Arizona Opera Cast Members & Creatives

A Grammy Nominated artist who has performed in all 50 states and throughout Canada, Bass-Baritone Kristopher Irmiter is one of the most sought after low voices in the U.S. He has appeared with San Francisco Opera, Opera de Montreal, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Houston Grand Opera, Baltimore Opera, Atlanta Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, Utah Opera, Austin Lyric Opera, Opera Lyra Ottawa, Arizona Opera, and Florida Grand Opera among many others.

Recent successful portrayals include Scarpia in Tosca with Lyric Opera of Chicago, Escamillo in Carmen with San Francisco Opera, Mephistopheles in Faust with Utah Festival Opera, and Baltimore Opera, Figaro in The Marriage of Figaro with Portland Opera and Opera Carolina, the title role in The Flying Dutchman with Arizona Opera and Alaska Opera, the Villains in The Tales of Hoffmann with Opera Lyra in Ottawa, Kurwenal in Tirstan and Isolde with Florentine Opera, Alidoro in La Cenerentola with Austin Lyric Opera, and appearances with Atlanta Opera, Utah Opera, Opera Omaha and Lyric Opera of Kansas City in the lead role of Rucker Lattimore in Carlisle Floyd's Cold Sassy Tree. Upcoming for Mr. Irmiter are two return engagements with San Diego Opera, first Assassinio nella Catedrale, this season and Masetto in Don Giovanni in 2015. Additionaly he will appear as Scapria in Tosca with Syracuse Opera, perform title role in The Flying Dutchman with Utah Festival Opera, and Dalland, oposite Greer Grimsley, and in The Flying Dutchman with Opera Carolina.

Having particular success as Olin Blitch in Susannah, Mr. Irmiter made his Canadian Opera debut with Opera Ontario in this role. Susannah was also the vehicle of his debut with Houston Grand Opera. Under the baton of Richard Bonynge he made his Opera Pacific debut as Sulpice in The Daughter of the Regiment. A frequent guest artist with Florentine Opera, his debut there as Schaunard in La boheme was quickly followed with returns as Matheiu in Andrea Chenier, James Vain in the American Premier of The Picture Of Dorian Gray, and Sharpless in Madama Butterfly. Additionally, he has appeared as Oscar Hubbard - Regina with Florida Grand Opera, as Papageno - The Magic Flute with Baltimore Opera, with Portland Opera as the Secret Police Agent - The Consul, Lodovico in Otello with Atlanta Opera and Escamillo in Carmen with The New Jersey Opera Festival. Early in his career Mr. Irmiter appeared several times with Opera Memphis performing the title role in Gianni Schicchi and the same character in the world premier of Michael Ching's sequel, Buoso's Ghost. He also performed the title role in The Marriage of Figaro and Leporello in Don Giovanni with this company. Leporello was the role of his Hawaii Opera debut, his debut at Baltimore Opera was as Zuniga in Carmen and his Atlanta debut was in Madama Butterfly.

Mr. Irmiter's orchestral engagements have included appearances with the Greater Bridgeport Symphony, Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Mississippi Symphony, New Bedford Symphony, Chattanooga Symphony and the Asheville Symphony, performing Messiah, Verdi's Requiem, The Creation, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, the Rossini Stabat Mater, and the Mozart Requiem. He was a two time Regional Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera Auditions and winner of the Leonardo da Vince award in San Francisco.

In addition to his accomplished performing credits Mr. Irmiter has a strong and growing reputation as a teacher and mentor to young singers. He has conducted master classes for the Utah Opera Young Artist Program, the University of Texas, the University of Memphis, San Diego State University, Queens University, Portland State University, Utah Festival Opera, and the University of South Carolina. In his thirteen years on faculty with Winthrop University and Catawba College Mr. Irmiter taught voice, Opera Workshop, Effective Stage Communication and has maintained a private studio for more than 22 years. In 2010 he volunteered to design and led the establishment of the Opera Carolina Academy and subsequently served as Academy Director for three years. He also developed the pilot young artist program for The Green Mountain Opera Festival in Vermont and served as the director of that program in it's inaugural year.  Mr. Irmiter currently resides in Clemson, SC - the home of the 2016 FBS National Champions!