artist biography
American bass Nathan Whitson is rapidly making a name for himself in the dramatic
bass repertoire. Both his commanding stage presence and rich, resonant voice are
frequently commended for their authoritative and stentorian qualities. He will make his
company and role debut as Zaccaria (NABUCCO) with Sarasota Opera in 2019. Other
upcoming performances include Scarpia (TOSCA) and Sparafucile (RIGOLETTO).
Hailed as “a hulking basso tyrant in a hillbilly beard...impressive in every way, with a big
dark voice that didn’t quit,” by the Saint Louis Post-Dispatch, Mr. Whitson’s voice is
exceptionally well-suited to Wagner’s demanding bass roles. He recently sang Hunding
(DIE WALKÜRE) and Fafner (SIEGFRIED) in Union Avenue Opera’s Ring Cycle, and will
add Daland (DER FLIEGENDE HOLLÄNDER) to his repertoire this season.
Mr. Whitson resides in Kansas City, Missouri, and regularly appears with Lyric Opera of
Kansas City. In 2008 he created the role of Charles Robinson in their world premiere of
Kirke Mechem’s JOHN BROWN, and has since sung a wide variety of repertoire there,
including Second Armored Man (DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE) and Officer Krupke (WEST SIDE
STORY), among others. Known to the house as a dependable professional, Mr. Whitson
was also honored to be invited to jump in as Oroveso (NORMA) when the original artist
fell ill.
Other recent engagements include Oroveso (NORMA) and Frère Laurent (ROMEO ET
JULIETTE) with the St. Petersburg Opera, where Mr. Whitson “brought a powerful voice
and stentorian presence to his portrayal of Frère Laurent” (Tampa Bay Times). A
frequent concert artist, he was the bass soloist for Mozart REQUIEM with the St. Joseph
Symphony and Handel MESSIAH with the Emporia State University Orchestra and the
Spire Chamber Ensemble. He also made role debuts as Angelotti (TOSCA) with Winter
Opera St. Louis and as Caiaphas (JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR) with Kansas City’s
acclaimed Musical Theater Heritage, where he “deployed a rich bass of operatic
resonance, making you fear for the theater's structural integrity" (The Pitch).
Mr. Whitson discovered his passion for music in high school and subsequently studied
in New York City with Armen Boyajian, a renowned teacher of male voices including
basses Samuel Ramey, Gerald Finley, and Paul Plishka.
bass repertoire. Both his commanding stage presence and rich, resonant voice are
frequently commended for their authoritative and stentorian qualities. He will make his
company and role debut as Zaccaria (NABUCCO) with Sarasota Opera in 2019. Other
upcoming performances include Scarpia (TOSCA) and Sparafucile (RIGOLETTO).
Hailed as “a hulking basso tyrant in a hillbilly beard...impressive in every way, with a big
dark voice that didn’t quit,” by the Saint Louis Post-Dispatch, Mr. Whitson’s voice is
exceptionally well-suited to Wagner’s demanding bass roles. He recently sang Hunding
(DIE WALKÜRE) and Fafner (SIEGFRIED) in Union Avenue Opera’s Ring Cycle, and will
add Daland (DER FLIEGENDE HOLLÄNDER) to his repertoire this season.
Mr. Whitson resides in Kansas City, Missouri, and regularly appears with Lyric Opera of
Kansas City. In 2008 he created the role of Charles Robinson in their world premiere of
Kirke Mechem’s JOHN BROWN, and has since sung a wide variety of repertoire there,
including Second Armored Man (DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE) and Officer Krupke (WEST SIDE
STORY), among others. Known to the house as a dependable professional, Mr. Whitson
was also honored to be invited to jump in as Oroveso (NORMA) when the original artist
fell ill.
Other recent engagements include Oroveso (NORMA) and Frère Laurent (ROMEO ET
JULIETTE) with the St. Petersburg Opera, where Mr. Whitson “brought a powerful voice
and stentorian presence to his portrayal of Frère Laurent” (Tampa Bay Times). A
frequent concert artist, he was the bass soloist for Mozart REQUIEM with the St. Joseph
Symphony and Handel MESSIAH with the Emporia State University Orchestra and the
Spire Chamber Ensemble. He also made role debuts as Angelotti (TOSCA) with Winter
Opera St. Louis and as Caiaphas (JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR) with Kansas City’s
acclaimed Musical Theater Heritage, where he “deployed a rich bass of operatic
resonance, making you fear for the theater's structural integrity" (The Pitch).
Mr. Whitson discovered his passion for music in high school and subsequently studied
in New York City with Armen Boyajian, a renowned teacher of male voices including
basses Samuel Ramey, Gerald Finley, and Paul Plishka.