ANDREW MANEA
BARITONE
BIOGRAPHY
Lauded for his "Charming...robust baritone…” rising Romanian-American baritone Andrew Manea recently made his role début as the Duke of Nottingham in Roberto Devereuxwith the San Francisco Opera. These performances “thrust him into the spotlight, solidifying his status as the next leading baritone of his generation…” (Opera Wire). Manea recently embarked upon a foray into larger repertoire. This season, he has four house débuts: with Nashville Opera, singing the role of Tonio in Pagliacci, North Carolina Opera as Germont in La Traviata, Sarasota Opera as Escamillo in Carmen, and Opera Birmingham as Tonio in Pagliacci. Additionally, he returns to Maryland Opera as Scarpia in Tosca and joins the Indianapolis Symphony for Handel’s Messiah.
The past season’s operatic highlights include Ernani at the Lyric Opera of Chicago and Ford in Falstaff with Palm Beach Opera, while in concert he was seen as a lead soloist for Carmina burana at Carnegie Hall and joined Maryland Opera for their Bravissimo Bel Canto concert. Previously, Andrew débuted with both Arizona Opera as Escamillo in Carmen and Opera Omaha as Lorenzo in I Capuleti e i Montecchi, performed the role of Montano in Pacific Symphony’s Otello, returned to Palm Beach Opera as Danilo in The Merry Widow, and joined Cleveland Opera Theater for their concertShakespeare in Cleveland. [read more...]
CRITICAL ACCLAIM
"... stunning..." – Palm Beach Daily News
The Merry Widow – “As the baritone Count Danilo, Andrew Manea began with a stunning rendition of 'O Fatherland!' His perfectly balanced voice and towering presence commanded the stage and easily carried over a rich orchestral texture. In addition, Manea has a gift for comedic timing, and his scenes with Dwayne Croft as the Baron Zeta were wonderfully entertaining. Manea also delivered a brilliant performance of the aria 'You'll Find Me at Maxim's.”
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"...ample vibrance of sound and high notes..." – Palm Beach Daily News
Il barbiere di Siviglia, Palm Beach Opera – “The opera’s hit tune, of course, is Figaro’s entrance aria, and Andrew Manea properly took focus from his very first lines: “Largo al factotum.” The Romanian-American baritone has personal presence, enhanced by ample vibrance of sound and high notes — ringing Gs and As — to burn. As Friday’s performance progressed, Manea dominated the action, as he interacted physically and blended vocally with his colleagues on stage…This Figaro was equally adept in his fluid delivery of the opera’s abundant recitatives (speech-like musical dialogue), inventively punctuated by [the] harpsichordist.”
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"...next leading baritone of his generation..." – Opera Wire
Roberto Devereux, San Francisco Opera – “…the role of Nottingham…thrust him into the spotlight and solidify his status as the next leading baritone of his generation…”
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"perfectly balanced voice and towering presence" – Palm Beach Daily News:
The Merry Widow, Palm Beach Opera – "As the baritone Count Danilo, Andrew Manea began with a stunning rendition of 'O Fatherland!' His perfectly balanced voice and towering presence commanded the stage and easily carried over a rich orchestral texture. In addition, Manea has a gift for comedic timing, and his scenes with Dwayne Croft as the Baron Zeta were wonderfully entertaining. Manea also delivered a brilliant performance of the aria 'You'll Find Me at Maxim's.'"