SETH CARICO
BASS-BARITONE
BIOGRAPHY
Hailed by Opera News as “powerful in both voice and bearing” and particularly noted for his commanding stage presence and expressive vocalism, American bass-baritone Seth Carico is distinguishing himself at home and internationally. Opera Today praised “the dynamic presence of Carico, whose ringing baritone gave much pleasure.” He effortlessly capitalizes on his dramatic training, bringing a unique sensitivity to operatic characters at disparate ends of the theatrical spectrum.
Last season saw Carico making his role début as Wotan in Die Walküre at Konzert Theater Bern, performing Pistola in Falstaff with Komische Oper Berlin, and the title role in Don Giovanni at Minnesota Opera as well as returning to Deutche Oper Berlin for Greek. This season, he joins Oper Bern as Scarpia in Tosca, brings his Don Alfonso in Così fan tutte to Komische Oper Berlin, sings Kolenatý in The Makropulos Affair with the Concertgebow in Amsterdam, Escamillo in Carmen with Austin Opera, and Kissinger in Nixon in China in his return to Deutsche Oper Berlin. [read more...]
CRITICAL ACCLAIM
"... He passed with flying colours…” – BachTrack
Don Giovanni – “Taking on such an iconic role as Don Giovanni for the first time must be a daunting prospect in any situation. In his role debut, American bass-baritone Seth Carico was faced with the additional challenge of having to portray the infamous seducer as an agonised man. He passed with flying colours, which should not be taken literally as a reflection on his vocal abilities: his voice is very healthy, thank you very much, handsome in timbre and well projected. But he managed to bring to his character the frenzied urgency of a man that knows he has little time left and nothing to lose.”
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"... terrific house and role debut…” – Online Musik Magazin
Tosca – “Actually, the opera should not be called Tosca, but Scarpia. Scarpia becomes the main character in this production, not only due to the direction, but also due to the singer-actor in the role. Seth Carico is such a fantastic singer-actor that you might momentarily forget you're in the opera. With his vocal, highly cultured and fantastically well-timbered baritone, he expressively differentiated, while never pretentious, the multi-faceted sides of the perpetrator and victim Scarpia and makes the regal interpretation of this person intensely tangible. A terrific house and role debut!”
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"... dominates his idiomatic performance with vital power of tone..." – Opernkritik Berlin
Don Quichotte – “As Sancho Panza, Seth Carico gives a vital, powerful, benevolently present performance of the servant who, shaking his head, follows his master into his consuming madness, but remains faithful even beyond his master's death. Carico dominates his idiomatic performance with vital power of tone.”
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"... the standout performance is that of bass-baritone Seth Carico..." – TwinCities.com
Dead Man Walking – “the standout performance is that of bass-baritone Seth Carico as the condemned man, Joseph De Rocher. This might be the most physically and emotionally demanding role that I’ve ever encountered in an opera, and Carico’s commitment to the character is awe-inspiring. He basically takes the opera upon his shoulders for the harrowing final half-hour and makes it an experience of profound sadness.”
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"... a rich baritone and natural comic timing..." – Financial Times
Death in Venice – “Nilon captures the vulnerable, earnest, demonic nature of the protagonist but is nearly upstaged by house ensemble member Seth Carico, who slips between roles as the elderly fop, old gondolier, hotel manager, barber, leader of the players and Dionysus with a rich baritone and natural comic timing.”
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"... Carico sang with power, accuracy and good humor..." – Salt Lake Tribune
Le nozze di Figaro – “Artistic director Christopher McBeth has assembled a first-class cast, led by bass-baritone Seth Carico, possibly the most charismatic Figaro ever to grace the Capitol Theatre stage. Carico sang with power, accuracy and good humor, elevating the energy level every time he appeared onstage Saturday. His chemistry with soprano Zulimar López-Hernández, who portrays Susanna, was genuine and charming.”
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"... Carico’s performance was strong and exciting..." – BachTrack
Hoffmann – “Carico’s performance was strong and exciting, ranging from chipper party-goer to devil incarnate. His third-act duet with Antonia and his instigation of her death were the most gripping parts of the evening.”