Robert McPherson
Tenor
Hailed by the New York Times for his “robust voice, agility and confidence,” Robert McPherson’s engagements in the 2010-11 season include his first performances of Idreno in Semiramide with Vlaamse Opera and in subsequent performances at the Edinburgh Festival, Nadir in Les pêcheurs de perles with Cleveland Opera and Tonio in La fille du regiment in a return to New Israeli Opera, in addition to his returns to the role of in addition to his returns to the role of Lindoro in L’italiana in Algeri with Florentine Opera and to the roster of the Metropolitan Opera for Wozzeck. In the summer, he returns to the Caramoor Festival for Ralph Rackstraw in H.M.S. Pinafore. Last season, he returned to New Israeli Opera for Leopold in La Juive, sang Elvino in La sonnambula with the newly formed Puget Sound Opera in his native state of Washington, joined the Spoleto Festival U.S.A. for Hob in the ballad opera, Flora, and again returned to the Metropolitan Opera roster for its production of Il barbiere di Siviglia.
Mr. McPherson is hailed for his distinctive artistry and virtuoso technique within the difficult bel canto literature. Among his recent performances in this repertoire are Arnold in Guillaume Tell with Polish National Opera; Ramiro in La cenerentola and Lindoro in L’italiana in Algeri with Washington National Opera; Rodrigo in La donna del lago with New York City Opera, Teatro Carlo Felice, Teatro Nacional de São Carlos, Opéra-Théâtre d'Avignon, La Coruña Mozart Festival, and Opera Orchestra of New York; further performances of Lindoro in L’italiana in Algeri with Opéra de Toulon; Almaviva in Il barbiere di Siviglia with the Caramoor Music Festival and Pacific Opera Victoria; Iago in Rossini’s Otello with Opera Orchestra of New York; Ernesto in Don Pasquale with Utah Opera and Lyric Opera of Kansas City; Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor with Opera San Jose; and Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore with Opera Santa Barbara and Greensboro Opera. He has sung both demanding tenor roles in Il viaggio a Reims, having joined New Israeli Opera and Stadttheater Bern for Belfiore and Count Liebenskof with the Teatro Carlo Felice. He has also previously joined the Metropolitan Opera roster for its productions of I puritani and Il barbiere Siviglia.
His performances of the Italian Tenor in Der Rosenkavlier in his debut with San Francisco Opera were reported by the San Francisco Chronicle, which exclaimed that he “brought the first act to a stunned stop with his strikingly beautiful account of the Italian Tenor's aria.” With the Teatro Real, he has sung Constantino in Ramón Carnicer's Elena e Constantino (recorded on the Dynamic label), Opera San Jose for Tom Rakewell in The Rake's Progress and Roméo in Roméo et Juliette, and Gotham Chamber Opera for Scipione in Il sogno di Scipione. Within the realm of contemporary opera, he has sung Eric in Alwa Henderson’s Nosferatu with Opera Idaho and Rimrock Opera, a recording of which is available on the Albany label. He has had the privilege of working under such noted conductors as Richard Bonynge, Will Crutchfield, Jesus Lopez-Cobos, Riccardo Frizza, Donald Runnicles, Gerard Schwarz and Alberto Zedda.
On the concert stage, he joined the Seattle Symphony for performances of Handel’s Messiah five times as well as for Britten’s Serenade for Tenor, Horn, and Strings and Bach’s Magnificat. Mr. McPherson made his national television debut on PBS as the angel Gabriel in Andrew T. Miller’s sacred cantata The Birth Of Christ, recorded in Dublin, Ireland and released by Sony BMG Masterworks, and recently reprised that role in Rome at the special invitation of the Vatican. Additionally, as an avid baseball fan, he has sung the National Anthem for his hometown team, the Seattle Mariners, on numerous occasions.