American bass Nathan Whitson is rapidly making a name for himself in the dramatic bass repertoire. Both his commanding stage presence and rich, resonant voice are frequently commended for their authoritative and stentorian qualities. Hailed as “a hulking basso tyrant in a hillbilly beard...impressive in every way, with a big dark voice that didn’t quit,” by the Saint Louis Post-Dispatch, Mr. Whitson’s voice is exceptionally well-suited to Wagner’s demanding bass roles. He recently sang Hunding (DIE WALKÜRE) and Fafner (GÖTTERDÄMMERUNG) in Union Avenue Opera’s Ring Cycle, and will add Wolfram (TANNHÄUSER) to his repertoire this season.
Mr. Whitson resides in Kansas City, Missouri, and regularly appears with Lyric Opera of Kansas City. In 2008 he created the role of Charles Robinson in their world premiere of Kirke Mechem’s JOHN BROWN, and has since sung a wide variety of repertoire there. Known to the house as a dependable professional, Mr. Whitson was honored to be invited to jump in as Oroveso (NORMA) when the original artist fell ill. He will return to Lyric Opera of Kansas City this season to sing Officer Krupke (WEST SIDE STORY) . Other recent engagements include Oroveso (NORMA) and Frère Laurent (ROMEO ET JULIETTE) with the St. Petersburg Opera, where he “brought a powerful voice and stentorian presence to his portrayal of Frère Laurent” (Tampa Bay Times). He also made role debuts as Angelotti (TOSCA) with Winter Opera St. Louis and as Caiaphas (JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR) with Kansas City’s acclaimed Musical Theater Heritage, where he “deployed a rich bass of operatic resonance, making you fear for the theater's structural integrity" (The Pitch). Mr. Whitson discovered his passion for music in high school and subsequently studied in New York City with Armen Boyajian, a renowned teacher of male voices including basses Samuel Ramey, Gerald Finley, and Paul Plishka. |
2023-2024 Engagements
Commendatore -Don Giovanni Winter Opera St. Louis 2023 Banquo - Macbeth Winter Opera St. Louis 2023 The Page - Amahl and the Night Visitors Lyric Opera of Kansas City 2023 |
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