George’s Biography
A rising star
Born in Tulcea, Romania, George Virban is considered one of the most promising and outstanding lyric tenors of his generation. His refined and sparkling voice makes him perfectly suited for a wide range of operatic roles such as Don Ottavio, Ferrando, Tamino, Nemorino, Fenton, Alfredo, and Lensky, as well as classic operetta characters like Eisenstein, Alfred, Koltay, Sou-Chong, Mister X, and Marco Polo.
Studies
He began his musical studies in 2009 at the Dimitrie Cuclin Arts High School in Galați, and four years later was admitted to the National University of Music in Bucharest, where he completed both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees by 2019.
He has since won numerous awards at prestigious competitions in Romania and France, including the Jeunes Espoirs Singing Competition in Avignon, the Georges Enesco Singing Competition in Paris, and the Virginia Zeani Singing Competition in Târgu Mureș. From 2013 to 2015, George Virban was a scholarship recipient of the Young Talents Program of the Margareta of Romania Royal Foundation.
His most recent international accolade came in 2024, winning a prize at the inaugural edition of the Sumi Jo International Singing Competition held at Château de La Ferté-Imbault in France.
Stage experience
Even during his studies, he appeared regularly as a soloist at the Romanian National Opera in Bucharest and the Ion Dacian National Operetta and Musical Theatre, where he is currently a permanent soloist in the ensemble.
His international debut came in 2016 as Lensky in Eugene Onegin at the Saransk Opera House in Russia.
From 2019 to 2021, he was a member of the Opera Studio at the Bavarian State Opera in Munich.
In the 2023/24 season, he joined the ensemble of the Aalto Theater in Essen, where he performed roles such as Ferrando in Così fan tutte and Valentino in Fausto by Louise Bertin.
In the 2024/25 season, he returned to the Aalto Theater as a guest artist for his debut as Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni.
2025
Spring 2025 has found George at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, covering the role of Tamino in Simon McBurney’s production of Die Zauberflöte, followed by a concert tour in South Korea with internationally renowned soprano Sumi Jo.
Adding to his stage achievements, he will make his debut as Sou-Chong in Lehar’s The Land of Smiles at the Bucharest Operetta Theatre, and will close the 2024/25 season in Haifa with a series of performances as Lensky in Eugene Onegin. The 2025/26 season brings new collaborations with major opera houses such as the Israeli Opera in Tel Aviv, the Shanghai Opera House, and the Bavarian State Opera in Munich.