the official michael chioldi web site

UPCOMING:

CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA
and I PAGLIACCI

at CHAUTAUQUA OPERA

July 30 - August 2

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Michael sings HAMLET

with Washington National Opera

Watch here

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Michael sings Ford from Ft. Worth Opera's Falstaff, and the Letter Scene and the Act 3 Aria from NYCO's Madama Butterfly

Most crucially, the title role was persuasively performed by baritone Michael Chioldi, who offered an admirable evenness and warmth of tone, consistently sensitive phrasing... this was very potent singing. His acting, too, hit home. He conveyed the character's brush with madness tellingly, and, in the confrontation with the frightened Gertrude (one of the opera's most inspired passages), Chioldi hit a dramatic peak to match the vividness of his vocalism.

Michael Chioldi's Hamlet was a three-dimensional character, on the edge of madness from the outset, yet capable of clear-headed resolve. The baritone used his warm, supple voice to put a consistently compelling spin on his phrasing.

Baritone Michael Chioldi is magnificent as Hamlet, a young man who is less mad than full of rage. Chioldi sings a wide range of music throughout the opera, most notably a melancholy recitative lamenting his situation, a moving love duet with Ophelie in the first act, a rousing drinking song, as well as the beautiful aria "To Be or Not to Be." Chioldi handles this variety easily, exhibiting great strength, sensitivity and nuance.

Washington Examiner

Michael Chioldi was appropriately somber and pensive as Hamlet, with a rich, almost Russian voice that centered the production all evening. Thomas’ Hamlet is a huge role, obviously taxing to the soloist. But Mr. Chioldi never faltered in his performance.

The Washington Times

Chioldi, a graduate of San Francisco Opera’s Merola program and the Houston Grand Opera young artists’ program, proved an effective Hamlet, with the vocal weight and expressiveness to convey the character’s emotional range and the acting ability to make his interactions with such diverse folks as Gertrude, the Ghost and the Gravediggers absorbing and interesting. The evening ended in triumph with an enthusiastic standing ovation for Chioldi.