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The American bass-baritone, Raymond Michalski, began studying piano at the age of 4 and was encouraged by Ignace Paderewski, a family friend. Following his Army service he began serious vocal study. He studied voice with Rosalie Miller at the Mannes School of Music in New York City. He won the Sullivan Award, two Rockefeller grants and first prize in the International Music Festival -in Munich.
Raymond Michalski made his professional stage debut in 1959 as Nourabad in Georges Bizet's Les pecheurs de perles with the Philadelphia Grand Opera Company. In 1964 he sang the role of Talbot in the USA premiere of Gaetano Donizetti's Maria Stuarda in concert form at Carnegie Hall. In 1965 he joined the roster of singers at the Metropolitan Opera; making his Met debut on December 29, 1965 as the King in Giuseppe Verdi's Aida. Over the next 11 years he gave 301 performances at the Met in a total of 32 roles. He has also performed with the Concert Opera Association and the American Opera Society. He was accompanied at his recitals by his wife Nadine who also sang and taught. |
