Mark Schowalter, Tenor

Mark Schowalter, tenor, known for his thoughtful interpretations and rich voice, is at home on both the concert and operatic stages.  Mr. Schowalter has been privileged to sing with some of the world's finest conductors and their orchestras including James Levine (Metropolitan Opera, Munich Philharmonic), Seiji Ozawa (Boston Symphony and Saito Kinen Orchestra), Valery Gergiev (Metropolitan Opera), Mstilav Rostropovich (National Symphony), and Charles Dutoit (Montréal Symphony).

In this his eighth consecutive season at the Metropolitan Opera, Mr. Schowalter performs supporting roles in Der Rosenkavalier, I Vespri Siciliani, Die Zauberflöte and Samson et Dalilia.  Past season highlights have included performances as Jaquino in Beethoven's Fidelio, St. Brioche in Lehar's The Merry Widow, Tchaplitsky in Tchaikovsky's Pique Dame and roles in four Strauss operas: Der Rosenkavalier, Die Frau ohne Shatten, Ariadne auf Naxos and Elektra.  Mr. Schowalter will also be seen in the upcoming "Metropolitan Opera Presents" PBS telecast of Ariadne auf Naxos.

In addition to his Metropolitan Opera engagements, Mr. Schowalter's last opera season included a reengagement by Mr. Ozawa to sing Bob Boles in Britten's Peter Grimes in Matsumoto, Japan (Saito Kinen Festival) and Florence, Italy (Maggio Musicale Fiorentino), an opera he first sang with Mr. Ozawa in its 50th anniversary production at the Tanglewood Music Festival.  Mr. Schowalter was in Germany for Moses und Aron with Mr. Levine and the Munich Philharmonic, and sang Lysander in the Florentine Opera's production of Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream, conducted by Stuart Bedford.

Mr. Schowalter's recent portrayal of Tassilo in Kaloman's Countess Maritza continues a string of acclaimed leading role appearances with Minnesota's North Star Opera Company.  Other roles there include Nemorino (Donizetti's Elixir of Love), Lindoro (Rossini's Italian Girl in Algiers), Fritz (Offenbach's Grand Duchess of Gerolstein), Barinkay (Strauss's Gypsy Baron) and Philippe (Romberg's New Moon). 

Mr. Schowalter's performance of the Evangelist in Bach's Matthäus-Passion last season prompted the reviewer for The Philadelphia Inquirer to call him "among the best I've heard... with a seemingly effortless vocal production."  Other concert performances include Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde with the Maverick Chamber Festival, Mozart's Requiem with William Eddins and the Minnesota Orchestra, Monteverdi's Vespers 1610 with Helmuth Rilling at the Oregon Bach Festival, and Bach's Joannes-Passion, Mozart's Bastien und Bastienne, and Vespers 1610 with Chritopher Hogwood and the St. Paul Chamber orchestra and National Symphony.