Ambassador of song
He is without question one of the world’s greatest opera singers… a voice, a baritone so rich it can circle the universe.
Diane Sawyer - Good Morning America
About
Long recognised as one of the most innovative musicians of our time, American baritone Thomas Hampson has received countless international honours for his singular artistry and cultural leadership. His operatic repertoire is comprised of more than 80 roles, and his discography includes more than 170 albums, with multiple nominations and winners of the GRAMMY Award, Edison Award, and the Grand Prix du Disque.
In the 2024/25 season, Thomas Hampson takes on both stage directing and singing roles in a concert performance of Mozart’s Così fan tutte with the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal. At the Kennedy Center, he stars in Barber’s Vanessa with the National Symphony Orchestra and joins a special concert celebrating American works with Renée Fleming and Denyce Graves.
Operatic engagements extend further with a starring role as Bishop Edward Vergerus in a brand new opera based on Ingmar Bergman’s “Fanny and Alexander” at La Monnaie. This new production features music by Mikael Karlsson and a libretto by Royce Vavrek.
Hampson’s concert schedule features collaborations with esteemed orchestras, including the MDR Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Baden-Baden Philharmonic, and the Würth Philharmonic Orchestra. He also sings the world premiere of Johannes Burgert’s Minute Piece with the Stuttgarter Philharmoniker, led by Dan Ettinger. In recital, Hampson is joined by longtime collaborator, pianist Wolfram Rieger at the Brucknerhaus Linz. This season he also serves as the Distinguished Visiting Artist in Residence at The mdw – University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna.
Last season, Hampson sang Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast with The Cleveland Orchestra under the baton of Klaus Mäkela. Mahler’s works featured prominently throughout the season, with Hampson performing Das Lied von der Erde with the Stuttgarter Philharmoniker and Des Knaben Wunderhorn with the Athens State Orchestra and Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra. He also joined the Dallas Symphony Orchestra and Fabio Luisi on their European tour, and the New York Philharmonic with Jaap van Zweden for their Asia tour.
Hampson collaborated with other prestigious orchestras including the Orchester Wiener Akademie, NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester, Orchestre National de Lyon, and the Lithuanian National Symphony. Recitals with Wolfram Rieger took him to Kronberg, Krün, Heidelberg, and the Latvian National Opera. He also remained dedicated to nurturing young talent, leading several masterclasses throughout the season, including the Internationale Opernwerkstatt Waiblingen, Schubert Week at the Pierre Boulez Saal, Heidelberger Frühling’s 2024 Liedfestival, and Opera for Peace’s 2024 Academy.
He is an honorary professor of Philosophy at the University of Heidelberg and an honorary member of London’s Royal Academy of Music. In addition to several Honorary Doctorates, he is the Kammersänger of the Wiener Staatsoper and Commandeur de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres of the Republic of France. In 2017 he received the Hugo Wolf Medal, together with Wolfram Rieger. He is the co-Founder and Artistic Director of the Lied Academy Heidelberg, in 2003, he founded the Hampsong Foundation, through which he uses the art of song to promote intercultural dialogue and understanding. His international master class schedule is a continuing online resource of Medici.tv, the Manhattan School of Music, and The Hampsong Foundation livestream channel. Additionally, he serves as an Advisor for Opera for Peace.
World Premiere of 'Fanny and Alexander' at La Monnaie
Distinguished Visiting Artist in Residence at mdw zu Gast
Honorary Artist of the Guangzhou Opera House
Debut as Nixon in Adams’ ‘Nixon in China’ at Opéra national de Paris
Premiere of Rufus Wainwright’s ‘Hadrian’ in Spain
World premiere of ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’ at Opernhaus Zürich
Music Prize Heidelberger Frühling Award for 2020
Role debut as Don Alfonso at
Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
The Animated Story of Jenny Lind:
Golden Prague Festival Winner
No Tenors Allowed at Teatro Colón
World premiere of The Phoenix at Houston Grand Opera
World Premiere of Hadrian at the Canadian Opera Company
“Song of America: Beyond Liberty” launch at Glimmerglass Festival
Le nozze di Figaro wins Echo Klassik 2017 for Best Opera Recording
Hugo-Wolf-Medaille for Thomas Hampson & Wolfram Rieger for their outstanding achievements in the art of song interpretation
Extensive tour throughout Asia, featuring performances in China and South Korea
Creates the role of Roald Amundsen in world premiere of South Pole at the Bayerische Staatsoper
Hampsong Foundation – ‘Song of America’ In the Classroom: A Live-streamed Media Event in collaboration with Lyric Opera of Chicago
Honorary Doctorate from New England Conservatory
“Award for Cultural Diplomacy” by American Ambassador Philip T. Reeker in Milan
European tour with percussionist Martin Grubinger and The Percussive Planet Ensemble, featuring works by Crumb, Grubinger, Corigliano, Ives, and tributes to Sting and Frank Sinatra
Critically acclaimed portrayal of the title role in a new production of Chausson’s rarely performed Le roi Arthus for the Opéra de Paris
“Song: Mirror of the World” Radio Series released in the U.S.
“Thomas Hampson: Autograph” album boxed-set collection released internationally by Warner Classics
Carnegie Hall Recital, featuring world premiere of Jennifer Higdon’s Civil Words, written for Mr. Hampson and commissioned by Carnegie Hall
Honorary Doctor of Music degree from the New England Conservatory
Returns to San Francisco Opera to star as Count Anckarstrom in Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera
Recital in Washington D.C. at the Library of Congress titled Poets and Patriotism: The 200th Birthday of the Star-Spangled Banner
Anton Coppola Excellence in the Arts Award by Opera Tampa (sponsored by Charles A and Faith S Simmons)
European tour with the Amsterdam Sinfonietta, featuring works by Schönberg, Brahms, Barber and Wolf
Honorary Professor at University of Heidelberg (Faculty of Philosophy)
Recipient of the first “Venetian Heritage Award”
Inducted to Gramophone’s 2013 Hall of Fame
“Goldenes Ehrenzeichen” of the City of Salzburg
“International Mendelssohn-Prize” award in the category music
Stars as Rodrigo in new production of Verdi’s Don Carlo at the Salzburg Festival with live webcast via medici.tv
Hampson headlines Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra at London’s Royal Opera House
World premiere of Mark Adamo’s Aristotle in performance with the Jupiter String Quartet
Performances & Decca recording of Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra in Vienna
European tour with the Wiener Virtuosen
Officially inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Met Mastersinger Award
Erwin Piscator Preis
Long-awaited return to the Santa Fe Opera, as Scarpia in Puccini’s Tosca
World premiere of Sylvia Bodorová’s orchestral song cycle Linqua Angelorum with the Prague Symphony Orchestra
Livestream of concert performance with bass-baritone Luca Pisaroni, the WDR Rundfunkorchester, and conductor Massimo Zanetti
CNN International “Fusion Journeys” Feature – Thomas Hampson meets and sings with Ladysmith Black Mambazo in South Africa
Performs at groundbreaking of Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, with President Obama in attendance
‘Song of America’ U.S. Tour
Installment in Met Mastersingers series
Role debut as Iago in Verdi’s Otello at Zurich Opera
Concertgebouw Prize
“Singer of the Year”, Echo Klassik (Germany) for “Mahler: Des Knaben Wunderhorn”
Creates role of Rick Rescorla in world premiere of Christopher Theofanidis’ Heart of a Soldier at San Francisco Opera
The Hampsong Foundation’s “Song of America” Radio Series launches across the U.S.
Named ECHO Klassik Singer of the Year
Inauguration of the first Heidelberg Lied Academy
New recording of Mahler’s Des Knaben Wunderhorn on Deutsche Grammophon
Hampson honored with The Library of Congress “Living Legend” Award
Library of Congress Living Legend Award
Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Award in recognition of “extraordinary artistic achievement, personal generosity and unique contribution to singers everywhere” from the International Vocal Arts Institute
Spearheads the first live video streaming of a classical music event in an iPhone/iTouch app with a master class on Mahler songs given through Manhattan School of Music’s Distance Learning Program
Launches songofamerica.net, an interactive database allowing lovers of song to explore American history and culture “through the ears of our composers and the eyes of our poets” funded by the Hampsong Foundation
Award for Distinguished Achievement in the Arts from the Third Street Music School Settlement
Serves as the New York Philharmonic’s first Mary and James G. Wallach Artist-in-Residence, as well as Leonard Bernstein Scholar; performs three programs with the orchestra, including the world premiere of Matthias Pintscher’s “Songs from Solomon’s Garden” and Alexander Zemlinsky’s “Lyrische Symphonie,” goes on tour in Europe under the Philharmonic’s new music director, Alan Gilbert, gives a recital in Alice Tully Hall, and presents three lectures entitled “Listening to Thought” in the orchestra’s “Insight” series
Honorary Doctorate from the Manhattan School of Music
Distinguished Artistic Leadership Award from The Atlantic Council
Continues “Song of America” project with 13 US recitals
Releases the first self-produced album, “Wondrous Free – Song of America II,” on Thomas Hampson Media
Recital at the US Supreme Court
Debuts as Scarpia in Robert Carsen’s production of Tosca at the Opernhaus Zürich
Performs the world premiere of Michael Daugherty’s “Letters From Lincoln,” commissioned in honor of the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln, with the Spokane Symphony
Sings the role of Athanael in Massenet’s “Thais” opposite Renée Fleming in the Metropolitan Opera’s live HD transmission
Opera News Award for distinguished achievement from The Metropolitan Opera Guild
Special Advisor to the Study and Performance of Music in America to the Library of Congress and Dr. James H. Billington, Librarian of Congress
Deutscher Schallplatten Prize
Sings on the gala opening nights of the Metropolitan Opera, broadcast live in HD worldwide, and Carnegie Hall, broadcast nationally on PBS
Establishes his own label, Thomas Hampson Media (THM), and partners with iTunes for a digital-only re-release of four records including Haydn, Mozart and Schubert arias with Concentus Musicus Wien conducted by Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Schumann Kerner and Andersen Lieder with Geoffrey Parsons, and two volumes of “Wunderhorn” songs by various composers.
Sings the title role in Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra at the Metropolitan Opera
Board Member of the Manhattan School of Music
Launch of new websites www.thomashampson.com and www.hampsong.org
Sings role of Mandryka in new production of Strauss’s Arabella at the Wiener Staatsoper, with Sven-Eric Bechtolf directing and Franz Welser-Möst conducting
Performs title role in new production of Busoni’s Doktor Faust at Zurich opera
Officer of the Order “Pro Merito Melitensi” of the Order of Malta
Sings Don Giovanni at the Salzburg Festival’s “Mozart 22” cycle, commemorating the composer’s 250th birthday; recorded for DVD release
Gives master class on the interpretation of Mahler songs for singers and orchestra musicians at the Orchesterakademie of the Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival, recorded for TV broadcast and DVD/online release
Heidelberger Frühling Festival: serves as artistic director of a week of concerts, masterclasses and a symposion, co-produced by the HAMPSONG Foundation, commemorating the 200th anniversary of the publication of Des Knaben Wunderhorn and initiating a long-term collaboration between the HAMPSONG Foundation and the Heidelberger Frühling; the concerts and master classes are recorded for TV broadcast and DVD/online release
Sings the title role in Verdi’s Macbeth at London’s Royal Opera House
Performs in gala concert on Mozart’s 250th birthday at the Salzburg Mozart Week
Inauguration of the Library of Congress’s “Song of America” project, including a 12-city recital tour presented in collaboration with the HAMPSONG Foundation; the concert tour runs through summer 2006
Performs in the Wiener Staatsoper’s 50th anniversary gala concert
Honorary Member of the Wiener Konzerthausgesellschaft
Member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts (Class III – Arts)
Honorary Chairman of RISM-Austria
Edison Award for Life Achievement
Sings Giorgio Germont in La traviata at the Salzburg Festival opposite Anna Netrebko and Rolando Villazón, including live TV broadcast and CD/DVD recording
Thomas Hampson’s 50th birthday
Role debut as Renato in Un ballo in maschera at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, with Karita Mattila as Amelia and Antonio Pappano conducting
Presents “carte blanche” series at the Vienna Konzerthaus with recitals and a symposion on “I Hear America Singing” (February) and Mahler songs (June)
Launch of the new interactive website including a fully integrated program archive, discography, audio samples; information on artists and composers, news, as well as a calendar of events
Launch of a series of collaborative educational programs between the Library of Congress and the Hampsong Foundation for the promotion of the art song in America
Sings Wolfram in the Otto Schenk production of Wagner’s Tannhäuser at the Metropolitan Opera; Peter Seiffert sings Tannhäuser with Mark Elder conducting
Sings the title role in Mozart’s Don Giovanni on the Japan tour of the Wiener Staatsoper with Edita Gruberova, Michael Schade, and Angelika Kirchschlager, Seiji Ozawa conducting
Ehrenkreuz für Wissenschaft und Kunst (Medal of Honor in Arts and Sciences) from the Republic of Austria
Honorary Member of the “Freunde der Wiener Staatsoper”
Antonín Dvořák Project at the Salzburg Festival with Barbara Bonney, Michelle Breedt, Georg Zeppenfeld, and Wolfram Rieger, artistic concept by Thomas Hampson
Sings Amfortas in the Parsifal production of Nikolaus Lehnhoff at the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden with Kent Nagano conducting
Sings the title role in Marthe Keller’s production of Don Giovanni at the Metropolitan Opera in New York
Sings Friedrich Cerha’s Baal-Gesänge with the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra under Zubin Mehta at the Wiener Musikverein
Board Member of International Gustav Mahler Society
Verdi, “Falstaff” (DG, Claudio Abbado) Edison Award
Hugo Wolf Project at the Salzburg Festival with Barbara Bonney, Angelika Kirchschlager, Michael Schade, Georg Zeppenfeld, and Wolfram Rieger, artistic concept by Thomas Hampson
Role debut as Athanael in Massenet’s Thaïs at the Lyric Opera of Chicago with Renée Fleming in the title role and John Cox directing
Debut in the title role of Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra at the Wiener Staatsoper with Daniele Gatti conducting and Peter Stein directing
Sings the world premiere of Wolfgang Rihm’s Sechs Gedichte von Friedrich Nietzsche in Köln
Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres from the Republic of France
Wagner, “Tannhäuser” (Teldec, Daniel Barenboim)
Grammy Award, Best Opera RecordingArtist of the month, Yahoo Germany
Sings the title role in the new production of Mozart’s Don Giovanni under Nikolaus Harnoncourt with Martin Kusej directing at the Salzburg Festival
Sings the title role in the world premiere of Friedrich Cerha’s opera Der Riese vom Steinfeld, libretto by Peter Turrini
Role debut as Mandryka in Richard Strauss’s Arabella at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, with Karita Mattila in the title role
Sings Macbeth at the Opernhaus Zürich under the baton of Franz Welser-Möst
Sings Eugene Onegin under Vladimir Jurowski at the Metropolitan Opera in New York
Salzburg Festival: sings Posa in Verdi’s Don Carlo and recitals of “The Hampson Project” featuring songs by American composers on texts by American writers
Recitals in Europe and the US
Sings Amfortas in Wagner’s Parsifal at the Opéra National de Paris and the Royal Opera House in London (December)
Honorary Doctorate of Music, San Francisco Conservatory
Alumnus of the Year, University of Southern California
Szymanowski, “Krol Roger” (EMI, Simon Rattle)
Gramophone Award, Best Opera Recording
Diapason d’Or
Caecilia Prize
Classic CD Award
Sings at the Centennial Celebration for Elinor Remick Warren at the National Cathedral Washington, DC
Member of the Artistic Committee for the Kennedy Center Honors
Kammersänger of the Wiener Staatsoper
Gustav Mahler Medal in Gold, International Gustav Mahler Society
Szymanowski, “Krol Roger”
Choc du Monde de la MusiqueBernstein, “Wonderful Town” (EMI, Simon Rattle)
Diapason d’Or
Role debut in Busoni’s Doktor Faust at the Salzburg Festival
Role debut as Wolfram in Wagner’s Tannhäuser at the Opernhaus Zurich
Performs with soprano Renée Fleming in a gala concert at The White House for attendees of the International Summit
Sings the title role in the baritone version of Massenet’s Werther at the Metropolitan Opera with Susan Graham as Charlotte
Debut in the title role of Rossini’s last opera Guillaume Tell at the Wiener Staastoper
Adventist Alumni Achievement Award
Sings title role in the rarely performed opera King Roger by Polish composer Karol Szymanowski in Birmingham and at the Salzburg Festival
Joins forces with Jerry Hadley, Cheryl Studer, and Craig Rutenberg to perform I Hear America Singing, another gala concert of American Song, at the Barbican Centre, London
Sings in the world premiere of Richard Danielpour’s Elegies for mezzo-soprano (Frederica von Stade), baritone, and orchestra in Jacksonville, Florida, reprising the cycle at Carnegie Hall
New York debut as Posa in the Italian version of Verdi’s Don Carlo
Series of performances of Brahms’s Ein deutsches Requiem and songs by Schumann and Schubert with Wolfgang Sawallisch in Tokyo
Role debut as Antonio in Donizetti’s rarely performed Linda di Chamounix at the Wiener Staatsoper
First webcast of Schubert’s Winterreise, aired by N2K & WQXR
Inaugurates Carte Blanche Series at Amsterdam’s Royal Concertgebouw
Merola Distinguished Alumni Award
Citation for Lifetime Achievement in Music and Education, National Arts Club, NY
Schubert, “Winterreise” (EMI, Wolfgang Sawallisch)
Choc du Monde de la MusiqueEMI Special Achievement Award – Artist of the Year
Yahoo “Five Star Web Site” for www.hampsong.com
Various Internet Awards including “Cool Site of the Month” for “I Hear America Singing” (www.pbs.org/wnet/ihas)
Participates in first online webcast, sponsored by N2K’s Classical Insites, of Whitman album “To the Soul”
Sings role of Froila in Schubert’s rarely-heard opera Alfonso und Estrella at Theater an der Wien under the baton of Nikolaus Harnoncourt
Sings title role in the four-act version of Britten’s Billy Budd with the Hallé Orchestra of Manchester, Kent Nagano conducting
Stage debut as Eugene Onegin in a Russian-language production of Tchaikovsky’s opera at the Wiener Staatsoper
Launch of own official Web site www.hampsong.com
Debuts in series of performances of Schubert’s Winterreise in Philadelphia, Princeton, and Carnegie Hall
First telecast on Great Performances (WNET/13) of program on American song in its cultural context for which he served as artistic director, creative consultant, as well as performing artist, “Thomas Hampson: I Hear America Singing”; release of home video and launch of accompanying Web Site www.pbs.org/wnet/ihas
Role debut as Bellini’s Riccardo in the Metropolitan Opera’s I Puritani
EMI Artist of the Year
Honorary Member of Royal Academy of Music, London (HONRAM)
“German Arias” (EMI, Fabio Luisi)
Grand Prix du Disque“Best Male Singer”, Echo Klassik (Germany)
Excellence Citation, St. Paul Sunday Morning American Song Broadcast Peabody Broadcasting Award
Serves as Artistic Director and Producer of a concert and film project on the life and music of Stephen Foster, broadcast by Hessischer Rundfunk / arte
Inducted as a member of the Royal Academy of Music, London
Sings Posa in Verdi’s Don Carlos in the original French version at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris in a production by Luc Bondy, reprised in June at London’s Covent Garden
Invited by President and Mrs. Clinton to perform a program of French and American song at a State Dinner in honor of President and Mrs. Chirac
Performs a program of Ives songs with Dawn Upshaw and Craig Rutenberg as part of a BBC’s Ives Festival weekend
Serves as the Artistic Director of and performs at a gala benefit of American song for WNET/13; the concert is taped as part of a project for television, CD, video and CD-ROM
Debuts in the Hindemith Requiem with Wolfgang Sawallisch and the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Academy of Music, Philadelphia
Barber, “Secrets of the Old” – Complete Songs (DG, Cheryl Studer, John Browning)
Classic CD Best Vocal RecitalBBC Magazine Best Vocal Recital
Grammy Nomination“Singer of the Year”, Deutscher Schallplattenpreis
Recitals in Salzburg, Munich, Vienna, Zurich, and Regensburg, performances of Don Giovanni, Don Carlo, and Il barbiere di Siviglia in Vienna, Munich, and Zurich
Debuts in Benjamin Britten’s War Requiem in Rome with Wolfgang Sawallisch conducting
Performs all of Gustav Mahler’s songs in their new critical edition for voice and piano at the Mahler Festival in the Concertgebouw, Amsterdam
Sings Das Lied von der Erde under the baton of Bernard Haitink at the Grosses Festspielhaus in Salzburg on Easter Sunday
Performs in “Live from Lincoln Center” telecast with Kathleen Battle
Debuts in Gustav Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde at Carnegie Hall under the baton of James Levine
Cannes Classical Music Award for 1994 Singer of the Year and German critics Echo Preis for Best Male Singer 1994, these awards crowning a series of ten prestigious recording and critical honors for that season
Debut in Mendelssohn’s Elijah with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus under the baton of Robert Shaw
World premiere recording of Schumann’s 20 Lieder und Gesänge aus dem Lyrischen Intermezzo im Buch der Lieder von Heinrich Heine (original version of Dichterliebe), based on his and Renate Stark-Voit’s research for the critical edition; Wolfgang Sawallisch at the piano
Sings leading role of Vicomte de Valmont in the world premiere of Conrad Susa and Philip Littell’s opera The Dangerous Liaisons at the San Francisco Opera
Puccini Foundation Achievement Award
Distinguished Alumni Award (1st recipient), Music Academy of the West
Mahler, “Des Knaben Wunderhorn” (Teldec, Geoffrey Parsons)
Toblacher Komponierhäuschen Award
Barber, “Secrets of the Old” Grammy Award nomination
Gramophone Award, Best Vocal Recording: Bernstein, On the Town (DG, Michael Tilson Thomas)
Gramophone Awards, Best Musical & Best Video“Best Male Vocalist”, Cannes Classical Award
Solo recital of Barber and Mahler songs at the Salzburg Festival
Opens the Mostly Mozart Festival with a program of arias telecast live from Lincoln Center
Embarks on a 21-city European and North American tour which features solo recital debuts in Frankfurt, Munich, Vienna, London, Paris, Washington, D.C., Iowa City, Fort Worth, Quebec, and Carmel
Named Male Singer of the Year by the International Classical Music Awards
Debut with the Houston Symphony Orchestra with a program of Mahler and Copland, Christoph Eschenbach conducting
Debut as Chorèbe in Berlioz’s Les Troyens at the Metropolitan Opera under James Levine
North American Tour features solo recital debuts in St. Paul, Ann Arbor, Omaha, Kansas City, and Toronto
Awarded an Honorary Doctor of Music from Whitworth College, Spokane, WA
Collaborates on and funds the publication of a new critical edition of Mahler songs by Universal Edition, Vienna; release of recording of this edition on the Teldec label with Geoffrey Parsons
Sings title role in Zurich opera’s production of Hans Werner Henze’s Der Prinz von Homburg
Honorary Doctor of Music, Fort Wright College of the Holy Names, Spokane
Thomas, “Hamlet” (EMI, Antonio de Almeida): Grand Prix du Disque, Académie Charles Gros
Palmares des Palmares, Nouvelle Académie du Disque
Wagner, “Götterdämmerung” (EMI, Bernard Haitink)
Edison Award“Male Singer of the Year”, Classical Music Awards
Recital, concert and master class at Tanglewood Festival, Lenox, Massachusetts
Role debut as Posa in Verdi’s Don Carlo in Zurich
Debut at Covent Garden in Il barbiere di Siviglia
Role debut as title character of Thomas’s Hamlet in Monte Carlo, subsequently recording the part
Carnegie Hall recital debut with Schumann’s 20 Lieder und Gesänge aus dem Lyrischen Intermezzo and rarely-heard Walt Whitman songs, after conducting research into settings of the American poet in honor of his centennial
Sings world premiere in Geneva of Schumann’s 20 Lieder und Gesänge aus dem Lyrischen Intermezzo, after having conducted research into the original version of the song cycle (later altered and published as Dichterliebe)
Opens Chicago Symphony season singing in Brahms’s Ein deutsches Requiem under Daniel Barenboim
Bachelor of Arts, Eastern Washington University
Mahler, Rückert-Lieder, “Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen”, “Kindertotenlieder” (DG, Leonard Bernstein)
Edison Award Rossini & Meyerbeer, Songs (EMI, Geoffrey Parsons)
Grand Prix du Disque Delius, “Sea Drift” (London/Decca, Charles Mackerras)
Schubert, “Fierrabras” (DG, Claudio Abbado)
Grammy Award nomination
Grammy Award nomination“Stern des Jahres”, Solo Recital, Münchener Abendzeitung
“Vocalist of the Year”, Musical America
Sings Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro at Florence’s Maggio Musicale, Zubin Mehta conducting
Debut in title role of Britten’s Billy Budd at the Metropolitan Opera with Sir Charles Mackerras conducting
Performs at the Rossini 200th Birthday Gala at Avery Fisher Hall in New York
Opens New York Philharmonic season in a “Live from Lincoln Center” telecast, singing Copland’s Old American Songs under the baton of Kurt Masur; opens London Philharmonic season singing Mahler’s Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen under Klaus Tennstedt
Sings in the 25th Anniversary Gala of James Levine at the Metropolitan Opera, recorded live for video and CD
Mahler, Rückert-Lieder, “Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen”, “Kindertotenlieder” (DG, Leonard Bernstein)
Debut at San Francisco Opera in title role of Monteverdi’s Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria
Grammy Award nomination
International Records Critics Award
Outstanding Alumnus Award, University of Southern California School of Music
Songs from “Des Knaben Wunderhorn” by various composers (Teldec, Geoffrey Parsons)
Grand Prix du Disque, Académie Charles Gros
Deutscher Schallplattenpreis
Edison Award
Performs Mahler’s Rückert-Lieder and Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen with Leonard Bernstein and the Wiener Philharmoniker at the Musikverein; debuts at Carnegie Hall with the two Mahler cycles under Bernstein
Releases first solo recital album on Teldec with songs on texts from Des Knaben Wunderhorn, which wins numerous international awards
Deutsche Oper Berlin debut as Don Giovanni
Solo recital debut at Teatro alla Scala, Milan
Puccini, “La Bohème” (DG, Leonard Bernstein)
Salzburg Festival debut as Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro under James Levine
Sings Marcello in Leonard Bernstein’s recording of La Bohème; begins series of performances and recordings of Mahler songs with Bernstein
Sings role of Roland in Schubert’s rarely-performed Fierrabras in Vienna
Recital debut at New York’s Alice Tully Hall
Grammy Award nomination
Debuts in the Harnoncourt-Ponnelle production of Don Giovanni in Zurich
Debut at New York’s Metropolitan Opera as Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro with James Levine conducting
Wiener Staatsoper debut as Guglielmo in Così fan tutte
Recital debut in New York’s Town Hall
Recital debut at London’s Wigmore Hall under auspices of Schwarzkopf-Legge Foundation
Performs in Bach’s St. John Passion under Nikolaus Harnoncourt at Frankfurt’s Alte Oper for Bach’s 300th birthday celebration
Starts engagement as principal lyric baritone with varied repertory including several Harnoncourt-Ponnelle productions at the Zurich opera
Distinguished Alumni Award in Recognition of Outstanding Accomplishments, Eastern Washington University
Sings title role in Hans Werner Henze’s Der Prinz von Homburg in Darmstadt, Germany
Debuts in Köln, Hamburg, Munich and Santa Fe
Sings Guglielmo in St. Louis Opera’s Così fan tutte, directed by Jonathan Miller, conducted by Calvin Simmons
Member of the ensemble of Düsseldorf’s Deutsche Oper am Rhein
Debuts as Marcello in La Bohème; wins Metropolitan Opera Auditions in New York
Auditions in Europe; awarded contract for following season at Düsseldorf opera
Wins Fuchs, Zachary Competitions; second place in San Francisco Opera Merola Auditions; enrolls in Merola program and studies with Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
Sings La Bohème with Spokane Symphony, Don Thulean conductor
Meets Horst Günter, who remains to this day his mentor
Lotte Lehmann Medal, Music Academy of the West, Santa Barbara Bachelor of Fine Arts, Fort Wright College of the Holy Names, Spokane, Washington
Young Artist Award (Voice Division) & Grand Award (Highest Achievement), Greater Spokane Music and’ Allied Arts Festival
Studies at Music Academy of the West with Gwendolyn Koldowsky and Martial Singher
Operatic debut in local production of Hänsel und Gretel with Spokane Symphony under the baton of Don Thulean
Born in Elkhart, Indiana; raised and educated in Spokane, Washington; receives B.A. in Government from Eastern Washington University, Cheney and B.F.A. in Voice Performance from Fort Wright College, studying with Sr. Marietta Coyle