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Chad Shelton
Texas native, tenor Chad Shelton, garners acclaim for his characterizations of leading roles on national and international stages. He has been hailed by Opera News for his unfailing ability to tackle "high-flying tessitura without even a flicker of strain," and by the Rocky Mountain News for having a voice that "rang with assurance and accuracy." Mr. Shelton kicks off the 2007 - 2008 season in an exciting world premiere production as E. Porter Alexander in Philip Glass' Appomattox with the San Francisco Opera. He then portrays Tamino in The Magic Flute with both the Grand Théâtre de Genève and Opera Pacific, joins the Arizona Opera as Alfredo in La Traviata, and returns to Opéra National de Lorraine in Nancy, France, as Lysander in A Midsummer Night's Dream. Performances in future seasons include the title role in Idomeneo with Opéra National de Lorraine, Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni with the Grand Théâtre de Genève, Jim Casey in The Grapes of Wrath with Opera Pacific, Duke in Rigoletto with the Portland Opera, Alfredo in La Traviata with Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Don Jose in Carmen with the Orlando Opera, and Lysander in A Midsummer Night's Dream for his debuts with both the Théâtre de Caen and Opéra de Toulon. During the 2006 - 2007 season Mr. Shelton portrayed Guido Bardi in Zemlinsky's A Florentine Tragedy with Opéra National de Lorraine, and Alfredo in La Traviata with the Utah Opera, Central City Opera, and for his debut with the Nevada Opera. He sang Don Jose in Carmen for his debut with Opera Pacific, which prompted The Orange County Register to write of his performance that he possessed "a strong, lean, tightly focused tenor." On the concert stage, Mr. Shelton sang Handel's Messiah with the Virginia Symphony, and Mozart's Requiem with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. In the 2005-06 season, Mr. Shelton returned to New York City Opera as Nico in Mark Adamo's Lysistrata, a role which he sang to critical acclaim with Houston Grand Opera during its world premiere production. In addition, he sang Tamino for his debut with the Opéra National de Lorraine (under the baton of Sebastian Lang-Lessing), and had his first performances of Don Jose in Carmen with the Houston Grand Opera. He sang Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni in a return engagement with Central City Opera, and joined the Opera Company of Philadelphia as George in Richard Danielpour's Margaret Garner, a role he performed with the Cincinnati Opera the previous season. A frequent leading presence with Houston Grand Opera, Mr. Shelton has portrayed a wide range of roles with the company, including Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Captain Vere in Billy Budd, Nemorino in L'elisir d'amore, Ferrando in Così fan tutte, Janek in The Makropolous Case, Tamino in The Magic Flute, and Camille in The Merry Widow (in a production conducted by Musical Director Patrick Summers). Known for his commitment to contemporary works, Mr. Shelton created the role of Laurie in Mark Adamo's Little Women with Houston Grand Opera, which was recording for commercial release on the Ondine label and later telecast on PBS. Additional productions with the company include his role of Ulises in the world premiere of Daniel Catan's Salsipuedes, and Arcadio in the composer's Florencia en el Amazones. Important career highlights include Lyric Opera of Chicago and Florida Grand Opera for Leo in Mark Blitzstein's Regina, Opera Australia for Belmonte in Die Entführung aus dem Serail with Patrick Summers conducting, Dallas Opera for Jacquino in Fidelio, and New York City Opera, Central City Opera, Opera Omaha, and Chautauqua Opera all for performances of Laurie in Little Women. He sang Alfredo and Ferrando with Arizona Opera, Pilade in Rossini's Ermione with New York City Opera (under George Manahan), Don Ottavio with Opera Colorado, Belmonte with Portland Opera, and Romeo in Romeo et Juliette with Madison Opera. He performed the role of Tom Rakewell in The Rake's Progress, and Ferrando in Granados' Goyescas with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Sam Polk in Susannah with Chautauqua Opera, and Ferrando with the Kentucky Opera. With Central City Opera he has appeared in several roles including Reverend Paris in The Crucible, Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Fernando in Goyescas, and Cavaradossi in Tosca. In demand as a concert soloist, Mr. Shelton has joined the Minnesota Orchestra for the title role in concert performances of Candide, Mozart's Requiem, Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, and Janacek's Diary of One Who Vanished. His performances of Respighi's Balkis, Queen of Sheba Suite and Argento's Le Tombeau d'Edgar Poe with the orchestra have been released on the Reference label. With the Pacific Symphony, Rochester Philharmonic, and the Colorado Music Festival he has performed Beethoven's Symphony No. 9. His concert repertoire also includes Mozart's Solemn Vespers and Bach's Magnificat. Mr. Shelton is a recipient of Richard Tucker Foundation Career Grant and a Richard F. Gold Career Grant, which was awarded by the Shoshana Foundation in recognition of his accomplishments at Central City Opera. He holds a Master of Music degree and Artist Diploma from the Yale University School of Music and earned his Bachelor of Music degree from Louisiana State University. |
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