ADA Artist Management & Representation

Biography

With a velvety tone and a stage presence which exudes confidence and charm, baritone Levi Hernandez is gaining momentum as a sought after artist on the operatic stage.  Mark Thomson Ketterson of Opera News declared of his principal debut with Lyric Opera of Chicago as Dandini in La cenerentola ,“Young baritone Levi Hernandez’s intelligent Dandini displayed a most impressive knack for subtle text-painting within a pristinely negotiated coloratura line…”

Recently the El Paso native made his Houston Grand Opera debut as Sharpless in Madame Butterfly next to Ana Maria Martinez and Joseph Calleja; he also joined the rosters of San Francisco Opera and the Metropolitan Opera in their productions of Puccini’s Trittico and Fanciulla del West. Last season marked his European debut in Komishe Oper Berlin of Pique Dame in the role of Tomski. Additionally he sang Sharpless in Madame Butterfly with Virginia Opera, Lake George Opera and Cedar Rapids Opera. This summer he’ll make his Opera Theater of St. Louis as Leporello in Don Giovanni, and will return to Opera North as Dandini in La cenerentola. In the 2011-12 season Levi sings Tobias Mill in Rossini’s La Cambiale di Matrimonio with Opera Omaha and reprises the role of Sharpless in Madame Butterfly with Minnesota Opera and Intermountain Opera.   He appears in concert singing Handel’s Messiah with the Phoenix Symphony and the Pennsylvania Ballet. The 2012-2013 season features a return to the Metropolitan Opera roster, and Sharpless in Butterfly at Nashville Opera.

Other recent engagements include Valentin in Faust with The Kalamazoo Symphony, and his return to Los Angeles Opera as Don Lucas in Luisa Fernanda.  Engagements for the 2007-2008 season included Marcello in San Antonio Opera’s La bohème, Schaunard in Lyric Opera of Chicago’s La bohème, appearances with Cheyenne Symphony for the Messiah, and Sciarrone in Tosca and Crébillon in La rondine with Los Angeles Opera.  Engagements for 2008-2009 included Yamadori in Madama Butterfly with Opera Colorado, a return to Los Angeles for Spinelloccio in Gianni Schicchi, a concert appearance at the Metropolis Performing Arts Centre.

A recent alumnus of the Lyric Opera center for American Artists Mr. Hernandez made his Lyric Opera mainstage debut during the 2004-05. During his tenure at Lyric he was also seen as Marullo in Rigoletto, Sciarrone in Tosca, the Innkeeper in Manon Lescaut, and the Bartender in the world premiere of William Bolcom’s A Wedding. A versatile actor as well as a fine singer Hernandez portrayed the title role in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi at the 2004 Grant Park Music Festival.  Other career highlights include Marcello La bohème for El Paso Opera, Papageno with Madison Opera in their Die Zauberflöte,  performances in  Boston Lyric Opera’s productions of  Carmen  and Il barbiere di Siviglia, and Count Ceprano in Rigoletto, Moralès in Carmen, and Haly in L’italiana in Algeri, all with Opera Company of Philadelphia.

Mr. Hernandez has been seen on the concert stage as a soloist in Handel’s Messiah with Charlotte Symphony and Orff’s Carmina Burana with the Pennsylvania Ballet. A 2002 Metropolitan Opera National Council Awards finalist his many awards include a Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation grant as well as being a 2002 OPERALIA competition finalist.  After receiving his undergraduate degree at Westminster Choir College Mr. Hernandez attended the prestigious Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia where he performed a number of leading roles including Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Marcello in La bohème, Ford in Falstaff,  Gugliemo in Così fan tutte, Sharpless in Madama Butterfly, Vicar in Albert Herring and Falke in Die Fledermaus.