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).

In the 2026-2027 season, Brownlee returns to Opera Philadelphia to reprise the title role in Mozart's Mitridate, re di Ponto, in a new production. He also makes his house and role debut as Tom Rakewell in The Rake's Progress at the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma. Throughout the season, Brownlee appears with the Lyric Opera of Chicago as Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, the Paris National Opera as Ernesto in Don Pasquale, the Hamburg State Opera debuting the role of Arnold Melcthal in Guillaume Tell, and the Hungarian State Opera as the Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto. Additionally, Brownlee and soprano Erin Morley continue their acclaimed Golden Age recital tour, celebrating their album, which was named one of The New York Times' Best Classical Albums of 2025. Tour stops include LA Opera and Boston Lyric Opera/Vivo Performing Arts, among others.

A highlight of Brownlee's recent career came in Fall 2025, when he appeared in three separate Metropolitan Opera productions in a three-month period. The New York Times reported "a hat trick of bel canto successes..." and praised his "characteristically effortless tone," while VOGUE described the feat as "a vocal triple-double that left the crowd awe-struck."Brownlee is a Distinguished Visiting Faculty Member at  The Juilliard School, an artistic advisor for Opera Philadelphia, and an Ambassador for Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Lyric Unlimited as well as Opera for Peace. Highlights of Brownlee’s recent past seasons include role debuts as the title role in Mitridate, re di ponto at the Boston Lyric Opera, the Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto,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 as well as reprising roles at the Metropolitan Opera, Opera Bastille in Paris, New National Theatre in Tokyo, and The Bavarian State Opera.

​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, 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 2021, Brownlee 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. In 2023, Brownlee released his GRAMMY^TM-nominated album Rising, a recording project that set poetry from the Harlem Renaissance to song in commissioned works from six of today’s leading African-American composers. The album, named one of The New York Times' best classical music albums of 2023, was also supported by a North American tour with pianist and collaborator Kevin J. Miller.​

​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. In 2024, Brownlee was awarded the title Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of The Order of Arts and Letters) by the Cultural Counselor of France.

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 2021, Brownlee 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. In 2023, Brownlee released his GRAMMY^TM-nominated album Rising, a recording project that set poetry from the Harlem Renaissance to song in commissioned works from six of today’s leading African-American composers. The album, named one of The New Times' best classical music albums of 2023, was also supported by a North American tour with pianist and collaborator Kevin J. Miller.

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. In 2024, Brownlee was awarded the title Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of The Order of Arts and Letters) by the Cultural Counselor of France.