Nathan Stark

Nathan Stark, Bass-Baritone

Growing up in Hughson, California –a small farm town located in the Golden State’s rich agricultural central valley –I had no idea what opera was. I thought it consisted of “hefty Italian guys” who sang beautifully in a language I didn’t understand… but that was it! As a high school student, I caught the “theater bug” and enjoyed participating in drama productions and singing in musicals between my involvement in after-school sports and student government. I started my studies at Modesto Junior College, majoring in English during my first semester and taking courses in theater and voice on the side. This was “just for fun” but, secretly, I loved it and was, somehow, drawn to the performing arts – I just didn’t think one could make a realistic living doing that.

Eventually, I switched my major from English to theater and proceeded to train as an actor. Like a domino effect, theater led to a love for musical theater and my love for musical theater led to a love for opera–a place where I finally felt I belonged.

I’ve been extremely fortunate to have had a professional singing career for almost two decades –working with incredible minds, traveling the world, performing with some of the greatest singers of our age, and performing on some of the biggest stages on the planet. The journey continues to be one of excitement and wonder.

Nathan Stark, Opera San José Resident Bass-baritone

Nathan Stark, Bass-Baritone

Growing up in Hughson, California –a small farm town located in the Golden State’s rich agricultural central valley –I had no idea what opera was. I thought it consisted of “hefty Italian guys” who sang beautifully in a language I didn’t understand… but that was it! As a high school student, I caught the “theater bug” and enjoyed participating in drama productions and singing in musicals between my involvement in after-school sports and student government. I started my studies at Modesto Junior College, majoring in English during my first semester and taking courses in theater and voice on the side. This was “just for fun” but, secretly, I loved it and was, somehow, drawn to the performing arts – I just didn’t think one could make a realistic living doing that.

Eventually, I switched my major from English to theater and proceeded to train as an actor. Like a domino effect, theater led to a love for musical theater and my love for musical theater led to a love for opera–a place where I finally felt I belonged.

I’ve been extremely fortunate to have had a professional singing career for almost two decades –working with incredible minds, traveling the world, performing with some of the greatest singers of our age, and performing on some of the biggest stages on the planet. The journey continues to be one of excitement and wonder.

Nathan Stark, Opera San José Resident Bass-baritone

Biography

Praised by the Washington Post for having a voice of “unearthly power,” The Houston Press as a “Blow-away singer,” and San Jose Mercury News as a “natural comic actor,” American bass, Nathan Stark, has performed on operatic, concert and recital stages throughout the United States, Europe and China.

Mr. Stark has performed with opera houses in the United States such as; the Metropolitan Opera, Atlanta Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Arizona Opera, Virginia Opera, Opera San Jose, Dayton Opera, Hawaii Opera Theatre and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis – to name a few. Some of his noted operatic roles have included – Mustafà in L’Italiana in Algeri, Don Basilio and Don Bartolo in il Barbiere di Siviglia, Leporello and il Commendatore in Don Giovanni, Dr. Bartolo in Le Nozze di Figaro, Sparafucile and Monterone in Rigoletto, Hunding in Die Walküre, and Colline in La bohème. Equally comfortable on the concert stage, he has performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Boston Baroque and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

Nathan has presented recitals in the United States and Germany, including concerts on the Great Wall of China, the U.S. Colombian Embassy, the U.S. French Embassy, the U.S. Austrian Embassy, and the Washington National Cathedral. In 2005, he was the featured soloist for, then President of the United States, George W. Bush, First Lady Laura Bush, former First Lady Nancy Reagan and members of the United States Senate for the nationally televised Air Force One Exhibit at the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California.

Mr. Stark has been the recipient of several vocal awards & scholarships throughout his career, including – the 2006 Southern California District Winner of the Metropolitan Opera Competition, First Place Winner of the Los Angeles Classical Singers Association, Palm Springs Opera Competition, Fort Worth Opera Competition, the Brentwood Artist of Cultivating Brilliant Artistry Tomorrow Competition, The Opera Buffs Competition, The Pasadena Opera Competition, The Columbus Opera Aria Competition, and the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music Corbett Opera Scholarship.

He holds music degrees in opera performance from California State University, Long Beach and The Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. His voice teachers have included Dr. Lewis Woodward, Dr. Cherrie Llewellyn, Ms. Shigemi Matsumoto, Mr. Kenneth Shaw, and Ms. Marilyn Horne.

Biography

Praised by the Washington Post for having a voice of “unearthly power,” The Houston Press as a “Blow-away singer,” and San Jose Mercury News as a “natural comic actor,” American bass, Nathan Stark, has performed on operatic, concert and recital stages throughout the United States, Europe and China.

Mr. Stark has performed with opera houses in the United States such as; the Metropolitan Opera, Atlanta Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Arizona Opera, Virginia Opera, Opera San Jose, Dayton Opera, Hawaii Opera Theatre and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis – to name a few. Some of his noted operatic roles have included – Mustafà in L’Italiana in Algeri, Don Basilio and Don Bartolo in il Barbiere di Siviglia, Leporello and il Commendatore in Don Giovanni, Dr. Bartolo in Le Nozze di Figaro, Sparafucile and Monterone in Rigoletto, Hunding in Die Walküre, and Colline in La bohème. Equally comfortable on the concert stage, he has performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Boston Baroque and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.

Nathan has presented recitals in the United States and Germany, including concerts on the Great Wall of China, the U.S. Colombian Embassy, the U.S. French Embassy, the U.S. Austrian Embassy, and the Washington National Cathedral. In 2005, he was the featured soloist for, then President of the United States, George W. Bush, First Lady Laura Bush, former First Lady Nancy Reagan and members of the United States Senate for the nationally televised Air Force One Exhibit at the Ronald Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California.

Mr. Stark has been the recipient of several vocal awards & scholarships throughout his career, including – the 2006 Southern California District Winner of the Metropolitan Opera Competition, First Place Winner of the Los Angeles Classical Singers Association, Palm Springs Opera Competition, Fort Worth Opera Competition, the Brentwood Artist of Cultivating Brilliant Artistry Tomorrow Competition, The Opera Buffs Competition, The Pasadena Opera Competition, The Columbus Opera Aria Competition, and the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music Corbett Opera Scholarship.

He holds music degrees in opera performance from California State University, Long Beach and The Cincinnati Conservatory of Music. His voice teachers have included Dr. Lewis Woodward, Dr. Cherrie Llewellyn, Ms. Shigemi Matsumoto, Mr. Kenneth Shaw, and Ms. Marilyn Horne.

 

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