About
Noted by Opera News for his “dark bass and strong dramatic energy”, Brian Kontes continues to perform throughout this country and abroad. Mr. Kontes begins his 2018-2019 season with a return to Pittsburgh Opera where he will sing the role of The Bonze in Madame Butterfly. Additional highlights of this season include debuts at Sarasota Opera as Sarastro in Die Zauberflote and Lieutenant Ratcliffe in Billy Budd at Central City Opera. Brian Kontes will also return to the Metropolitan Opera for their production of Dialogues des Carmelites. This marks his ninth season with the company.
Last season Mr. Kontes received high praises for his singing and acting by audiences and reviewers alike. His season included debuts at San Diego Opera as Timur in Turandot, Don Fernando in Fidelio with Boston Baroque, and as Bartolo in Le Nozze di Figaro at Pittsburgh Opera and Charlottesville Opera. He was also a guest soloist at the Shippensburg Music Festival for their performances of the Brahms Requiem and was also a featured soloist for a New Yearʼs Eve celebration with the El Paso Choral Society in El Paso, TX. Brian Kontes also sang the role of Hogboy for the United States premiere of Charles Wourinenʼs opera, Brokeback Mountain at New York City Opera.
Career highlights at the Metropolitan Opera have included HD productions of Die Meistersinger Von Nurnberg under the baton of Maestro James Levine, Der Rosenkavalier under the baton of Maestro Sebastian Wiegle, and The Nose, led by Maestro Valery Gergiev.
Other notable highlights in opera have included performing the roles of Leporello in Don Giovanni at Seattle Opera, Banquo in Macbeth at Opera National de Lorraine, Palemon in Thais at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and Kentucky Opera, Commendatore in Don Giovanni at New York City Opera, Colline in La Boheme with Opera Hong Kong, Happy in La Fanciulla del West at Opera Omaha, Dr. Grenvil in La Traviata at Opera Colorado, Zuniga in Carmen at New Orleans Opera, The Bonze in Madame Butterfly for Nashville Opera and Don Basilio in Il Barbiere di Siviglia and Sprecher in Die Zauberflote with Ash Lawn Opera. He has also sung many operas in concert with the Opera Orchestra of New York.
Brian Kontes is also a noteworthy concert artist. He has sung on numerous occasions at Carnegie Hall in New York City as well as venues throughout the United States. Career highlights have included Mozartʼs Requiem, Haydnʼs Paukenmesse, Faureʼs Requiem, Mozartʼs Coronation Mass, Beethovenʼs 9th Symphony, Bachʼs Magnificat and Rossiniʼs Stabat Mater with various orchestras and conductors in Carnegie Hall. He has also been a guest soloist with the Charlottesville Symphony on numerous occasions, including Beethovenʼs Mass in C, under the baton of Maestro Cristof Perick. Recently, he has been a soloist with the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park for their concert of Dvorakʼs Stabat Mater and was also a guest soloist with The New Choral Society of New York for performances of the Verdi Requiem.
Mr. Kontes made his professional debut in 1998 as Elder McLean in Susannah with the Opera Theater of Pittsburgh. He was a first prize winner of the George London Foundation Competition and is a graduate of The Curtis Institute of Music.