With a commanding voice and sense of drama, baritone Michael Mayes is making waves for his consummate portrayals of opera’s iconic characters in the baritone repertoire. Originally from Conroe, Texas, Michael has performed with several opera companies across the United States including Arizona Opera, Ft. Worth Opera, Madison Opera, Connecticut Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Palm Beach Opera, Skylight Opera, Opera Company of Philadelphia, and Opera Carolina. Mr. Mayes joined the roster of the Metropoltan Opera in the 2009-2010 season, and performed Conte Almaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro with Des Moines Metro Opera, Marcello in La Boheme with Duluth Festival Opera, Shreveport Opera, The New Britain Symphony Orchestra, and Eugene Opera. He also sang Orff’s Carmina Burana with the Oklahoma Ballet and San Antonio Symphony, and Gulglielmo in Cosi fan tutte with Arizona Opera, Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris with the Santa Fe Symphony, the title role in Don Giovanni at Shreveport Opera, Silvio in I Pagliacci with Kentucky Opera, and Figaro in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Sugar Creek Symphony and Song. Upcoming engagements include Valentin in Faust with Opera Birmingham, Papageno in The Magic Flute with Michigan Opera Theatre, and Verdi’s Requiem. In the 2008-2009 season Mr. Mayes sang the title role in Don Giovanni with Connecticut Opera, Marcello in La Boheme, with Skylight Opera Theatre, Conte di Luna in Il trovatore with Eugene Opera, and Morales in Carmen and the Motorcycle Cop in Dead Man Walking with Ft. Worth Opera.
Engagements for 2007-2008 included Dandini in La Cenerentola with Connecticut Opera, Lancelot in Augusta Opera’s Camelot, Top in The Tenderland with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, Marcello in La Boheme with Opera on the James, Mercutio in Romeo et Juliette with PORTOpera, and Peter in the Opera Company of Philadelphia’s production of Hansel und Gretel. In and extension of his involvement with the development of Margaret Garner, by Richard Danielpour, Mr. Mayes appeared as Edward Gaines opposite Mezzo-Soprano, Denyce Graves at Opera Carolina to critical acclaim.
A graduate of the University of North Texas, his operatic roles include Silvio in I Pagliacci, Mercutio and Lord Capulet in Romeo et Julette, Dandini in La Cenerentola, The Librettist in Viva la Mamma!, John Proctor in The Crucible, Don Giovanni, Escamillo in Carmen, Malatesta in Don Pasquale, Guglielmo in Cosi fan tutte, di Luna in Il trovatore, Marcello in La Boheme, Figaro in Il Barbiere di Siviglia and many more.
Mr. Mayes has appeared internationally in conjunction with La Fenice in Castel-Franco Veneto, Italy. Mr. Mayes’ honors include 3rd place winner at the Metropolitan Nat’l Council Auditions in Chicago, the Entergy Young Texas Artists Competition Vocalist Award, John Alexander Award, the John Moriarty Award, and an advanced division winner at the Anton Guadagno Vocal Competition.
Hello!
I am a senior graduate vocal performance student who is moving to the area when I graduate in May. I am impressed by your accomplishments and would love some advice on getting into my first opera. I am from Kingwood, Texas and am in school at Arkansas State. I have been in many competitions and received many accolades. Please let me know how to begin. Thank you for any help at all.