January Concert Guest Artist: David Cushing, Bass
As one of opera's foremost emerging artists, David Cushing is earning sensational acclaim in his young career. His versatile bass/bass-baritone repertoire, range of 'striking resonance,' and dramatic artistry are demonstrated in a variety of roles including the title roles in Le Nozze di Figaro and Don Pasquale, as well as Friar Lawrence in Romeo et Juliette and Bottom in Midsummer Night Dream. Of a recent buffo performance, the Boston Herald exclaimed, 'his portrayal of hoodwinked old Pasquale, filled with pathos and unself-conscious humor, was a revelation. He could easily specialize in Italian opera's wealth of foolish-old-man roles and become the basso buffo of his generation.' Mr. Cushing enjoys a strong relationship with opera companies in the Northeast including Boston Lyric Opera, Baltimore Opera, Opera North, and Opera Boston, among others nationally.
Engagements for 2006 and beyond include Dr. Grenvil in Verdi's La Traviata, Palèmon in Massenet'sThaïs, and Count Horn/Tom in Un Ballo in Maschera with Boston Lyric Opera, the title role in Don Pasquale with Newton Symphony, Leone in Verdi's Attila with Chorus pro Musica, Masetto in Don Giovanni with Florentine Opera, Nourabad in Pearl Fishers with Opera Boston, Fifth Jew and Capadoccian in Salome with Michigan Opera Theatre, Maometto in L'assedio di Corinto with Baltimore Opera, and will debut the role Ligniere in David DiChiera and Bernard Uzan's Cyrano workshop at the Michigan Opera Theatre.
He debuted with Boston Lyric Opera in the role of Count Monterone in Rigoletto, and has since performed Angelotti in Tosca, Raymond in Lucia di Lammermoor and the King of Egypt in Aida. Other recent performances include the title role in Donizetti's Don Pasquale and Frère Laurence in Romeo et Juliette with Boston University's Opera Institute, Alidoro in La Cenerentola with Lake George Opera, and Masetto in Don Giovanni with Opera North, where he was deemed 'a rich bass' and 'a believable, stalwart lover.'
Other acclaimed performances include Dr. Bartolo in Marriage of Figaro, Escamillo in Carmen, Sarastro and Sprecher in Magic Flute, Grandpa in Copland's The Tender Land, Plutone in Ballo delle Ingrate, The Immigration Officer in Dove's Flight, Abimélech in Samson et Dalila, Sparafucile in Rigoletto, Colline in La Bohème, Balthasar in Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors, Escamillo in Brook's Le Tragedie de Carmen, La Voce in Mozart's Idomeneo, the Stranger in Lukas Foss' The Jumping Frog, and Mr. Gobineau in Menotti's The Medium.
In his recent Symphony Hall debut as soloist in Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, the Boston Herald described his performance as 'dynamite with spine-tingling resonance.' Additionally, he has performed as the soloist in Händel's Messiah, Dvorák's Stabat Mater, the Requiems of Brahms, Fauré, and Mozart, Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass, Mozart's Coronation Mass, Beethoven's Mass in C, Bruckner's Te Deum, and Schubert's Mass in G.
