Richard Hobson Baritone

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.