Bass-Baritone Robert Cantrell has been described by the Baltimore Sun as “a deeply expressive, rich, plangent Bass-Baritone,” and the Washington Post critic, Joseph McLellan mentioned Cantrell “ has a warm supple voice that brought out the lyrical intentions of the composers making them treasured moments.” Cantrell is one of the most sought after bass-baritones in the Baltimore-Washington area who has performed in many different cities throughout the United States, Italy, Austria, France and Japan. He was Artist-in-Residence at Northern State University in Aberdeen, South Dakota where he taught voice lessons, Masterclasses and performed the role of Balthazar in Menotti’s, Amahl and the Night Visitors. Further performances include Faye Chiao’s “Island of the Moon” with the Virginia Arts Festival, “A Return to the Stage” guest soloist with the Baltimore Choral Arts, Lutoslawski’s, Les Espaces with The Columbia Symphony Orchestra, Porgy in Gershwin’s, Porgy and Bess with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Guest Artist with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Solo recital on the Second Presbyterian Church’s, Community Concerts at Second Series, Mother’s Lament (Premiere) by James Lee, Beethoven 9 th with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, Mozart Requiem with the Bay Atlantic Symphony, Brahms Requiem with the Baltimore School for the ARTS at Shriver Hall, Leading role cover of Emile Griffith in Terrence Blanchard’s Champion with Washington National Opera, Champion Preview performance at the Washington National Cathedral, Music on the Corner Recital Series at First Baptist Church in Winchester, VA., solo recital at Atholon Seventh Day Adventist, and the role of Bluebeard in Bela Bartok’s Bluebeard’s Castle with the Columbia Symphony Orchestra. Further performance highlights include Kapilow’s The Polar Express with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Vaughan William’s Dona Nobis Pacem with the Baltimore Choral Arts, Brahms’. Other notable career highlights include his Washington National Opera debut in the role of the Moorish Envoy in Massenet’s Le Cid starring legendary tenor, Placido Domingo on PBS, Gubetta in Donizetti’s Lucrezia Borgia opposite Renee Fleming,the First Nazarene in Strauss’ Salome with Deborah Voight, his Carnegie Hall debut in the Mozart Requiem, Bass soloist on the Baltimore Choral Arts France Tour in the
Mozart Requiem, his debut in Italy at the Spoleto Festival dei Due Mondi in Handel’s Semele as the Priest and Somnus, role of the Jailer in Puccini’s Tosca on Washington National Opera’s Japan Tour, Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess at the Bregenz Festspielhaus in Austria and appearances with the Metropolitan Opera Chorus in New York.
Furthermore, Cantrell has performed with the Baltimore Opera, WolfTrap Opera, Opera Delaware, Sarasota Opera, Opera Vivente, Municipal Opera of Baltimore, Washington Summer Opera, and Opera Ebony. He has appeared as soloist with the Baltimore Symphony, Prince George’s Philharmonic, Baltimore Concert Artists, Baltimore Choral Arts, Reading Symphony Orchestra, Loudon Symphony, York Symphony, Columbia Pro Cantare, Deer Creek Chorale, Central MarylandChorale, Easton Choral Arts, Baltimore Masterworks Chorale, MidAtlantic Symphony, and the Handel Choir of Baltimore. Recent engagements include a solo recital in February 2016 at Grace United Methodist Church, Music by Copland with the Baltimore Symphony in March 2016, and Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass at Church of the Redeemer in April 2016. Cantrell is on the voice faculty at Morgan State University and The Baltimore School for the ARTS and looks forward to another year of teaching at the Washington National Opera Summer Institute.
