EDWARD GRAVES
TENOR
BIOGRAPHY
Praised by Opera News as a tenor of "stunningly sweet tone," Edward Graves is a graduate of the prestigious Merola Program and Adler Fellowship at San Francisco Opera. During his tenure, he performed as Stone/Eunuch in Bright Sheng's Dreams of the Red Chamber, Gastone in La traviata, covered the roles of Alfredo in La traviata and Lensky in Eugene Onegin, sang Rodolfo in SFO's Bohème Out of the Box, covered the title role in Omar, and performed as Ruiz in Il trovatore.
Last season, Mr. Graves made his Metropolitan Opera début as 1st Armored Man in The Magic Flute and returned to cover the roles of 1st Armored Man and 2nd Priest in Die Zauberflöte. He also sang Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor with Opera in Williamsburg, Rodolfo in La bohème with Opera Delaware and Opera Baltimore, and Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly with Anchorage Opera. This season, he joins Houston Grand Opera as Robbins in their 50th anniversary production of Porgy and Bess, Opera Omaha as a soloist for their Opera Outdoors concert, and Harmonia Orchestra & Chorus as the tenor soloist in Handel’s Messiah. He returns to Sacramento Philharmonic and Opera as Alfredo in La traviata and tenor soloist in Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. He will also make his début with Virginia Opera as Wilson in Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s Intelligence and Berkeley Community Chorus and Orchestra as the tenor soloist in Haydn’s Theresienmesse.
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Mr. Graves recently made a series of notable role and company débuts, including the Duke in Rigoletto with Opera San José, Alfredo in La traviata with Opera Tampa, and Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni with Sacramento Philharmonic and Opera. He also performed with the Virginia Symphony in Messiah, the Detroit Opera as Policeman 2 in Blue, and the Berkshire Choral International as the title role in Judas Maccabaeus. He earned critical acclaim as Anatol in Barber's Vanessa at the Spoleto Festival USA, and his appearance in the Merola Opera Program's What the Heart Desires earned a San Francisco Chronicle rave for his "superbly bright, clarion sound."
Edward was a 2022 San Francisco District winner of the Metropolitan Opera's Laffont Competition, a 2024 fifth place winner in the Loren L. Zachary Competition, a 2024 second place winner in Cedar Rapids Opera’s Esther & Myron Wilson Vocal Competition, and a 2025 third Place winner in Opera Columbus’ Cooper-Bing Competition. He holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance from Towson University and a Master of Music and Performer Diploma in Voice Performance from Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music.
Current as of July 1, 2025
CRITICAL ACCLAIM
"...oft-angelic notes that reach heavenly heights..." – Theater Eddys
Rigoletto – “With vibrant notes that bounce with energy, tenor Edward Graves quickly reveals to his court and to us the Duke’s views... Rolling, attracting notes become his means of wooing Countess Ceprano (Abigail Bush) and cuckolding her husband (Glenn Healy)... his ingratiating wooing is supported by beautifully floating, tenor notes that are sure to win her heart. The Duke’s oft-angelic notes that reach heavenly heights in his iconic aria “La donna è mobile” are in great contrast to his true self as a seducing rake who sings of “the woman is fickle, like a feather in the wind.”
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"...intoxicating vocal beauty..." – American Presswire
Madama Butterfly – “Also making a role debut, and fresh off a debut at New York’s iconic Metropolitan Opera, Edward Graves delivers a striking performance as Lt. Pinkerton, embodying the character’s charm and callousness with seamless conviction. His bright, ringing tenor cuts through the orchestra with effortless power, filling the theater with a presence that is both alluring and foreboding. From the passionate intensity of “Dovunque al mondo” to the lyrical warmth of his Act I duet with Cio-Cio-San, Graves brings an intoxicating vocal beauty to the role. Yet it’s in his final act return that his artistry truly shines—his remorse palpable, his voice weighted with regret, making his betrayal all the more devastating. Graves gives Pinkerton complexity beyond the usual cad, offering a portrayal that is as vocally thrilling as it is dramatically compelling.”
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"...sinuous phrasing seemed to stop time..." – San Francisco Chronicle
Omar – “Tenor Edward Graves...delivered a gorgeous and all-too-brief solo as one of the prisoners in the Middle Passage slave ship whose sinuous phrasing seemed to stop time for a moment.”
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"...stunning sweet tone...." – Opera News
Gianni Schicchi – “Studio Artist Edward Graves sang the romantic tenor Rinuccio with a stunning sweet tone..”
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"...great dexterity and in fine voice..." – cordellreportsdotcom
Rigoletto – “Tenor Edward Graves handles each with great dexterity and in fine voice. His Italianate melodiousness...fits perfectly with this great work from the Italian canon.”
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"...delicious lirico spinto tenor..." – Operaville
Rigoletto – “Our Duke is Edward Graves, an imposing presence with a delicious lirico spinto tenor.”
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"...a dashing Duke..." – The Opera Tattler
Rigoletto – “Tenor Edward Graves was a dashing Duke, his bright voice has a lovely lightness.”