Biography
Baritone Michael Cavalieri has sung a wide range of styles and repetoire, spanning from concert to opera to ensemble. His roles include Count Almaviva (Le Nozze di Figaro), Guglielmo (Così fan tutte), Gianni Schicchi, and Valentin (Faust). Michael recently performed Grieg's "Four Hymns" with the Chicago Chorale and can be heard in the upcoming "Opera, Up Close" Series at Governor's State University as Belocre in L'elisir d'amore. He was heard in Light Opera Works productions of Sondheim's "A Little Night Music" (Carl Magnus) and Gilbert & Sullivan's "The Pirates of Penzance (Pirate King), where the Chicago Sun-Times called his voice "rich and juicy." He premiered the role of "The Announcer" in Gustavo Leone's "The Leader" at the Goodman Theater. Michael contributed over a dozen songs to the complete songbook of Charles Ives for Naxos. In collaboration with RealTime Opera and SO Percussion, Mr. Cavalieri debuted the title role in "Feynman", a one-act mixed media opera for percussion and baritone. Mr. Cavalieri sang the role of Panlgoss for the Milanese debut of Bernstein's "Candide" with the Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano. His recital repertoire includes Schubert, Mahler, Wolf, Duparc, and Argento, performing "The Andrée Expedition" with J.J Penna. A versatile voice for the stage, his concert work includes Handel's Messiah, Mozart's Mass in C Major, Orff's Carmina Burana. Mr. Cavalieri holds degrees from Illinois Wesleyan University, Arizona State University, and Yale University. He has sung with Chicago Folks Operetta, Arizona Opera, Yale Opera and Santa Fe Opera and currently sings in the ensembles of the Chicago Symphony Chorus and Lyric Opera of Chicago.