Dr. Alan Dunbar

Lauded for his beautiful tone and his nuanced musical and textual interpretation, bass-baritone Alan Dunbar is a versatile performer, at home in opera, oratorio, art song, and folk and popular music. Recent performances and accolades include Owen Hart in Madison Opera's "Dead Man Walking," the title role of Britten’s "Noye’s Fludde" at Santa Fe Opera, Handel’s "Messiah" with the Santa Fe Symphony and Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra, and recitals at the Ravinia Festival Steans Institute. In 2012 Alan debuted with Madison Opera as Alidoro in "La Cenerentola," sang selections from "Un ballo in maschera" and "Candide" in the popular Madison Opera in the Park concert, and covered the lead role of Prophet/King in the world premiere of "Dark Sisters" with Gotham Chamber Opera and Opera Company of Philadelphia. During the 2010 and 2011 seasons at Santa Fe Opera Alan sang the Composer and the cover of Mr. Scattergood in Menotti's "The Last Savage," sang Yakuside in "Madama Butterfly," covered the role of Clotaldo in the world premiere of Louis Spratlan’s "Life is a Dream," and performed the role of Sweeney Todd in the Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Scenes. In 2009 Alan made his European solo recital debut at the Oslo Grieg Festival, performed as bass soloist in Stravinsky’s "Pulcinella" under Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos at the Tanglewood Music Festival, and won the grand prize at the 2009 Grieg Festival in Winter Park, FL. Other opera appearances include the title role in Bartók’s "Bluebeard’s Castle" at the Natchez Opera Festival, and Zaretsky in "Eugene Onegin" at the Tanglewood Music Festival with Renée Fleming and Peter Mattei. During his tenure at Indiana University, he sang principal roles in twelve IU Opera Theater productions, including Pandolfe in Massenet’s "Cendrillon," Leporello ("Don Giovanni"), Dulcamara ("L'elisir d'Amore"), Don Alfonso ("Così fan tutte"), and Jules Goddard ("A Wedding").

In addition to opera, Alan has extensive experience on the concert stage where he has performed the bass solos in Bach's "St. John's Passion," Handel's "Dettingen Te Deum" and "Messiah," the Mozart Requiem, Haydn's "Missa in Tempore Belli," and Schumann's "Requiem für Mignon." He has collaborated with choreographer/director Mark Morris in performances with the Mark Morris Dance Group, as well as in the Stravinsky chamber opera "Renard."

Alan holds a BA in music theory and composition from St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, and an MM and DM in vocal performance from Indiana University, where he studied with Costanza Cuccaro. From 1998 to 2004 Alan sang throughout North America and Europe with the Minnesota-based internationally acclaimed male chamber vocal ensemble Cantus. During his tenure with Cantus, he recorded ten albums and appeared as a soloist with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, at the Oregon Bach Festival, the 2002 World Choral Symposium, and the 2003 Polyphonia Festival in Normandy, France. He has also composed and arranged many pieces for the ensemble, including "Alleluia Amen, The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" (Gordon Lightfoot), "Bashana Haba'ah" (Manor/Hirsh), and "Stick to the Craythur" (trad. Irish).

More information about Dr. Dunbar is available on his website.