Baritone
Performance Dates
October 26/28 8:00 PM
FAURÉ: Requiem
Baritone Aaron St. Clair Nicholson has established himself as an artist of the first rank, winning praise for his
superb vocal gifts and the dramatic integrity he brings to his performances. Writing in the San Francisco
Chronicle, Joshua Kosman singled him out, noting that “…as Ford, baritone Aaron St. Clair Nicholson gave a
virtuosic display of vigorous full-throated singing and all out physical comedy.” The dashing young baritone
will make his Metropolitan Opera debut as Schaunard in LA BOHEME and further Met duties include his
assignment as cover artist for the baritone lead, Clyde Griffeths, in the world premiere of Tobias Picker’s AN
AMERICAN TRAGEDY. He returns to Florida Grand Opera in the winter of 2006 as Figaro in IL BARBIERE
DE SIVIGLIA and looks forward to a new production of the Rossini masterpiece for Glimmerglass Opera in the
summer of 2006. His schedule also includes the role of Valentin in FAUST for Vancouver Opera and Mercutio in
ROMÉO ET JULIETTE for Opera Lyra, Ontario.
An alumnus of the prestigious Glimmerglass and Merola programs for young artists, Nicholson starred in
Glimmerglass Opera’s THE GOOD SOLDIER SCHWEIK as Lt. Lukash and was heard as Sonora in their
production of LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST. His 2004-2005 season included Harlekin in ARIADNE AUF
NAXOS and Ping in TURANDOT for L’Opéra de Montréal, Papageno in DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE for Florida
Grand Opera, and Charlie in Estacio’s FILUMENA at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa. On the concert
platform, he appeared with both Orchestra London and Brott Summer Music in CARMINA BURANA and with
the Vancouver Bach Choir in MESSIAH.
In recent seasons, Mr. Nicholson has been heard as Figaro in IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA for Opera Ontario
and Opera Saskatchewan, as Tarquinius in THE RAPE OF LUCRETIA for l’Opéra de Montréal, as Mercutio in
ROMÉO ET JULIETTE for Florida Grand Opera and the Calgary Opera, and as Marcello in LA BOHEME and
Escamillo in CARMEN for Pacific Opera Victoria.
The Abbotsford, British Columbia native is a graduate of the Resident Artist Training program at Tri-Cities Opera
in New York where he appeared in a number of leading roles including Belcore in L’ELISIR D’AMORE, the title
role in DON GIOVANNI, Dr. Falke in DIE FLEDERMAUS and Sharpless in MADAMA BUTTERFLY.
Western Opera Theater chose him for the role of Guglielmo in Mozart’s COSI FAN TUTTE and he was also a
member of Seattle Opera’s young artist program. Further credits include Marcello and Figaro for Tacoma Opera
and Graf Homonay in J. Strauss’ DER ZIGEUNERBARON for Pacific Opera Victoria.
Orchestras in the United States and Canada have engaged Mr. Nicholson for major repertoire including ELIJAH,
MESSIAH, CARMINA BURANA and Bach cantatas as well as works by Fauré and Vaughan Williams. The
George London competition finalist has been heard with the Vancouver Symphony, Binghamton Symphony,
Victoria Symphony, Bellevue Philharmonic, Victoria Capriccio, at the San Francisco Opera Center and with the
Tri-Cities Opera Orchestra. Nicholson’s awards include the Richmond F. Gold Career Grant, the Karl Muller
Performance Award, a career incentive grant from Seattle Opera and most recently, the Sullivan Foundation
Award for role preparation assistance.
website: www.deanartists.com
Updated: 8/31/06
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Aaron St. Clair Nicholson 
