Butler Studio alumnus Nicholas Newton’s many previous roles with HGO include Sacristan in Tosca and Second Soldier in Salome (2023), Friar Laurence in Romeo and Juliet (2022), Daddy/Tim in the world premiere of The Snowy Day (2021), Billy King in performances of Marian’s Song at Miller Outdoor Theatre (2021) and in the opera’s world premiere (2020), and Monterone in Rigoletto (2019). He is the third prize winner in HGO’s 2019 Eleanor McCollum Competition Concert of Arias and an alumnus of HGO’s Young Artists Vocal Academy (2016). Newton’s other engagements during the 2023-24 season include Alidoro in Cinderella at Lyric Opera of Chicago; a new production of John Adams’s El Niño at the Metropolitan Opera; and Leporello in a new production of Don Giovanni at Santa Fe Opera. During the 2022-23 season, Newton’s engagements included the roles of Monterone in Rigoletto at Dallas Opera, Ariodate in Xerxes at Detroit Opera, Peter in Hansel and Gretel at Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Don Basilio in The Barber of Seville at Cincinnati Opera. Other highlights of recent seasons include Don Basilio in The Barber of Seville at Santa Fe Opera, joining the roster of the Metropolitan Opera to cover the role of Garibaldo in Rodelinda; the roles of Colline in La bohème and Judge Turpin in Sweeney Todd with Wolf Trap Opera; and Monterone in Rigoletto with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. Newton is also an avid concert performer and recitalist and a co-founder of the in-progress Black Opera Database. A 2021 Sullivan Award winner, he earned his Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from San Diego State University and his Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Rice University.
Count Monterone: RIGOLETTO 2019-20
GIVING VOICE 2019-20
Billy King/Classmate: MARIAN'S SONG 2019-20 (World premiere), 2021-22 (Miller Outdoor Theatre)
STUDIO SHOWCASE 2020-21 (Digital)
Daddy / Tim / Ensemble: THE MAKING OF THE SNOWY DAY 2020-21 (Digital)
STUDIO HOLIDAY CELEBRATION 2020-21 (Digital)
GIVING VOICE 2020-21 (Digital)
Daddy / Tim / Ensemble Bass 1: THE SNOWY DAY 2021-22 (World premiere)
Friar Laurence: ROMEO AND JULIET 2021-22 (Mainstage and Miller Outdoor Theatre)
Sacristan: TOSCA 2022-23
Second Soldier: SALOME 2022-23