"A Voice of warmth & fire"
Praised for a warm voice and energetic stage presence, with a particular affinity for the Italian belcanto tradition, alongside the great French, Russian and German operatic repertoire and oratorio.
The role of Anichino… was well sung by Iranian-born tenor Sam Elmi.
A voice between two worlds.
From Mashhad to Sydney — Sam balances a career as a general practitioner with a life on the opera stage, championing the Italian belcanto and French operatic traditions across Australia, Europe and the UK.
Read the full storyBiography
From Iran to Sydney — studies at the Sydney Conservatorium under Dr Rowena Cowley, and masterclasses with Vladimir Chernov, Chris Merritt and others.
Music & Recordings
Selected arias, oratorio excerpts and recital programmes spanning belcanto, French opera and the great oratorios.
Performances
Opera roles, concert appearances and recent engagements — from Pluton in Offenbach's Orphée to Ismaele in Nabucco.
From belcanto to oratorio.
Sam Elmi brought a warm, lyrical tone to Ismaele. — Classikon
See all performancesVoices he has become.
Hover any role to see the scene. From Bizet's tormented Don José to Tchaikovsky's poetic Lensky — a portrait of the repertoire.
From the ceremony
