Richard Bado (United States)

Chrous Master
Banda Conductor - Fidelio

HGO Appearances: Chorus master (1988 – 2012), head of music staff (1991 – 2005), conducting debut leading Show Boat at the Cairo Opera House (Egypt, 1989). Studio artist (1984 – 85).

About the Artist: Bado has conducted at the New York City, Tulsa, and Wolf Trap operas, as well as Teatro alla Scala and Opéra National de Paris. He has conducted at the Aspen Music Festival and School, the Russian National Orchestra, the Florida Philharmonic, the Montreal Symphony, and the Houston Ballet. Bado conducted HGO’s production of Thompson’s Four Saints in Three Acts at the Edinburgh Festival. He has appeared regularly with Renée Fleming and has accompanied Cecilia Bartoli, Frederica von Stade, Denyce Graves, Susan Graham, Marcello Giordani, Ramon Vargas, Samuel Ramey, and Nathan Gunn. Bado holds music degrees from West Virginia University, as well as Eastman School of Music, where he received the 2000 Alumni Achievement Award. He also studied advanced choral conducting with the late Robert Shaw. This season marks Bado’s seventh year as director of the Opera Studies Program at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music. He has been on the faculty of the Aspen Music Festival and School and the International Vocal School in Moscow. He has served on the music staff at the Metropolitan, Seattle, Chautauqua, and Wolf Trap operas, as well as the Opera Theatre of St. Louis. Bado regularly judges for the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.