LEVI HERNANDEZ
BARITONE
BIOGRAPHY
With a velvety tone and a stage presence which exudes confidence and charm, Levi Hernandez has made a name for himself in a wide variety of baritone repertoire. Opera News has praised him for his “voice with natural power,” and “warm, inviting baritone.” The El Paso native has joined the rosters of leading opera companies including the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, and Houston Grand Opera where he débuted as Sharpless in Madama Butterfly.
Last season, Mr. Hernandez was featured at Opera Idaho in their Celebrando a México concert, sang Lescaut in Manon Lescaut with North Carolina Opera, returned to The Metropolitan Opera to cover Papageno in Die Zauberflöte and Dulcamara in L’elisir d’amore, and bowed with Kansas City Symphony in Handel’s Messiah, the El Paso Symphony for Mozart’s Requiem, and Opera Idaho for their Opera in the Parkconcert. This season, he joins El Paso Opera for their Mozart by Moonlightconcert, Opera San Antonio as the Father in Hansel and Gretel, brings his celebrated Dandini in La Cenerentola to Boston Lyric Opera, performs Tonio in Pagliacci with Hawaii Opera Theatre, returns to opera Omaha as Diego Rivera in El último sueño de Frida y Diego, and bows with the Virginia and Oregon Symphonies for Handel’s Messiah. [read more...]
CRITICAL ACCLAIM
"... a pleasure to hear…” – Opera News
Gianni Schicchi – “Levi Hernandez took a sober approach to Schicchi, with few of the bufffo-isms the assignment usually calls forth, and mercifully few of the ensuing musical approximations. It was a pleasure to hear the role sung so cleanly and fully."
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"... Hernandez's baritone rings with clarity and power…” – The Virginian Pilot
Madama Butterfly – “Hernandez's baritone rings with clarity and power, and his presence is warm and natural as Sharpless takes on the fruitless task of speaking truth to Pinkerton.”
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"... a warm, inviting baritone..." – Opera News
La bohème – “As Marcello, Levi Hernandez impressed with a warm, inviting baritone, teaming expertly with Yunus in the remarkable Act III Quartet, blocked out expertly by Ozawa."
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"... very strong and moving performance..." – KDHX.org
The Grapes of Wrath – “The stalwart Pa Joad is sung by baritone Levi Hernandez in another very strong and moving performance.”
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"... wonderfully funny..." – Omaha World Herald
La Cenerentola – “As Don Magnifico, Cinderella's conniving stepfather, baritone Levi Hernandez was a perfect combination of oafish selfishness, comical pomposity and oblivious boorishness. He has a gorgeous timber, effortlessly executing those lightning quick divisions with deceptive ease. Hernandez also played the starring role in one of the evening's highlights when Don Magnifico drunkenly commandeered the wine cellar, showcasing his character's ludicrous pretentiousness in a wonderfully funny sequence.”