David Cox
Baritone
David Cox has received high praise for his performance of leading baritone roles with opera companies in the United States and the Far East. He has appeared with Opera San Jose, Nevada Opera Association, Eugene Opera, Austin Lyric Opera, Tulsa Opera, Music From Bear Valley, Sorg and Whitewater Operas and many other regional opera companies and music festivals. For Sakai-City Opera in Japan he has sung the title Role in Rigoletto, Alfio in Cavalleria Rusticana, and the Emperor of China in Stravinsky’s Le Rossingol. He has also recorded Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennellefor Polygram of Japan and Belgium. Mr. Cox has recently specialized in the great comedic roles to critical and audience acclaim. These include Falstaff, Gianni Schicchi, Don Pasquale, and the Bel Canto buffos: Bartolo, Dulcamara and Don Magnifico.
During the summer of 1994, Mr. Cox made his European concert debut as soloist in Carmina Burana with the Lvov Philharmonic in Krakow and with the Northern Bohemian Symphony Orchestra in Teplice (Czech Republic). In 1992 Mr. Cox was baritone soloist in the West Coast premiere of Dave Brubeck’s Mass, conducted by Mr. Brubeck. In addition, Mr. Cox performed the role of Brother Leon in the West Cost premiere of Messiaen’s St. Francois d’Assisi conducted by Kent Nagano. He has performed the Requiems of Brahms, Faure, and Mozart, as well as the Magnificat, the St. John Passion, the St. Mathew Passion and numerous cantatas of J.S. Bach.
In addition to his operatic and concert performances, Mr. Cox has frequently performed roles in musical theater, including the title role in Sweeney Todd, Juan Peron in Evita, Billy Flynn in Chicago, Caiaphas and Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar, and Judd in Oklahoma. He will be directing his first musical, Jesus Christ Superstar, this summer for Cabrillo Stage
Mr. Cox has recently been making strides as a director. He has directed Don Pasquale, The Magic lute, Tosca, Madama Butterfly, Rigoletto and Faust for Pacific Repertory Opera. For Opera San Jose, he has directed Eugene Onegin, Faust, and The Pearl Fishers. He was engaged by Opera San Jose to direct Carmen in 2004-2005 for the inaugural season at the California Fox Theater. For Opera Idaho he has recently directed Il Barbiere di Siviglia, La Boheme, Lucia di Lammermoor, and Elisir d’Amore. He just completed staging Turandot for Festival Opera of Walnut Creek.
