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Biography One of the most sought after low voices from North America, Bass-Baritone Kristopher Irmiter has performed in all 50 states and throughout Canada - a favorite with more than 45 opera companies and numerous orchestras. A 2007 Grammy Nominee, he has garnered praise from the San Francisco Chronicle to the New York Times: “his voice as notable for it’s security and tonal weight as for an abundant variety of phrasing - excellent, richly expressive - alternately stentorian and tender” with equal praise of his dramatic skills; “commanding charismatic stage presence - enough talent to succeed on his acting ability alone - powerful performance”. With 85 roles in his performed repertoire, Mr. Irmiter has exhibited a vast range both vocally and dramatically in performances with San Francisco Opera, Florida Grand Opera, L’Opera de Montreal, Houston Grand Opera, Baltimore Opera, Atlanta Opera, Hawaii Opera, Utah Opera, Austin Lyric Opera, Opera Lyra Ottawa and Arizona Opera among others. Upcoming performances include return engagements with San Francisco Opera as Escamillo in Carmen, Pittsburgh Opera as Lt. Redburn in Billy Budd, Opera Carolina in the title role of Don Giovanni, and with Atlanta Opera as Rucker Lattimore in Cold Sassy Tree. Mr. Irmiter will also debut with San Diego Opera in Peter Grimes. The ‘05-’06 season included return engagements with Florentine Opera as Don Pizarro in Fidelio, Opera Columbus as Peter in Hansel & Gretel, his debut with Arizona Opera in the title role of Der Fliegende Hollander, and he also bowed as Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro with three companies: Toledo Opera, Manitoba Opera, and Utah Festival Opera. In the previous season Mr. Irmiter debuted seven new roles - Don Profundo in Il Viaggio a Reims with Portland Opera, the title role in Der Fliegende Hollander with Alaska Opera, the Four Villains in Les Contes d’Hoffmann with Opera Lyra Ottawa, and John Proctor in The Crucible Utah Festival Opera - and also appeared as Don Alfonso in Cosi Fan Tutte with Utah Opera. Other successful portrayals include Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro - Portland Opera, Scarpia in Tosca - Florida Grand Opera, Austin Lyric Opera and Opera Columbus, Kurwenal in Tirstan Und Isolde - Florentine Opera, Mephistopheles in Faust - Utah Opera and Austin Lyric Opera, Rucker Lattimore in Cold Sassy Tree - Utah Opera, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, and Opera Omaha, and Peter in Hansel & Gretel - Baltimore Opera, the Forester in The Cunning Little Vixen - Portland Opera, Braxton/Sherrin in The Mines Of Sulfur (Chandos live recording) - Glimmerglass Opera, Zaccaria in Nabucco - Todi Music Festival, and Orest in Elektra - Pittsburgh Opera. Having particular success in the role of Olin Blitch in Susannah, Mr. Irmiter made his Canadian Opera debut with Opera Ontario in this role and Susannah was also the vehicle of his debut with Houston Grand Opera. Under the baton of Richard Bonynge was his Opera Pacific debut as Sulpice in The Daughter of the Regiment. A regular artist with Florentine Opera, his debut there as Schaunard in La Boheme was quickly followed with return engagements as Matheiu in Andrea Chenier, James Vain in the American Premier of The Picture Of Dorian Gray, and Sharpless in Madama Butterfly. Additionally, he has appeared as Oscar Hubbard - Regina with Florida Grand Opera, as Papageno - Die Zauberflote with Baltimore Opera, with Portland Opera as the Secret Police Agent - The Consul, Lodovico in Otello with Atlanta Opera and Escamillo in Carmen with The New Jersey Opera Festival. At Opera Memphis, Mr. Irmiter has sung the title role in Gianni Schicchi and the same character in the world premier of Michael Ching’s sequel, Buoso’s Ghost. He has also performed the title role in Le Nozze di Figaro and Leporello in Don Giovanni with this company. Leporello was the role of his Hawaii Opera debut, his debut at Baltimore Opera was as Zuniga in Carmen and his Atlanta debut was in Madama Butterfly. Mr. Irmiter’s orchestral engagements have included appearances with the 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 Mozart’s Requiem. |