A Grammy Nominated artist who has performed in all 50 states and throughout Canada, Bass-Baritone Kristopher Irmiter is one of the most sought after low voices in the U.S. He has appeared with San Francisco Opera, Opéra de Montreal, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, Baltimore Opera, Atlanta Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, Utah Opera, Austin Lyric Opera, Opera Lyra Ottawa, Arizona Opera, and Florida Grand Opera among many others.
With more than 100 performed roles in his repertoire, Mr. Irmiter has exhibited a vast range both vocally and dramatically, earning broad critical acclaim; Opera News - "a large and personable presence, his bass-baritone alternately stentorian and tender", New York Times - "Irmiter was excellent, richly expressive.", Opera Now - "The anchor of the performance was the Don Giovanni of Kristopher Irmiter - dashing stage presence, acting ability and solid vocal technique. This is a Don to be watched." San Francisco Sentinel - "Following his Toreador Song, had this audience been seated at La Scala, the applause meter was high enough to opt for an encore.", Salt Lake Tribune - "a masterful portrayal - Irmiter's charismatic stage presence and potent bass-baritone only help him make bad look good.", Charlotte Observer - "enough comic talent to succeed on his acting ability alone", Baltimore Sun - "his vocalism as notable for its security and tonal weight as for an abundant variety of phrasing.", SanDiego.com - "a warm, well-projected vocalism whose clarity of understanding needed no assistance from the supertitles".
Recent successful portrayals include Scarpia in
Tosca with Lyric Opera of Chicago, Escamillo in
Carmen with San Francisco Opera, Méphistophélès in
Faust with Utah Festival Opera, and Baltimore Opera, Figaro in
Le nozze di Figaro with Portland Opera and Opera Carolina, the title role in
Der Fliegende Holländer with Arizona Opera and Alaska Opera, the Villains in
Les Contes d'Hoffmann with Opera Lyra in Ottawa, Kurwenal in
Tristan Und Isolde with Florentine Opera, Alidoro in
La Cenerentola with Austin Lyric Opera, and appearances with Atlanta Opera, Utah Opera, Opera Omaha and Lyric Opera of Kansas City in the lead role of Rucker Lattimore in Carlisle Floyd's
Cold Sassy Tree. Upcoming for Mr. Irmiter are two return engagements with San Diego Opera, first
Assassinio nella Catedrale, this season and Masetto in
Don Giovanni in 2015. Additionally he will appear as Scarpia in
Tosca with Syracuse Opera, perform title role in
Der Fliegende Holländer with The Greek National Opera in Athens, Greece and Utah Festival Opera, and in 2014 he will perform Daland, opposite Greer Grimsley, in
Der Fliegende Holländer with Opera Carolina.
Mr. Irmiter's orchestral engagements have included appearances with the Greater Bridgeport Symphony, Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Mississippi Symphony, New Bedford Symphony, Chattanooga Symphony and the Asheville Symphony, performing
Messiah, Verdi's
Requiem,
The Creation, Beethoven's
Ninth Symphony, the Rossini
Stabat Mater, and the Mozart
Requiem. He was a two time Regional Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera Auditions and winner of the Leonardo da Vinci award in San Francisco.
In addition to his accomplished performing credits Mr. Irmiter has a strong and growing reputation as a teacher and mentor to young singers. He developed the pilot young artist program for The Green Mountain Opera Festival in Vermont and served as the director of that program in its inaugural year. He has conducted master classes for the Utah Opera Young Artist Program, the University of Texas, the University of Memphis, Queens University, Portland State University and the University of South Carolina. In his years as adjunct faculty with Winthrop University Mr. Irmiter taught voice and opera workshop, and has maintained a private studio for more than 15 years. In 2010 he volunteered to design and led the establishment of the Opera Carolina Academy and subsequently served as Academy Director for three years. Mr. Irmiter is a member of the music faculty of Catawba College and recently rejoined the Winthrop University faculty. He resides in the Charlotte area with his wife and two sons.
UFOMT PAST SEASONS |
|
|
|
2012 |
Méphistophélès, Faust |
|
|
Harry / Baptista, Kiss Me Kate |
|
|
Bass Soloist, St. Matthew Passion |
|
2011 |
Pimen, Boris Godunov |
|
|
Commendatore, Don Giovanni |
|
|
Bass Soloist, The Mozart Requiem |
|
2006 |
Figaro, The Marriage of Figaro |
|
|
Colline, La Bohème |
|
2005 |
John Proctor, The Crucible |
