Mark Calvert – tenor

With a voice praised as “exceptionally supple and flexible” (Mannheimer Morgen), American tenor Mark Calvert is steadily earning acclaim for his performances in Europe. His most recent success was his debut in Switzerland with the Aargauer Symphonie Orchester and Oper Schloss Hallwyl as Vašek in “The Bartered Bride” in July 2009. Upcoming performances include his return to the United States for two productions with Opera Omaha, singing Beppe in “I Pagliacci” and Don Basilio and Don Curzio in “Le nozze di Figaro”.

Between 2006 and 2009 Mark Calvert was a member of the Landestheater Linz ensemble in Austria, where, under the baton of conductor Dennis Russell Davies, he added a number of roles to his repertoire, including Damon in “Acis and Galathea”, Mopsa in “The Fairy Queen”, Scaramuccio in “Ariadne auf Naxos”, Cégeste in Philip Glass’ “Orphée”, Don Basilio in “Le nozze di Figaro”, as well as Pane in “La Calisto”. In 2008 Mark Calvert made his Italian debut with the Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi in Kurt Weill’s “Die sieben Todsünden” and as Dr. Blind in “Die Fledermaus” under the baton of Andreas Mitisek. Under conductor Ralf Weikert he debuted at the Richard Wagner Festival Wels as the 3rd Knappe in “Parsifal”, followed by Gastone in “La traviata” with the Philharmonie Südwestfalen. Further European engagements in past seasons have included productions with the Stadttheater Gießen, the Schlossfestspiele Heidelberg, the Theater der Stadt Heidelberg, and the Kammeroper Konstanz.

Sought after for his performances on the concert stage, Mark Calvert has performed many works, such as Haydn’s “Die Schöpfung”, J.S. Bach’s “Johannes-Passion” and “Weihnachtsoratorium”, Brahms’ “Liebeslieder-Walzer”, and Britten’s “Cantata Misericordium” and “Serenade for Tenor, Horn, and Strings”. His 2007 performances of Händel’s “Messiah” with the L’Arpa Festante Baroque Orchestra Munich were recorded for Spektral Records. He has also been seen throughout Europe and America in television broadcasts of the documentary “Renata Scotto – L’île opera”. Additional recordings include Robert Kurka’s “The Good Soldier Schweik” for Cedille Records and Chicago Opera Theater, as well as songs of Franck and Gounod for Ambassador Records.

In June 2010 he will make his debut at Carnegie Hall with Mozart’s “Coronation Mass”.

A native of Wichita, Kansas, Mark Calvert earned his degrees from Yale University School of Music and Lawrence University in Wisconsin. He received his early training with The Santa Fe Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Seattle Opera, Aspen Music Festival, and Pittsburgh Opera. His performances with Pittsburgh Opera earned him the 2000 Richard F. Gold Career Grant from The Shoshana Foundation.