Lawrence Brownlee is a leading figure in opera, both as a singer who has graced the world's top stages, and as a voice for activism and diversity in the industry. Captivating audiences and critics around the globe, he has been hailed as “an international star in the bel canto operatic repertory” (The New York Times),“one of the world’s leading bel canto stars” (The Guardian), and “one of the most in-demand opera singers in the world today” (NPR).

Brownlee's 2024-2025 season include his debut as the title role in Mitridate, re diponto at the Boston Lyric Opera, where he garnered rave reviews from the Boston Globe, Classical Voice North America and others for his vocal performance. As Tonio in La fille du regiment and as Arturo in I Puritani, he will make a return to Opéra national de Paris. Besides that, he will star in productions at the Metropolitan Opera New York, New National Theatre in Tokyo, Auditori Barcelona, and State Opera Munich. Brownlee will perform a Duo Gala Concert with Levy Sekgapane with the Latvian National Orchestra, and will embark on a Rising Recital US Tour that will continue into Canada as well as Oslo.

Highlights of Brownlee’s recent past seasons include his return as Ernesto in Don Pasquale to Teatro alla Scala Milan and as Tonio in La fille du regiment to Lyric Opera Chicago, as well as his role debuts as Tamino in Die Zauberflöte at the Metropolitan Opera New York, as Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor at New National Theatre Tokyo and Fernand in a new production of Donizetti’s La Favorite with Houston Grand Opera. In spring 2021, Brownlee joined The Juilliard School as a Distinguished Visiting Faculty Member. He serves as artistic advisor for Opera Philadelphia, and is an Ambassador for Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Lyric Unlimited as well as Opera for Peace.

Amidst the challenges of COVID-19, Brownlee emerged as a pivotal voice in classical music’s shift toward digital programming and the resurgence of conversations around racial justice. A passionate advocate for diversity initiatives, Mr. Brownlee works with companies and engages civic organizations in the cities he visits to create programs and experiences seeking to expand opera audiences. In May 2020, Brownlee launched “The Sitdown with LB,” a weekly Facebook Live series exploring the experience of being an African-American opera singer. In 2021Brownlee expanded the series to include a segment titled “Inside the Industry” where he shifted the focus to a behind-the-scenes look at the opera industry.

Brownlee is a Grand Prize Winner of the 2001 Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions. Brownlee is a winner of numerous awards and distinctions including “Male Singer of the Year” (2017 International Opera Awards), the Kennedy Center’s Marian Anderson Award, and the Opera News Award (2021). In October 2019, he had the distinct honor of singing at Jessye Norman’s funeral in her hometown of Augusta, Georgia.