Lester Lynch & Kevin Korth
Biography Lester Lynch & Kevin Korth
Lester Lynch
Recognized globally for his charismatic voice and bold interpretations, baritone Lester Lynch has established a place in the classical music world as one of the most in demand artists of the 21st century. Mr. Lynch began his 2022-23 season in the title role of Verdi’s Macbeth with Maryland Lyric Opera, singing “with imperious authority, providing plenty of vocal swagger as the scheming and murderous Dane. His silken legato and command of soft registers also made the character’s self-doubts and tortured regret just as believable.” (Washington Classical Review) Rounding out the season will be his performance in the title role in Verdi’s Nabucco with Washington Concert Opera, a reprisal of his signature role of Conte di Luna in Il Trovatore with Pittsburgh Opera and Wotan in Wagner’s Das Rheingold with Dayton Opera. Mr. Lynch also sang the role of Crown in Porgy and Bess with Maestro Alan Gilbert conducting Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie Orchester.
Future performances include the title role in Bluebeard’s Castle with New Zealand Opera and at the Edinburgh International Festival, performances of New Year by Michael Tippett with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and concerts with Sir Simon Rattle.
In his 2021-22 season, Lynch made a stellar debut with his performance as Wotan in Das Rheingold with Nashville Opera. Classical Voice North America raved, “His huge, rich voice dominated the stage. This will not be Lynch’s last Wotan. He is someone to watch.” With the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra he was the baritone soloist in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. Also in the season, he graced the stage as Tonio in I Pagliacci with Tatar State Opera in Russia, The Forester in Janaček’s The Cunning Little Vixen with English National Opera, Enrico in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor with Opera Classica Europa and performed Scarpia in Tosca with Berlin Radio Symphony Orchestra with Carlo Montanaro on the podium.
Career highlights include Crown (Porgy and Bess) at Teatro alla Scala, San Francisco Opera, Volksoper Wien, Lucerne Festival im Sommer, Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival in Kiel, Germany, Ravinia Festival and the Berlin Philharmoniker; Lescaut (Manon Lecaut) in Baden Baden with the Berlin Philharmoniker; Shylock (The Merchant of Venice) with Royal Opera House and Welsh National Opera; Conte di Luna (Il Trovatore) with San Antonio Symphony, Seattle Opera and Minnesota Opera; Amonasro (Aida) with Tatar State Opera, Russia, Minnesota Opera, Norway’s Bergen National Opera and Springfield Symphony’s PBS Special; George Wilson (The Great Gatsby) and the title role in Busoni’s Doktor Faust with Semperoper Dresden; Rigoletto (Rigoletto) with Seattle Opera; High Priest of Dagon (Samson et Dalila) with Cincinnati Opera; Germont (La Traviata) with Houston Grand Opera and Cleveland Opera; Marcello (La Boheme) with New York City Opera and Opera Theatre St. Louis; Iago (Otello) with Taipei Symphony Orchestra, Bergen National Opera in Norway and the Gulbenkian Orchestra in Portugal; Falstaff (Falstaff), also with the Gulbenkian Orchestra; Gérard (André Chénier) with Bregenzer Festspiele; Il Prigioniero with Dresden Semperoper and Washington National Opera; Enrico (Lucia di Lammermoor) with English National Opera; Sharpless (Madame Butterfly) with Nashville Opera; Simon Boccanegra and Enrico, Duke of Chevreuse (Maria di Rohan) with Washington Concert Opera; Mathis (Mathis der Maler) with the Enescu Festival in Bucharest, Romania; and Sweeney Todd with Bergen National Opera.
As an accomplished concert artist, Mr. Lynch has performed a wide variety of repertoire with orchestras around the world, including the New York Philharmonic, National Symphony Orchestra, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Houston Symphony, Opera Philadelphia, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Ravinia Festival Orchestra, Grant Park Music Festival, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, The Cleveland Orchestra, Bilbao Orkestra Sinfonikoa and New World Symphony.
With an impressive discography, Lynch’s newest recording of Porgy and Bess Highlights in 2021 alongside soprano Angel Blue garnered high praise from BBC Music Magazine saying that “Lester Lynch’s dramatically and vocally engaged Porgy is extremely moving.” An exclusive artist on the Pentatone label, his other recordings include Verdi’s La Traviata with Lisette Oropesa; Verdi’s Otello and Un ballo in maschera; Puccini’s Tosca, Il Tabarro, La fanciulla del west and Madame Butterfly; Mascagni’s Cavalleria rusticana; Gordon Getty’s opera Plump Jack and his cantata Joan and the Bells. His 2017 debut solo album “On My Journey Now: Spirituals and Hymns,” also on Pentatone, was received with great acclaim.
Making his film debut in a new opera by Gordon Getty, Goodbye, Mr. Chips, he created the role of Merrivale with Brian Staufenbiel directing. Mr. Lynch can also be seen on the San Francisco Opera DVD of its sold out performances of Porgy and Bess as Crown. A frequent recitalist, Lynch has toured throughout the United States under the auspices of the Marilyn Horne Foundation, including a performance at Merkin Hall in New York where he premiered a song cycle by Lowell Lieberman, commissioned for him by the Foundation. He has performed recitals, including in Bilbao, Spain, at Oberlin College and Duke University and also appears frequently with the much lauded Young People’s Chorus of New York.
As a dedicated technician, Mr. Lynch believes in paying it forward to future generations by sharing his extensive knowledge as a teacher, giving masterclasses and guest lecturing. These endeavors have taken him to the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, Temple University, Oberlin College, Morgan State University, Tennessee State University, West Virginia University School of Music and College of Creative Arts and Memorial University of Newfoundland. Lester volunteers his time by speaking to young artists and young people about a career in the arts and by helping to raise funds for many organizations, including Sing for Hope.
Mr. Lynch is the recipient of many distinguished awards, including The Metropolitan National Council Awards, The George London Foundation and The Sullivan Award. His work with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis also earned him the prestigious Richard Gaddes Award. He received a certificate of professional studies from the Juilliard Opera School. When Lester isn’t traveling the world performing, the Ohio native relaxes by driving race cars at 200 miles per hour and working out.
