John Davies
as The Major General

John Davies, baritone

John Davies is a frequent contributor to the Rochester opera scene in several capacities. He has performed onstage as Dr. Grenville in Mercury Opera Rochester’s production of La Traviata, as the Jailer and Sacristan in Tosca, and in his debut with the company as Leporello in Don Giovanni. He has also participated extensively “behind the scenes,” first as the Stage Director for Mercury Opera’s production of The Barber of Seville.

Mr. Davies also directed the company’s recent children’s opera, The Three Little Pigs, for which he also designed the set and costumes, and he will be directing this season’s educational production of Little Red’s Most Unusual Day which will tour elementary schools in October and November.

Bass-baritone John Davies is esteemed for his insightful and individual interpretations of the basso buffo roles of Donizetti, Mozart and Rossini and his accomplished characterizations in the operettas of Strauss and Sullivan, as well as his remarkable forays into the more dramatic works of Beethoven, Menotti and Floyd.

Highlights of recent seasons include his return to Indianapolis Opera directing Die Zauberflöte, performing as Baron Zeta in Syracuse Opera’s production of The Merry Widow, in the title role in Syracuse Opera’s production of Don Pasquale on only 1 week’s notice, and Captain Kadd in Peter Schickele’s The Abduction of Figaro in a rare concert performance with the New York Chamber Orchestra.

Intrigued by the backstage production aspects of this medium, Mr. Davies first exercised his talents for imparting his visions to cast and public as Artistic Director of the Empire Opera Theater which he founded in 1997 and made his mainstream directing début with Il Barbiere di Siviglia for the Opera Theatre at Wildwood in 2003.  In the spring of 2005 he directed Knoxville Opera’s production of La Fille du Régiment.

Past appearances include engagements with the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Opera Company of Philadelphia, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and Opera Carolina as well as the Opera Companies of Anchorage, Arizona, Atlanta, Berkshire, Birmingham, Chattanooga, Chautauqua, Dayton, Delaware, Gold Coast, Kansas City, Kentucky, Knoxville, Lake George, Memphis, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nashville, Omaha, Piedmont, Portland, Rochester, Syracuse, Utah and Virginia and the Opera Theatre at Wildwood.  Mr. Davies has performed concerts in repertoire ranging from Classical to Broadway to Pops with the Symphony Orchestras of Boston, Chattanooga, Detroit, Indianapolis, Saint Louis, San Antonio, San Francisco and Syracuse.  He has appeared in recital for the BBC Wales and recorded The Consul for Newport Records.

Mr. Davies takes an active interest in the performing arts for young people, spending part of each year writing, narrating and hosting educational programs for opera companies, symphony orchestras and children’s museums across the United States.  More than 35 North American opera companies have presented his operas for young audiences, including The Night Harry Stopped Smoking and The Three Little Pigs.  He is also Artistic Director of the Empire Opera Theater (Syracuse, NY) which he founded in 1997.

He graduated from Boston University with a Degree in Vocal Performance and received his early professional training as an Apprentice at The Santa Fe Opera and as a member of the Western Opera Theater of the San Francisco Opera.

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