Robert Stafford (Bass-Baritone)

Born: USA

The Amrican bass-baritone, Robert Stafford, graduated from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music in 1992.

Since then Robert Stafford has appeared with Opera San Jose, West Bay Opera, Pacific Repertory Opera and the San Francisco Conservatory Opera Theater, in a wide range of roles including Papageno (Magic Flute), Don Alfonso (Cosi fan tutte), Dandini (La Cenerentola), Orgon (Tartuffe), Schaunard (La Boheme), Bottom (A Midsummer Night's Dream), and the title role in Gianni Schicchi.

Also an active concert and recital singer, Robert Stafford has sung Jesus in J.S. Bach's St. John (BWV 245) and St. Matthew Passions (BWV 244) with the St. Luke's Oratorio Choir under Jonathan Dimmock (with whom he has performed Schubert's song-cycle, Winterreise), and the bass solos in Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass, Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle, and George Frideric Handel's Messiah with the San Francisco Concert Chorale. He was twice a featured soloist at the Sing-it-yourself Messiah at Davies Symphony Hall. With the American Bach Soloists, Robert sang the role of Colas in Mozart's Bastien und Bastienne, and, as a last-minute replacement for an ailing colleague, he sang a program of J.S. Bach cantatas with the American Bach Solists in Los Angeles, including Ich habe genug (BWV 82) for solo bass.

Robert Stafford also took the solos in ABS's upcoming program of G.F. Handel's Dettingen Te Deum and J.S. Bach's Easter Oratorio (BWV 248). Other recent performances included a St. John Passion (BWV 245) at U.C. Berkeley under John Butt, and the roles of Nick Shadow in Igor Stravinsky's The Rake's Progress and Count Almaviva in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

Source: American Bach Soloists Wesbsite (Summer Festival 1999)
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (August 2001)

Recordings of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

Conductor

As

Works

Jeffrey Thomas

Bass

BWV 244 [w/ American Bach Solists]

Links to other Sites

Artist Biographies (ABS)