Nathan Gunn, baritone

Thursday, January 14
7:30 pm Wait Chapel

Nathan Gunn’s dashing good looks and “velvet-voiced” baritone (New York Magazine) has made him one of the nation’s most in-demand opera singers.

Mr. Gunn has earned critical praise for his many roles including the title roles in Billy Budd and Hamlet, Guglielmo in Cosi fan tutte, the Count in Le Nozze di Figaro, and Ottone in L'incoronazione di Poppea. Additionally, Mr. Gunn created the role of Clyde Griffiths in the world premiere of An American Tragedy, a new opera by Tobias Picker at the Metropolitan Opera. Mr. Gunn has appeared in internationally renowned opera houses such as the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Seattle Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Royal Opera House (Covent Garden), Paris Opera, Bayerische Staatsoper, Glyndebourne Festival, and the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels. He most recently appeared at the Metropolitan Opera as the comic bird-catcher Papageno in The Magic Flute (2007/08) and Mercutio in Romeo et Juliette (2008/09). He will reprise the Papageno role next season.

Mr. Gunn’s recent first solo album, “Just before Sunrise,” showcases his ability as a contemporary pop singer as well. Mr. Gunn is also a notable concert performer. He was the recipient of the first annual Beverly Sills Artist Award, and he was recently awarded the Pittsburgh Opera Renaissance Award. He is an alumnus of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Competition. In addition, he is also an alumnus of the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana, where he still makes his home, and is a Professor of Voice in the School of Music. His wife, Julie, Professor of Accompanying and mother of their five children, will be his piano collaborator at this Wake Forest performance.

“That enviable combination of devilish good looks, chiseled pectorals and a lyrical baritone voice at the height of its powers ought to have gone to Nathan Gunn’s head by now. Yet this wholesome, Midwestern family man-slash-superstar opera singer better embodies Ozzie and Harriet than a primo divo ... the 37-year-old vocalist manages to keep his priorities straight.” (Time Out Chicago, August, 2007).

Secrest Signature
Richard Heard, Associate Professor of Music, tenor and noted performer, will give the pre-performance talk at 6:40 p.m. in the Balcony Room of Wait Chapel.

More information
nathangunn.com