Michael Mayes - Marcello

     With a strong voice and even stronger sense of drama, baritone Michael Mayes is making waves in the opera world for his command of the stage and attractive masculine presence. Originally from Conroe, Texas, Michael has performed with several opera companies across the United States including Madison Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Palm Beach Opera, Skylight Opera, Opera Theatre Highland Park, Central City Opera, Union Avenue Opera Theatre, and Fort Worth Opera. In the 2008-2009 season Mr. Mayes sang the title role in Don Giovanni with Connecticut Opera, Marcello in La bohème with Skylight Opera Theater, Conte di Luna in Il trovatore with Eugene Opera, and Morales in Carmen and Motorcycle Cop in Dead Man Walking with Fort Worth Opera. Mr. Mayes will join the roster of the Metropolitan Opera in the 2009-2010 season. Additionally he performs Conte Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro with Des Moines Metro Opera, Marcello in La bohème with Duluth Festival Opera, Shreveport Opera, and New Britain Symphony, Orff’s Carmina Burana with the Oklaholma Ballet and San Antonio Symphony, and Guglielmo in Così fan tutte with Arizona Opera. Additional upcoming engagements include Marcello in La bohème with Eugene Opera, Danilo in The Merry Widow with Opera on the James, Valentin in Faust with Opera Birmingham and Kinesias in Lysistrata with Ft. Worth Opera.

     Engagements for 2007-2008 included Dandini in La cenerentola with Connecticut Opera, Lancelot in Augusta Opera’s Camelot, Top in The Tender Land with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, Marcello in La bohème with Opera on the James, Mercutio in Roméo et Juliette with PORTOpera, and Peter in Opera Company of Philadelphia’s production of Hänsel und Gretel. In an extension of his involvement with the development of Margaret Garner, a new opera by Richard Danielpour, Mr. Mayes appeared as the Fisherman and covered Edward Gaines in the world premiere at Michigan Opera Theatre and Cincinnati Opera. In a subsequent performance at The Opera Company of Philadelphia he performed the role of Edward Gaines opposite Mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves, which he also performed at Opera Carolina with Ms. Graves to critical acclaim. Other recent engagements include the title role of Il barbiere di Siviglia with Duluth Festival Opera, Guglielmo in Così fan tutte with Opera on the James and Ping in Turandot with Michigan Opera Theater.

     A graduate of the University of North Texas, his operatic roles include Wagner in Faust, Sciarrone in Tosca, and Marullo in Rigoletto, Silvio in I Pagliacci, Mercutio in Romeo et Juliette, Dandini in La Cenerentola, The Librettist in Viva La Mamma, Lord Capulet in Romeo et Juliette, John Proctor in The Crucible, both Slook and Tobia Mill in La Cambiale di Matrimonio, Escamillo in Carmen, and Malatesta in Don Pasquale. As a participant in the highly prestigious young artist program at The Santa Fe Opera Michael covered the role of Claudio in Tim Albery’s production of Beatrice et Benedict and performed scenes of Rossini’s William Tell.

     Mr. Mayes has appeared internationally in conjunction with La Fenice in Castel-Franco Veneto, Italy. Mr. Mayes’ honors include 3rd place winner at the Metropolitan National Council Auditions in Chicago, the Entergy Young Texas Artist Competition Vocalist Award, John Alexander Award, the John Moriarty Award, and an advanced division winner at the Anton Guadagno Vocal Competition.