About
Critically acclaimed by the NY Times, Opera News, and several others, lyric baritone Gabriel Preisser originally hails from the small town of Apopka, Florida. An up and coming talent, Mr. Preisser’s resume already includes over 30 operatic and musical theater roles including Figaro in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Danilo in The Merry Widow, the title role in Don Giovanni, Albert in Werther, Schaunard in La Bohème, Papageno in Die Zauberflöte, Prince Ottokar in Der Freischütz, Marullo in Rigoletto, Yamadori in Madame Butterfly, Falke in Die Fledermaus, Larry Foreman in The Cradle will Rock, and Bob Baker in Wonderful Town with such companies as Opera Philadelphia, Minnesota Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Utah Festival Opera, Pensacola Opera, Kentucky Opera, El Paso Opera, Skylark Opera, and others. He has been praised for having a “matinee idol’s charm and charisma,” “a beautiful, luscious baritone,” and “a compelling, commanding stage presence.”
Known for his versatility and musicianship, Mr. Preisser is making a name for himself performing new works having recently created the role of Lt. Gordon in the world premiere of Kevin Putz’s Pulitzer Prize winning Silent Night with Minnesota Opera and Opera Philadelphia. He has also taken on the title role in Aldridge’s Elmer Gantry, Tom Joad in Gordon’s The Grapes of Wrath, and Riolobo in Catan’s Florencia en el Amazonas all at the Moores Opera Center; Antonio in Hagen’s New York Stories at Kentucky Opera; John Brooke in Adamo’s Little Women and the Shoe Salesman/Puppet role in Argento’s Postcard from Morocco both at Pensacola Opera.
Known for his versatility and musicianship, Mr. Preisser is making a name for himself performing new works having recently created the role of Lt. Gordon in the world premiere of Kevin Putz’s Pulitzer Prize winning Silent Night with Minnesota Opera and Opera Philadelphia. He has also taken on the title role in Aldridge’s Elmer Gantry, Tom Joad in Gordon’s The Grapes of Wrath, and Riolobo in Catan’s Florencia en el Amazonas all at the Moores Opera Center; Antonio in Hagen’s New York Stories at Kentucky Opera; John Brooke in Adamo’s Little Women and the Shoe Salesman/Puppet role in Argento’s Postcard from Morocco both at Pensacola Opera.
On the concert/recital stage he has been a featured soloist with companies such as Minnesota Orchestra, Orlando Philharmonic, Houston Bach Society, Ars Lyrica, Atlanta Ballet, and Mercury Baroque. Highlights include soloist for Orff’s Carmina Burana, Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s St. John’s Passion, and Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical Songs. His recitals feature composers such as Charles Ives, Gerald Finzi, Carlisle Floyd, Schumann, Brahms, Mahler, Ravel, and others.
He was honored as a district winner in the 2010 Metropolitan Opera National Council Competition and won the American finals of the International Lirico Concorso Competition in 2011. Mr. Preisser was a resident artist at Minnesota Opera, Kentucky Opera, Pensacola Opera, and an apprentice artist at Des Moines Metro Opera. He graduated summa cum laude from Florida State University with a double major in Vocal Performance and Commercial Music and completed a Masters in Voice at the University of Houston.