| Bio | Leonard Rowe - Baritone |
Leonard Rowe, baritone, is a native of Fredericksburg, VA and a graduate of North Carolina School of the Arts. He started this season performing with the New York City Opera in Margaret Garner by Richard Danielpour and Toni Morrison. He is slated to perform with the Israel Kibbutz Orchestra in Tel Aviv and the Omaha Symphony later this season. He will also perform the title role in Porgy and Bess in Amsterdam and Brussels.
The Baritone’s 2006-2007 season took him to three continents. He began the season singing the title role in Porgy and Bess at the Cape Town Opera in South Africa. Then followed with a production of the opera with the Michigan Opera Theater in Detroit. Singing concert versions of Porgy & Bess with the Israel Kibbutz Orchestra in Tel Aviv and in cities throughout Israel was a highlight of his season as well as singing the title role of the rarely heard opera Koanga by Delius in London at the Sadler’s Wells Theatre. The season also included two performances with the Buffalo Philharmonic, one with Peter Nero on the Pops series and the other, Beethoven’s 9th. Beethoven’s 9th with the Mansfield Symphony and performances of the title role in Porgy and Bess in Malmo Sweden ended the season.
Leonard sang the role of Jake on the World Premiere Recording of the Original 1935 Production version of Porgy and Bess on the Decca Label released in September of 2006. He has also performed various roles throughout the US with companies including Mobile Opera, Atlanta Opera, Nashville Opera, Grand Rapids Opera, Piedmont Opera, Opera Carolina, Opera Company of North Carolina, Roanoke Opera, Opera Tampa, New Orleans Opera, and Virginia Opera.
Concert solos to his credit include performances with Buffalo Philharmonic, Harrisburg Symphony, Charleston Orchestra, Detroit Symphony, Louisville Orchestra, Nashville Symphony, and Peter Nero and the Philly Pops, among others. A winner of two competitions, Licia Albanese/Puccini Foundation and the Bellini International Voice Competition, he performed in the winner’s recitals of both competitions at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center.
Leonard lives in North Carolina on his farm where he and his wife raise quarter horses and enjoy the outdoors in the beautiful Western Piedmont.