+++
date = "2016-09-27T14:10:00+01:00"
discipline = "Baritone"
lastmod = "2016-09-27T14:28:00+01:00"
primary_image = "https://res.cloudinary.com/schmopera/image/upload/v1545409169/media/webhook-uploads/1474981761616/2016-09-26---Craig-Irvin-Full.jpg.jpg"
publishDate = "2016-09-27T14:10:00+01:00"
related_companies = ["scene/companies/canadian-opera-company.md","scene/companies/minnesota-opera.md","scene/companies/wolf-trap-opera.md","scene/companies/lyric-opera-of-chicago.md","scene/companies/opera-north.md","scene/companies/nashville-opera.md","scene/companies/los-angeles-opera.md"]
slug = "craig-irvin"
title = "Craig Irvin"
website = "http://www.craigirvinbaritone.com/"
[[social_media]]
platform = "Twitter"
template = "social-media"
url = "https://twitter.com/baritoneirvin"
+++

Baritone Craig Irvin brings a vibrant sound and commitment to character to each role he portrays.  Craig recently made role and company debuts with Wolf Trap Opera as the Villains in *The Tales of Hoffmann* and then returned to Wolf Trap in 2012 for Leporello in *Don Giovanni*. Additionally, he debuted with Minnesota Opera in the world premier of Kevin Puts’ new opera *Silent Night*, appeared with the Canadian Opera Company as Betto in *Gianni Schicchi* and covered the role of Simone in *A Florentine Tragedy*, and joined the cast of *Simon Boccanegra* with Los Angeles Opera covering the role of Paolo.  

The 2013-2014 season brought debuts with both Fort Worth Opera and Cincinnati Opera reprising his Lieutenant Horstmayer in *Silent Night*, his return to Minnesota Opera as Mandryka in *Arabella*, and his role debut as Dandini in Pensacola Opera’s *La Cenerentola*. During the 2014-2015 season, Craig returns to Minnesota Opera as Peter in *Hänsel und Gretel*, debuts at Utah Opera as Zurga in *Les pêcheurs de perles*, reprises the role of Lieutenant Horstmayer in *Silent Night* with Lyric Opera of Kansas City and joins Nashville Opera and Pensacola Opera as the Pirate King in *The Pirates of Penzance*.

While in residence with Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Ryan Opera Center, Craig was seen as Zuniga in *Carmen*, Theseus in *A Midsummer Night’s Dream*, Sam in *A Masked Ball*, Imperial Commissioner in *Madama Butterfly*, Doctor/Professor in *Lulu*, and Ashby in *La fanciulla del West*. Additionally, he covered the roles of Bottom, the title role in *The Mikado*, the title role in Hercules, and Escamillo in *Carmen* (a role he sang in the student matinee performance). In the 2009-2010 season, he returned for a second year with Lyric Opera of Chicago where his assignments included Angelotti in *Tosca* as well as covering the roles of Bartolo in *Le nozze di Figaro* and Brander in Berlioz’s *Damnation of Faust*. Additionally, he was seen with the Knoxville Opera as Basilio in *Il barbiere di Siviglia* and as a soloist in Verdi’s *Requiem* with the Elmhurst Symphony Orchestra.

Other recent engagements include his debut with Opera Company of Philadelphia as Lt. Horstmayer in *Silent Night*, Orff’s *Carmina Burana* with the Phoenix Symphony, and a return to Canadian Opera Company as 1st Nazarene and Jochanaan/cover in Strauss’ *Salome*, his debut with Opera Saratoga performing both Dick Deadeye in HMS Pinafore and Raimondo in *Lucia di Lammermoor*, Ramphis in *Aida* with Pensacola Opera, Basilio in *Il barbiere di Siviglia* with Intermountain Opera, Dulcamara in Donizetti’s *L’elisir d’amore* with Naples Opera, and Bottom in Britten’s *A Midsummer Night’s Dream* with Des Moines Metro Opera.  A winner of the Heinz Rehfuss Singing Actor Award sponsored by Orlando Opera, Mr. Irvin spent a season with the company as a Resident Artist, and then stayed on with the company a second year as a main stage artist.  During his tenure there he was featured as the Pirate King in *Pirates of Penzance*, Abimelech in *Samson et Dalilah*, Figaro in *Le nozze di Figaro*, Elder Ott in *Susannah*, and Angelotti in *Tosca*.  While in Orlando, Mr. Irvin also sang the role of Gaston in over 700 performances of *Beauty and the Beast* at Walt Disney World, MGM.

Other role highlights include Private Willis in *Iolanthe* with Nashville Opera and Don Alhambra in Gilbert and Sullivan’s *The Gondoliers* with Opera North.  In the course of his graduate work at The University of Tennessee, he performed with the Knoxville Opera as Pooh Bah in *The Mikado*, Der Sprecher in *Die Zauberflöte*, and Basilio in *Il barbiere di Siviglia*, as well as Reverend Blitch in *Susannah* and the title role in Sondheim’s *Sweeney Todd* with the Knoxville Opera Studio.  A native of Iowa, Mr. Irvin completed his undergraduate study at the Simpson College in Indianola under the tutelage of Dr. Robert L. Larsen.
