Michael Beattie has received international attention for his work as a conductor and keyboardist specializing in the music of the Baroque period. In 2009 Mr. Beattie made his Glimmerglass Opera debut conducting Purcell's Dido and Aeneas with Jonathan Miller as stage director, and in 2012, he conducted Handel’s Teseo for the Chicago Opera Theater. With the Pittsburgh Opera and Chatham Baroque, he conducted Handel's Rinaldo in 2011, Rodelinda in 2015, and returned in January 2017 to conduct Handel’s Riccardo Primo. For many years Associate Conductor of Boston’s Emmanuel Music, he has conducted Handel's Ariodante, Bach's St. John Passion and the complete Bach Motets, as well as more than one hundred Bach cantatas in the weekly series at Emmanuel Church. Mr. Beattie conducted the Boston premier of Handel’s Rodelinda, and several performances of The Threepenny Opera at the American Repertory Theater.

In demand as a continuo player and vocal coach, he has been on the music staff of Glimmerglass Opera, Chicago Opera Theater, Pittsburgh Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, Florida Grand Opera, and the Carmel Bach Festival (where he is Director of the Vocal Master Class). He has served as musical assistant to Harry Bicket, Jane Glover, Emmanuelle Haïm, Bernard Labadie, Raymond Leppard, and Antony Walker. He is a founding member and harpsichordist of Favella Lyrica and the Baroque chamber ensemble Très.

A highly regarded keyboard player, Mr. Beattie has performed as harpsichordist and organist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Boston Baroque, the Handel and Haydn Society, the Mark Morris Dance Group, Boston Lyric Opera, Chicago Opera Theater, Glimmerglass Opera Festival, and the Carmel Bach Festival.

He has been on the faculties of the Tanglewood Music Center and the Walnut Hill School and is currently a Lecturer at Boston University. He has recorded for KOCH International Classics and Nonesuch records.