Todd Thomas

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Artist Bio

Recognized by opera companies and critics alike as one of the true Verdi baritones gracing stages today, Todd Thomas continues his tenure as one of America’s most sought-after artists. In the title role of Macbeth, Opera News depicted his performance as “warm and centered in his tone with subtle phrasing that emphasized the introspective, almost poetic quality of the tormented king.”  Performing the role of Iago in Lyric Opera of Chicago’s season opening performance of Verdi’s Otello, “earned him deservedly the largest ovation at the end of the night from the glittery opening night audience.” (The Chicago Classical)

Last season, Mr. Thomas performed the title role in Nabucco with Theater Erfurt in Germany, the title role of Rigoletto for both Florentine Opera and Florida Grand Opera, and Michele in Il Tabarro with Opera Santa Barbara. In concert, Todd performed with the North American Festival of Wales and the Bel Canto Center for the Performing Arts.  This season, Thomas is invited back to the Shanghai Opera House for his captivating portrayal of Der fliegende Holländer, and perform the role of Scarpia with Florida Grand Opera, Opera Memphis, Opera on the James, and Charlottesville Opera, as well as Amonasro in Tulsa Opera’s Aïda. Additionally, Todd will be seen in concert at Opera Southwest and with Maryland Opera.

The ‘20-‘21 season included Rigoletto for Tulsa Opera’s outdoor baseball stadium production, as well as for Shreveport Opera’s production. Mr. Thomas has performed Michele/Schicchi in Il Trittico with Pacific Opera Victoria, his Opera Shanghai début as the title role in Wagner’s Der fliegende Holländer, Tonio/Alfio in I Pagliacci/Cavalleria Rusticana for Opera Omaha, the title role of Gianni Schicchi with Opera Memphis,  Scarpia in Tosca with New Jersey Festival Orchestra, Melchoir in Amahl and the Night Visitors with Steamboat Springs Symphony, the title role in Wagner’s Der fliegende Holländer with Baltimore Concert Opera, performed in Opera Santa Barbara’s Gala Concert, performed as a soloist in “Verdi in the Valley” with Maryland Opera, and as a soloist in Ocean City Pop’s Star Spangled Spectacular concert. He also performed at Theater Erfurt in a ground-breaking production of Der fliegende Holländer and sang the title role of Falstaff with the Crested Butte Festival, in addition to his role there as Artist-in-Residence. 

Engagements have also included returns to the Lyric Opera of Chicago as Monterone in Rigoletto, the title role of Verdi’s Falstaff with Manitoba Opera, Sharpless in Madama Butterfly and Renato in Un Ballo in Maschera with Florida Grand Opera, the title role in Rigoletto with Atlanta Opera, Scarpia in Tosca and Rolando in La Battaglia di Legnano with Sarasota Opera, Germont in La traviata with Des Moines Metro Opera, Alberich in Das Rheingold with Pacific Opera Victoria in Canada, and Iago in Otello with Arizona Opera.

Mr. Thomas’ made his Metropolitan Opera début as Dr. Metivier in War and Peace and subsequently returned for Roméo et Juliette.  Other engagements have included Count di Luna in Il trovatore and Falstaff with the Seattle Opera; title role in Rigoletto at Michigan Opera Theatre, Opera Birmingham, Manitoba Opera, Palm Beach Opera, Atlanta Opera, and Austin Lyric Opera; Scarpia in Tosca at New York City Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Opera Lyra Ottawa, Michigan Opera Theatre, Florentine Opera of Milwaukee, Orlando Philharmonic, and Opera Carolina; the title role in Falstaff with Opera Santa Barbara; Tonio/Alfio in  Pagliacci/Cavalleria Rusticana with Arizona Opera and Opera Omaha; Count di Luna in Il trovatore at the Manitoba Opera and Indianapolis Opera; Sharpless in Madama Butterfly with Opera Carolina, Opera Omaha, and Florida Grand Opera; and Amonasro in Aïda with Opera Carolina and North Carolina Opera. 

Mr. Thomas remains a house favorite for several opera companies, appearing season after season. For Nashville Opera, he has he has appeared in two productions of Pagliacci as Tonio, as Amonasro in Aïda, as Rigoletto, and in Amahl and the Night Visitors, L’enfant et les sortilèges, and The Lighthouse (Davies). With Des Moines Metro Opera, performances have included Germont in La traviata, King Melchior in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Captain Balstrode in Peter Grimes, Rigoletto, Macbeth, Iago in Otello, and Renato in Un ballo in maschera.  With the Chautauqua Opera: Miller in Luisa Miller, Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor, Count di Luna in Il trovatore, Sharpless in Madama Butterfly, and Scarpia in Tosca. Mr. Thomas also appeared in more than 50 performances with the Sarasota Opera including Jack Rance in La fanciulla del West, Ezio in Attilla, Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor, Scarpia in Tosca, and the title roles of Falstaff, Nabucco, and Macbeth. Of a recent Falstaff performance, Opera News said, “Thomas’s forthright vocalism (featuring wonderful top notes) and apt physique give him a leg up in this part, but he also captured the generous, earthy spirit of Shakespeare’s creation, giving the evening its comic and emotional fulcrum…it’s hard to imagine there are many better Falstaffs working on North American stages today.”

In concert, Mr. Thomas’ most recent engagements include Leoni’s L’oracolo and Montemezzi’s L’incantesimo with Teatro Grattacielo at Avery Fisher Hall; his Carnegie Hall début in Duruflé’s Requiem and Mark Hayes’ Te Deum and Spirit Suite followed by returns for Händel’s Messiah and Mozart’s Coronation Mass.  He enjoyed great success in the world premières and subsequent performances as the baritone soloist in Bob Aldridge’s Parables with the Topeka Symphony. He also sang Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Evansville Philharmonic and numerous pops concerts with the Ocean City Pops Orchestra. Recital dates have included appearances on the various concert series of Elmira College, Grand Rapids Art Museum, Wednesday Music Club Series of Harrisburg PA, and the Glenridge Series of Sarasota.   He also sang a solo recital entitled “If Music be the Food of Love” in Winnipeg, Manitoba as part of a fundraising event for the Community Ministries of The Westminster Church of Winnipeg. 

Early in his career, Mr. Thomas was a member of the MusikTheater Ensemble for Stadttheater Giessen. During his years in Europe, he was a guest artist in Basel, Switzerland, and Heidelberg, Germany, and made his début with Macedonia Opera as Amonasro in Aïda. Mr. Thomas also appeared in Hong Kong, Fiesole, Pisa, Cagnes-sur-Mer, Sarlat, Luzerne, and Utrecht, under the auspices of Stichting Pagliacci of Utrecht University.

Mr. Thomas can be heard on the Naxos recording of Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors. He also recorded a solo disc, Crown Him Lord of All, with Jon Spong, organist.

Updated January 13, 2023

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