biography for michael chioldi

Michael Chioldi is one of North America's premiere operatic baritones. He has performed at nearly every major American opera house, including The Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Houston Grand Opera, New York City Opera, Washington National Opera and Los Angeles Opera. Internationally he has traveled extensively in Japan with Maestro Seiji Osawa, and has recently appeared in Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Macau and Spain.

2010 opened with Michael's performance as Count Almaviva in Hawaii Opera Theatre's 50th anniversary presentation of Le nozze di Figaro. His interpretation of Richard Nixon in Long Beach Opera's Nixon in China was received with great critical acclaim. His appearance in the title role of Hamlet with the Washington National Opera in May garnered critical acclaim from the opera world's most highly respected reviewers. During the summer, he travels to Japan for the Saito Kinen Festival, returns to Chautauqua Opera for Cavalleria Rusticana and I Pagliacci, and will debut with L'Opera de Bordeaux in Carmen in October, and with the Cleveland Opera in I Pagliacci in November.

In early 2009, Michael's performance as The Forester in Long Beach Opera's production of The Cunning Little Vixen was called authoritative, tonally burnished and smartly phrased. In May, he sang Giorgio Germont in Connecticut Grand Opera's concert version of La Traviata, and in July made his Glimmerglass Opera debut as John Sorel in The Consul. He appeared in a special gala performance at El Paso Opera, at Spain's Opera de Oviedo singing Scarpia in Tosca, and in a concert performance with the Oviedo Philharmonia. In late 2009 he performed at the Macau International Music Festival as Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro, and with L’Opéra Français de New York in Debussy & Poe: Fall of the House of Usher & Devil in the Belfry.

In May of 2008, Mr. Chioldi's debut in the title role of Der Fliegende Holländer with Pforzheim Opera received the critics' unanimous praise. "His performance was well-focused, powerful, and sung with enormous intensity and dramatic vigor." According to Orpheus International, "Michael Chioldi gave a Bayreuth-worthy performance in the title role of Der Fliegende Holländer".

His performance of the baritone soloist role in the Brahms Requiem in Pforzheim the preceding month was pronounced emotionally gripping and sung with noteworthy dramatic strength.

In March, New York City Opera's Madama Butterfly was broadcast nationwide on the PBS television series Live from Lincoln Center. Mr. Chioldi's performance as the U.S. Consul was widely acknowledged as being "focused, forceful and sympathetic - he gave Sharpless a soul." Madama Butterfly won an Emmy Award in 2008.

2008 opened with his performance as Man in The Birth of Something with Musiqa in Houston. The role was written especially for him, and his interpretation drew high praise from the composer, Anthony Brandt. Singing Valmont, he debuted with Dicapo Opera Theater in New York in The Dangerous Liaisons.

The season 2006-2007 included performances as Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor with Utah Opera, Scarpia in Tosca at Toledo Opera, Sgt. Belcore in L'Elisir d'Amore at New York City Opera, and Ford in Falstaff with the Ft. Worth Opera Festival. 2005's performances included Scarpia in Tosca at Ft. Worth, John Sorel in Arizona Opera's The Consul, the title role in Don Giovanni with Connecticut Grand Opera and Prince Otokkar in Opera Orchestra of New York's Der Freischütz.

Earlier seasons have included appearances as John Proctor in The Crucible at Toledo Opera, The Count in Le nozze di Figaro at Chautauqua Opera, and Escamillo in Carmen and Don Pasquale's Dr. Malatesta with New York City Opera. In the fall of 2004 he performed in two productions with the Washington National Opera - as the First Mate in Billy Budd, and as Fléville in performances of Andrea Chénier conducted by Plácido Domingo.

Orchestra appearances include the New York Philharmonic, Washington National Symphony, New Jersey Symphony, New Haven Symphony, and the Houston Symphony.

Career highlights include his debut at the Metropolitan Opera as Fléville in Andrea Chénier in a cast that included Luciano Pavarotti and Aprile Millo, with James Levine conducting. At Washington National Opera he appeared as Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia - a role which marked his first lead role after attending the Houston Grand Opera Studio.

He has been the recipient of many awards and honors including: The Metropolitan Opera National Council Competition (Winner 1995), The MacAllister Competition, The Licia Albanese-Puccini Competition, The Miami Opera Competition, The Sullivan Foundation, and The Anna Case-Mckay Award.

Mr. Chioldi received his Bachelors' degree from West Virginia University, and his Masters' degree from Yale University. He was a finals winner of the 1995 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. His recordings appear on the Sony Classical, BMG, Accord and Newport Classics labels.