Rod Gilfry
A renowned Mozart specialist, he has given acclaimed performances as Don Giovanni, Count Almaviva, Guglielmo, and Papageno, and is also known for his work in roles from the standard baritone repertoire (Pelléas, Valentin, Orestes, Belcore, Billy Budd).On November 25, 1996, Gilfry made his debut with the Metropolitan Opera as Demetrius in the company's premiere of Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream, a role he sang eight times that season.At the Zürich Opera he performed the part of the composer in the "domestic comedy" Intermezzo of Richard Strauss, conducted by Peter Schneider and staged by Jens-Daniel Herzog, with Christiane Kohl as Christine.Here is a lusciously shaded lyric voice with real dramatic possibilities, with phrasing full of rhythmic vitality and a stage presence many a non-musical actor might envy.On 22 August 2010, he appeared at the Royal Albert Hall, London alongside Kim Criswell in a BBC Prom celebrating the music of Rodgers & Hammerstein.In June 2012 Gilfry garnered critical acclaim for his portrayal of Sweeney Todd in the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis festival production of Sweeney Todd, directed by Ron Daniels and conducted by Stephen Lord, reprising the role he had sung at the Theatre du Chatelet Paris (home of the Chatelet Opera) under the baton of David Charles Abell, partnered by Caroline O'Connor as Mrs Lovett.