Artist Of The Week: Andrew G. Manea

Baritone Ready To Step Into His First Leading Role With San Francisco Opera

By Francisco Salazar

What does it take for an opera singer to break out? The question is never simple and there are multiple ways. A competition win could be the defining moment. The same goes for a young artist program. Then there is a last minute cancellation that plunges an artist in the spotlight. For Romanian-American baritone Andrew G. Manea that may be the case this season as he continues as a San Francisco Opera Adler Fellow and takes on his first lead role with the company.

After an untimely cancellation by baritone Arthur Rucinski in the upcoming production of “Roberto Devereux,” the San Francisco Opera called up Manea to take on the crucial and demanding role making it his first lead role with the company and his role debut. While Manea will be a soloist throughout the season at San Francisco, it is in the role of Nottingham that he could thrust him into the spotlight and solidify his status as the next leading baritone of his generation.

Manea has been building his career as part of the 2016 Merola Opera Program and competing in such renowned competitions as the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition, Opera Columbus Cooper-Bing International Voice Competition, Francisco Viñas International Singing Competition, and Giulio Gari Foundation. He has also studied with such luminaries as Michael Paul, Marilyn Horne, Warren Jones, Lorin Maazel, and James Morris.

Manea made his debut at the San Francisco Opera as Marullo in “Rigoletto” in 2017 and performed Marquis d’Obigny in “La Traviata” last season. This is season he also appears in “Tosca,” “Arabella,” “It’s a Wonderful Life,” and covers Silvio in “Pagliacci.”

Recordings

Here is a look at the baritone in the Viñas competition.

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