biography for michael chioldi

Michael Chioldi is one of the world'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, Los Angeles Opera, San Diego Opera, Palm Beach Opera, Spoleto USA and Santa Fe Opera. Internationally he has traveled extensively in Japan with Maestro Seiji Osawa, and has recently appeared in Brazil, France, Germany, Canada, 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. More recently he has 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 November 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 early 2010 Michael will sing Nixon in Long Beach Opera's presentation of John Adams' Nixon in China.

In Mr. Chioldi's May 2008 debut in the title role of Der Fliegende Holländer with Pforzheim Opera, the critics were unanimous in their praise of his performance as “Bayreuth worthy, well-focused, powerful, and sung with enormous intensity and dramatic vigor.” - Orpheus International. In March, New York City Opera's Emmy Award winning Madama Butterfly was telecast nationwide on the PBS television series Live from Lincoln Center. Michael's performance as Sharpless was widely acknowledged as being "focused, beautifully sung and sympathetic - he gave Sharpless a soul." - The New York Times.

The year 2008 opened with Mr. Chioldi's 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 NewYork in The Dangerous Liaisons. Last season, 2006-2007, included performances as Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor with Utah Opera, Scarpia in Tosca at Toledo Opera, Belcore in L'Elisir d'Amore and Escamillo in Carmen at New York City Opera, Malatesta in Don Pasquale with Palm Beach 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 Opera, Prince Otokkar in Opera Orchestra of New York's Der Freischütz, the Father in Hansel and Gretel, the Count in Nozze di Figaro and Malatesta in Don Pasquale - all with New York City Opera.