Richard Hobson
Baritone |
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Richard Hobson is acclaimed for the “strong dramatic persona”
he brings to his performances. Appearances have taken him throughout
the USA to companies including the Metropolitan Opera, New York
City Opera, The Dallas Opera, Baltimore Opera, Mississippi Opera,
Shreveport Opera, and Michigan Opera Theater. In his Italian operatic
debut, he was heard as Amonasro at the Teatro Strehler (Milano,
Italy) in the new Franco Zeffirelli production of Aida in the summer
of 2001.
In March of the 2004-2005 season, Richard made a very successful
debut with The Delaware Opera as Porgy in Porgy and Bess. He also
sang in Samson and Dalilah with the Metropolitan Opera and did his
first Iago in Othello with Regina Opera in Brooklyn, New York. In
October 2005, Mr. Hobson debuted with Gateway Classical Music Society
as Amonasro in Verdi’s Aida in Manhattan. He also sang the
Four Villains in Les Contes d’Hoffmann with Taconic Opera
in Westchester, NY.
He began the 2003-2004 season at the Metropolitan Opera in their
new production of La Juive by Halevy. He subsequently appeared in
Boris Goudonov and Madama Butterfly. The 2002-2003 season featured
a return to the Handel Choir of Baltimore for their annual performances
of Messiah. In the summer of 2003 Mr. Hobson sang Germont in La
Traviata in New Jersey’s Metro Lyric Opera. In the spring
he returned to the roster of the Metropolitan Opera for their new
production of Les Troyens.
The 2001-2002 season began at the Metropolitan Opera, where he
was heard as ‘One-Eyed Brother’ in their much heralded
production of Die Frau Ohne Schatten (Strauss), and as Yamadori
in Madama Butterfly. That season also held debuts at Pittsburgh
Opera as Henry Davis in Kurt Weill’s Street Scene, and at
Austin Lyric Opera in the title role in Rigoletto. Mr. Hobson also
sang Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoore and Marcello in La Boheme in
New Jersey’s Metro Lyric Opera productions in August 2002.
Career highlights include his Metropolitan Opera debut as Yamadori
in Madama Butterfly, and his New York City Opera debut in the title
role of Porgy in Porgy & Bess. At both Nashville Opera and Toledo
Opera, Richard debuted as Sharpless in Madama Butterfly, and his
first Scarpia (Tosca) for Houston Ebony Opera Guild. Richard sang
his first Rigoletto in a concert version with the Kalamazoo Symphony
Orchestra, and his debut at the Spoleto Festival USA as the Sorceress
in Dido and Aeneas.
An outstanding musician, he has interpreted leading roles in world
premiere performances of several new works including: Josiah in
Harriet, the Woman Called Moses with Skylight Opera Theatre; General
Vorchieliff in Hoiby’s Something New for the Zoo at Prince
Georges Opera; the title role in Martin Luther: Dramatic Oratorio,
A Voice Crying in the Wilderness by Nat Irving with the Dallas Symphony;
and Rogue in The Idiot, a work-in-progress at The Banff Music Centre
in Canada.
In the media, Richard has appeared in a televised aria concert
with the Baltimore Symphony. Awards are numerous including the Sullivan
Foundation Career Grant, Metropolitan Opera Guild National Council
Auditions, Caruso Competition, Pavarotti Competition; Dallas Opera
Guild Career Grant; Baltimore Music Club, and the American Traditions
Competition.
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