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| John Viscardi (photo Arielle Doneson) |
We kind of introduced American barihunk three years ago while he was at the Academy of Vocal Arts (AVA) in Philadelphia, when we
featured him in a photo of students mocking a Vanity Fair spread of famous opera singers. However, it was just pointed out to us that we've actually never profiled the lyric baritone as we have Scott Conner and Wes Mason, who also appeared in the photo.
We just learned that he's been cast as Valentin in Gounod's
Faust at the
Michigan Opera Theater with Matt Boehler as Méphistophélès, which is running from May 9-17. This will be his debut with the company.
In the 2013/14 season, Viscardi performed
Torero in
Osvaldo Golijov's Ainadamar and
Abdallo in Verdi's
Nabucco with Opera Philadelphia, and made his debuts with the
Shreveport and Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestras. He was also featured soloist
in “Eve and Friends” with Maestro Eve Queler at Alice Tully Hall, and
an Apprentice Artist with Santa Fe Opera. One of our favorite events was a joint concert with fellow barihunk Wes Mason in Philadelphia.
His repertoire includes Dr. Malatesta in
Don Pasquale, Belcore in
L’elisir d’amore, Figaro in
Il Barbiere di Siviglia, the title role in
Billy Budd, Pelléas in
Pelléas et Mélisande, and Yeletsky in
Pique Dame.
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| (l-r) Alexandra Maximova, Scott Conner, Maria Aleida, Nelson Ebo, Wes Mason, John Viscardi, and Chrystal Williams |
Previous seasons have showcased Viscardi in
Babes in Toyland as the Toy Soldier in his Lincoln Center debut at Avery Fisher Hall, as Prunier in
La Rondine with Des Moines Metro Opera, The Dancing Master and Lamplighter in
Manon Lescaut with the Opera Company of Philadelphia, and Lensky in
Eugene Onegin with Opera Naples.
His awards include 4th place in the 2014 Giulio Gari Foundation Vocal Competition, Audience Favorite in the 2014 Annapolis Opera’s Vocal Competition, receipt of Santa Fe Opera’s 2013 Anna Case McKay Memorial Award, the Bertha Koempel Award in the 2012 Liederkranz Foundation Competition, a 2012 George London Foundation encouragement award, the Lys Symonette Award from the 2011 Kurt Weill Foundation- Lotte Lenya Competition, 2nd Place Prize in the 2011 Giargiari Bel Canto Competition, 1st place in the 2010 Mario Lanza Scholarship Competition, and 3rd place in the 2010 Giargiari Bel Canto Competition.
