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JONATHAN PATTON
BARITONE
BIOGRAPHY
Praised for his surging voice and compelling stage presence, baritone Jonathan Patton is making his mark on the opera world in a diverse repertoire spanning classical and contemporary works. A native of Durango, Colorado, he is currently in his third season as a Cafritz Young Artist with the Washington National Opera.
During the 2024-2025 season, Jonathan takes on the title role in the Young Artist performance of The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs by Mason Bates and was featured as Macbeth in WNO’s look-in performance of Verdi’s Macbeth. He also participated in the company’s annual American Opera Initiative, singing the role of Austin in JL Marlor and Claire Fuyuko Bierman’s Cry, Wolf. On the concert platform, Jonathan made his debut as Montano in Otello with National Symphony Orchestra.
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Previously with WNO, Jonathan appeared as Pâris in Roméo et Juliette, Don Pedro in Songbird, and Marcello in La bohème, among others. Beyond Washington, he has performed with Opera Southwest, Festival Napa Valley, Des Moines Metro Opera, and The Glimmerglass Festival, where The Wall Street Journal lauded his Martin in Candide as a ”big-voiced standout.” In Summer 2024, Jonathan returned to Glimmerglass to cover the role of John Cree in Kevin Puts’ Elizabeth Cree and debuted as Silvio in a new production of Pagliacci. Other favorite roles performed include Belcore in L’elisir d’amore, Professor Bhaer in Little Women, and Ty (cover) in A Thousand Acres.
Jonathan is a winner of the Lewisville Lake International Voice Competition and this year was named a semifinalist in the prestigious Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition. He holds a Master of Music from the University of New Mexico and a Graduate Artist Certificate from the University of North Texas, where favorite roles included Tarquinius in The Rape of Lucretia and Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor
Current as of March 1, 2025
CRITICAL ACCLAIM
"[Patton] nearly blew the theatre’s roof off..." – Opera News
Candide – "This summer’s crop (of young artists) included baritone Jonathan Patton who nearly blew the theatre’s roof off with Candide’s bitter ‘Words, Words, Words.’”
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“Big-voiced standout..." – The Wall Street Journal
Candide – “Big-voiced standouts…included Jonathan Patton as the pessimist Martin."
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"Mr. Patton’s buzzy, surging baritone was achingly plangent..." – OperaToday
Pagliacci – "One of the most radiant stretches of the evening’s glories was her glamorous vocal partnering with Jonathan Patton for a beauteous rendition of the extended Nedda-Silvio love duet. The lanky, youthful Mr. Patton’s buzzy, surging baritone was achingly plangent, and his nuanced account was distinguished.”
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"...dense baritone sound..." – Washington Classical Reviews
Cry, Wolf – "Jonathan Patton brought a suitably dense baritone sound to his confused, simplistic Austin."
REPRESENTATIVES
General