Michael Leopold holds a degree in lute and theorbo from L’Istituto di Musica Antica of the Accademia Internazionale della Musica (2004) in Milan, Italy and a master’s degree in historical plucked instruments from Sacramento State University (1998). Originally from Northern California, he currently resides in Milan and performs both as a soloist and accompanist throughout Europe, Australia, Japan, Chile, Mexico, and the United States. Mr. Leopold has appeared in a variety of theaters, concert halls, and festivals, including: Paris, Cité de la musique; Rome, Santa Cecilia; Florence, Palazzo Pitti; Napoli, Castel Sant'Elmo; Milan, MITO festival; Hannover, KunstFestSpiele Herrenhausen; Stuttgart, Barcock Festival; Regensburg, Tage Alte Musik; Madrid, Teatro Nacional; Barcelona, Gran Teatro del Liceu; Istanbul, Music Festival Aya Irini Museum; Holland, Utrecht Festival; Australia, Sydney Opera House; Washington DC, Kennedy Center. Mr. Leopold has played with a number of leading Italian early music ensembles, including Concerto Italiano, La Risonanza, La Venexiana, and La Pietà de’ Turchini and several American period-instrument ensembles, such as Ars Lyrica and Catacoustic Consort to name a few. He has also collaborated with several orchestras and opera companies, including Orchestra Verdi di Milano, Opera Australia, San Francisco Opera, Barcelona Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Washington National Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, Chicago Opera Theater, and Portland Opera. He can be heard on recording with the Stradivarius, Glossa, Naïve, and Naxos labels.