Artist Detail

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Jason Detwiler

Singer

About the artist: Praised for his "tremendous acting skill", "physicality on stage" and a "rich, beautiful baritone voice", Jason Detwiler is gaining a reputation for his versatility on the opera stage. His repertoire includes a diverse number of characters from the comedic Papageno (Die Zauberflöte), Guglielmo (Cosi fan tutte), and Malatesta (Don Pasquale), to the dramatic Zurga (Les Pechêurs de Perles), Scarpia (Tosca), and Conte di Luna (Il Trovatore).

A student of heldentenor, Claude Heater, he has performed with Apollo Sierra Opera, Sacramento Opera, West Bay Opera, Opera Idaho, and Festival Opera of Walnut Creek. In 2002, the young baritone joined Irene Dalis' Opera San Jose as a Principal Resident Artist. While there, he has sung Valentin (Faust), Sylvio (I Pagliacci), Alfio (Cavalleria rusticana), Figaro (Le Nozze di Figaro), Escamillo (Carmen), and the title role of Der Fliegende Holländer among others. This summer saw him in concert with Monterey Opera and in Madrid, Spain competing in Placido Domingo's Operalia, an international opera competition. During the 2005-2006 season, which will mark his last at Opera San Jose, Mr. Detwiler will sing Marcello (La Boheme), and debut John Proctor (The Crucible), Renato (Un Ballo in Maschera), and the title role of Don Giovanni. In addition, he will debut the title role of Vaughan Williams' Pilgrim's Progress with Trinity Lyric Opera (for more info on upcoming performances, click here).

Past roles also include the Musiklehrer, Harlekin (Ariadne auf Naxos), and Alberich (Das Rheingold). In 2001, the baritone was awarded a study grant from the Wagner Society of Northern California and participated in the Emerging Singers Program of Washington D.C.'s Wagner Society. A winner of the Opera by the Bay Competition in 2001 and twice a Pacific Regional Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Mr. Detwiler has also appeared as soloist in Bach's Mass in B minor, Handel's Messiah, and Saint-Säens' Christmas Oratorio.