JOSHUA CONYERS
BARITONE
BIOGRAPHY
Grammy-nominated baritone Joshua Conyers has been singled out by Opera News for his “deliciously honeyed baritone that would seduce anyone,” by The New York Times as having “a sonorous baritone” that “wheedled and seduced,” and by The Washington Post for giving a "show-stealing" performance. A native of Bronx, NY, he has been hailed by critics for his performances of new and standard operatic works, as well as on concert stages in North America and internationally. Conyers' dedication and vision as an artist, educator, and advocate strives to propel the performing arts industry forward.
Conyers’ busy 2023-24 season included performing and covering Reginald in X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X in productions with Seattle Opera and the Metropolitan Opera respectively, Handel’s Messiah with the New York Philharmonic, Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with Chattanooga Symphony and Opera, Hollis in the world premiere of Brittney Boykin and Jarrod Lee’s Two Corners with Finger Lakes Opera, and his role debut of Scarpia in Tosca with Opera Wilmington. Upcoming on the opera stage in 2024–25 Joshua sings the role of Hassan in Edmond Dede’s Morgiane in a special presentation with Opera Lafayette in collaboration with Opera Creole and the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, is seen with Piedmont Opera as Pierre Cauchon in The Trial at Rouen, and will make his role debut as Falstaff. Concert appearances will include the Crumb American Songbook ll with the New American Symphony, Handel’s Messiah with the Phoenix Symphony and a recital with the Brooklyn Art Song Society.
Recent seasons have included his début with English National Opera as Policeman/Congregant 3 in Tesori and Thompson’s Blue and Reginald in Anthony and Thulani Davis’ X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X at Opera Omaha, which he has also performed with Detroit Opera and Odyssey Opera (where he also recorded the role). On the concert platform, Mr. Conyers appeared as bass soloist in Handel’s Messiah with Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and returned to Brooklyn Art Song Society for a series of concerts. He also joined Seattle Opera for Blue, Boston Lyric Opera as Count Capulet in Roméo et Juliette, Memphis Symphony Orchestra for Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, and Cecilia Chorus of NYC for Carmina Burana at Carnegie Hall. Other previous engagements include Eustis in Le maréchal ferrant with Opera Lafayette, Sprecher in Die Zauberflöte with Aspen Opera Theater, and Tonio in Pagliacci at The Atlanta Opera, where he also performed Tiger Brown in the Threepenny Opera and covered Kaiser Overall in Der Kaiser von Atlantis.
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CRITICAL ACCLAIM
"... The seasoned baritone of Joshua Conyers…” – Opera News
X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X – “The seasoned baritone of Joshua Conyers suggests the spiritual nature of Reginald, the inmate who leads Malcolm toward Islam.”
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"... power and beauty left one gobsmacked…” – Seen and Heard International
Songs of Travel – “Baritone Joshua Conyers… power and beauty left one gobsmacked. Conyers’s artistry shows through in his elegant phrasings, subtle dynamic variations and, especially, the judicious use of his beautiful head voice. Conyers’ narrative gifts were best displayed in ‘Whither must I wander’, while ‘Bright is the ring of words’ rang out like the tolling of a bell, which ended quietly as he sang tenderly of a lover and his maid remembering the songs of yore, which the wanderer had sung.”
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"... The largest and most splendid voice..." – Washington Classical Review
The Blacksmith – “The largest and most splendid voice came from baritone Joshua Conyers, also familiar from both WNO and Wolf Trap Opera, as the preacher Eustis."
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"... Conyers’s investment in the text was manifest..." – Opera News
Concert for Unity – “Over the course of the afternoon, baritone Joshua Conyers offered The Count’s Act III aria and recitative from Le Nozze di Figaro, “Hai già vinta la causa … Vedrò mentr’io sospiro” as well as Enrico Ashton’s Act I aria, “Cruda, funesta smania,” from Lucia di Lammermoor. Equally at home with the dynamism of both Mozart and Donizetti, Conyers’s investment in the text was manifest, yet his lofty vocalism avoided coarseness or over-emphasis. Conyers shone brightest in the spirituals “Ride on, King Jesus” and “Witness.””
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"... Conyers’s robust baritone..." – Opera News
Threepenny Opera – “The imposing Joshua Conyers sang the role of Tiger Brown, the impotent chief of police who couldn’t seem to keep Macheath locked up. Conyers’s robust baritone was amiable, as exemplified by his performance of “Cannon Song.””