I have referred to this past season as my “Carmen Season.”  Barcelona, New York City, Chicago and Beijing have all seen variations of my Don Jose.  As always, I have made some new friends, worked with some fantastic colleagues and explored some new cities (I even thwarted two thefts in one, ask me about it sometime).  One of the joys of establishing yourself in this career is that you get to sing some of the same repertoire through the years.  It is always nice returning to roles that you are familiar with, it allows you to really concentrate on the music, your onstage relationships, and details that help to fill-out the character.  If you are lucky enough to have some adventurous colleagues,  an astute director, or an insightful conductor (better yet...all three of those), you are bound to grow as an artist and person, and the public can see the difference, feel the energy pouring off the stage. That is magical! Unfortunately, that time has past.  I now move into a new phase of my career, it is rather similar to my early days in the opera world...a TON of new music!

The 2011-2012 season is looking to be one of my most challenging and rewarding seasons on record.  I am knee deep in new roles at the moment.  2011 sees me adding 5 new roles to my repertoire. It started in January with Senso, a world premiere by Marco Tutino in Palermo, Italy. My first Wagner roles, Froh and Siegmund, will be performed with the San Francisco Opera in Fancesca Zambello’s Ring Cycle. I follow that up with my first appearance at the Salzburg Festival as Albert Gregor in  Janacek’s Vec Makrapolus. Finally I reunite with Maestro Markus Stenz for Mahler’s Eighth Symphony with the Kölner Philharmonie. Those round out the new roles for 2011.  In the spring of 2012 I will add the title role of Don Carlos with the Houston Grand Opera, followed by Samson in Saint-Saen’s Samson and Delilah with Washington Concert Opera. 

These are just the new roles I am taking on, Carmen, Tosca and Ariadne auf Naxos are in the mix too!  You can find out more about when and where I will be performing at the top of the page.  I hope you’ll be able to catch a show!  Ciao...