Nathan Gunn

American baritone Nathan Gunn made his San Francisco Opera debut as Figaro in the 2003 production of The Barber of Seville, a role that he reprised in 2006. He has also appeared with the Company in the title role of Billy Budd and as Guglielmo (Così fan tutte) and Papageno (The Magic Flute). Gunn has appeared at major opera houses and festivals around the world including the Metropolitan Opera; Lyric Opera of Chicago; Seattle Opera; Houston Grand Opera; the Dallas Opera; the Royal Opera, Covent Garden; Paris Opera; Bavarian State Opera; Glyndebourne Festival; and the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels. His many roles include the title role of Hamlet; Count Almaviva (Le Nozze di Figaro), Tarquinius (The Rape of Lucretia), Malatesta (Don Pasquale), Belcore (L’Elisir d’Amore), and Ottone (L’incoronazione di Poppea). A frequent interpreter of new works, Gunn has created a number of roles in world premiere operas, including Daron Hagen’s Amelia, André Previn’s Brief Encounter, Peter Eötvös’ Love and Other Demons, and Tobias Picker’s An American Tragedy. His broad discography includes two solo albums; the title role of Billy Budd, which won a 2010 Grammy Award; Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Allegro; Peter Grimes; and Il Barbiere di Siviglia, among others. Gunn’s recent engagements include the title role of Billy Budd at the Met, Ravenal (Showboat) with Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Figaro (Il Barbiere di Siviglia) at Houston Grand Opera. In the 2012–13 season, he returns to the Met as Raimbaud (Le Comte d”Ory) and sings the Lodger (Argento’s The Aspern Papers) with the Dallas Opera as well as recitals in Chicago, New York, and Boston.