Patrick Carfizzi
Voice and Opera
Performance
Patrick Carfizzi is a distinguished bass-baritone who has been a presence at the Metropolitan Opera for more than 25 years, where he has performed over 450 times.
Hailed by the New York Times as “the Heart and Soul of the Met,” his career embodies a deep, intrinsic connection to the operatic craft, reflecting not only vocal mastery but also an exceptional understanding of the stage’s demands.
Drawing upon this extensive body of work, Mr. Carfizzi is deeply committed to nurturing the next generation of vocal artists. His teaching philosophy is rooted in cultivating a healthy, resilient vocal technique, helping to guide students in the realities of career sustainability and informed by his own ongoing rigorous performance career.
Consistently praised for his “vibrant” performances and “impressive bass,” Mr. Carfizzi’s career spans a broad breadth of repertoire from comedic to dramatic and contemporary, at leading companies such as the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Oper Köln.
He returned to the Met for his signature role debut as Dr. Bartolo in Il barbiere di Siviglia in the 2024–25 season, and also sang the title role in Don Pasquale at Opera Theatre of St. Louis. His 2023–24 season included a notable debut at LA Opera as Dr. Bartolo, alongside returns to the Metropolitan Opera as Fra Melitone in a new production of La forza del destino. Other notable recent engagements include Dulcamara in L’elisir d’amore at San Francisco Opera, Leporello in Don Giovanni with Boston Baroque, Swallow in Peter Grimes, and the Sacristan in Tosca at the Met; Bartolo in Le nozze di Figaro at Houston Grand Opera, Santa Fe Opera, and the Ozawa Festival; and Don Alfonso in Così fan tutte with the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood.
His career is marked by collaborations with notable conductors such as Vladimir Jurowski, Carlo Rizzi, and Yannick Nézet-Séguin.
Mr. Carfizzi has given master classes at prominent institutions including Southern Methodist University, Yale University, Catholic University of America, University of Southern California, and the Boston University Institute at Tanglewood. His long-standing commitment to nurturing emerging artists is also evident in his extensive work with Houston Grand Opera’s Young Artists Vocal Academy since its inception.
