Biography
A “powerful, melodious baritone” with “soul and passion” is a small sample
of the enthusiastic reviews being received by baritone CHRISTOPHER HOLMES.
Outstanding musicianship and a rapidly expanding repertoire are quickly establishing
this young baritone as an artist in demand.
On the operatic stage Holmes has performed
over thirty roles with noted companies including
ABILENE OPERA, AMARILLO OPERA, AUSTIN LYRIC OPERA, CENTRAL CITY OPERA,
EUGENE OPERA, RIMROCK OPERA, SAN ANTONIO OPERA, SOUTH TEXAS LYRIC OPERA, and UTAH FESTIVAL OPERA.
His GERMONT with OPERA DEL SOL was praised as being
“truly polished, controlled, professional and superb.”
His FIGARO was declared to have “radiated authority.”
His presentation of the secondary baritone role of WAGNER
in Faust was celebrated as “some of the most stylish singing in the show.”
Mr. Holmes' affinity for opera of the 20th century is reflected
in his work as the CAPTAIN in Bernstein’s Candide, DEMETRIUS in Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream,
TOP in Copland’s The Tender Land,
and VERNON in Hoiby’s Summer and Smoke while covering the role of JOHN BUCHANAN.
With Austin Lyric Opera he appeared in the Texas premiere of Heggie’s Dead Man Walking.
Other recent roles include GAYLORD RAVENAL in Kern's Show Boat at UTAH FESTIVAL OPERA
and SONORA in Puccini's La fanciulla del West.
Equally at home in concert repertoire, Mr. Holmes has performed Brahms' A German Requiem, the Fauré Requiem,
Schubert’s Mass in G Major, Carmina Burana, and Mozart’s Mass in C Minor
for Texas State University. He has also performed Handel’s Messiah, selections from Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Porgy and Bess, and an evening of Gershwin, Kern, and Porter.
Fluent in Italian, Mr. Holmes holds degrees in voice and opera
from Oberlin Conservatory of Music and Temple University. |
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