plea.”
Billy Budd, Opéra de Lyon
Télérama
“One must single out the rich, luminous timbre of baritone Sean Michael Plumb.”
Billy Budd, Opéra de Lyon
Olyrix
“The title role is sung by Sean Michael Plumb, whose powerful, resonant voice possesses a timbre that is both full-bodied and luminous.”
Billy Budd, Opéra de Lyon
WebThéâtre
“Sean Michael Plumb pulls off the remarkable feat of stuttering without compromising the quality of his singing.”
Billy Budd, Opéra de Lyon
Forumopera
“Sean Michael Plumb delivers a radiant Billy, both scenically and vocally.”
Billy Budd, Opéra de Lyon
Il Giornale della Musica
“His singing conveys sweetness and joy with the same intensity, as well as pain and resignation.”
Billy Budd, Opéra de Lyon
Bachtrack
“His voice of singular tenderness perfectly conveys this luminous marginality.”
Billy Budd, Opéra de Lyon
Sceneweb
“A vocal line of luminous beauty and infinite tenderness.”
Billy Budd, Opéra de Lyon
Opera Online
“A true ‘good guy’ with a shimmering, luminous, warm voice, free of any flaws.” Billy Budd, Opéra de Lyon
Leidmotif
“With his warm, powerful baritone and radiant high notes, he combines vocal power with a disarming simplicity.”
Billy Budd, Opéra de Lyon
Opera News
“Full, exciting lyric baritone.”
The New York Times
“Elegant lyricism and responsive musicality.”
The New York Times
“An unusually assertive, stylish Schaunard.”
La bohème, Metropolitan Opera
The Philadelphia Inquirer
“Sean Michael Plumb managed an intimacy that made the distance in the hall disappear.” Carmina Burana, Philadelphia Orchestra
La Nación
“Baritone Sean Michael Plumb's Billy Budd was extraordinary.”
Billy Budd, Teatro Colón
Observer
“the biggest impression among the four Bohemian roommates came from Sean Michael Plumb’s ebullient Schaunard, whose lustrously smooth baritone shone in every appearance.”
La bohème, Metropolitan Opera
Parterre
“Sean Michael Plumb was an absolute delight as the musician Schaunard.”
La bohème, Metropolitan Opera
Operawire
“He is definitely a singer on the rise!”
La bohème, Metropolitan Opera
BroadwayWorld
“The younger Galileo… the most outstanding voice in the cast.”
Galileo Galilei, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
Der Opernfreund
““No less impressive was the baritone Sean Michael Plumb, who sang Frank and Pierrot Friz with equally fantastic Italian vocal technique and a sonorous, bright timbre, wonderfully in line and incredibly expressive. His very fervently performed song Mein Sehnen, mein Wähnen was the highlight of the evening!”
"Nicht minder zu begeistern wusste der Bariton Sean Michael Plumb, der den Frank und den Pierrot Friz mit ebenfalls phantastischer italienischer Gesangstechnik und sonorem hellem Timbre wunderbar auf Linie und ungemein ausdrucksstark sang. Sein sehr inbrünstig dargebotenes Lied Mein Sehnen, mein Wähnen, geriet zum Höhepunkt des Abends! "
Die tote Stadt, Bayerische Staatsoper
Dallas Morning News
“Sean Michael Plumb is an agile and delightfully goofy Papageno, with a finely focused baritone.”
Die Zauberflöte, Dallas Opera
Mundo Clasico
“A powerful and supple center, as well as brilliant high notes.”
Il barbiere di Siviglia, Bayerische Staatsoper
Klassik Begeistert
“His baritone convinces from the very beginning with incredible richness of color.”
Così fan tutte
Operatraveller
"Plumb gave us a youthful Billy. His baritone is in excellent shape, so handsome in tone, with a rich, full bottom, a middle firm of tone, and a seemingly unlimited top. There was a wide-eyed innocence to his singing, that freshness of tone making Billy sound impetuous and full of life. Yet Plumb also found an introspection to his Darbies aria, founded on a smooth, even legato that gave a great amount of pleasure. This was a role debut for Plumb and, with the handsomeness of the tone and enthusiastic stage presence, it’s a role he was undoubtedly born to sing. A notable debut from this genuine and generous artist."
Billy Budd, Teatro Colón
Operatraveller
"Sean Michael Plumb was a very fine Guglielmo. The voice full of youthful sheen, sung off the text, in a warm, handsome baritone. He pulled out a lovely legato in ‘il core vi dono’ and his ‘donne mie’ was sung with wit, charm as well as frustration brought out through the words."
Cosi fan tutte, Bayerische Staatsoper
Barcza
“The remarkable Sean Michael Plumb… such a pretty sound!”
Carmina Burana, Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Opera World
“One of the great promises of the American pool of singers.”
Richard Tucker Gala