The New York City Opera celebrates Pride Month for the second year, continuing its initiative to diversify and represent diverse cultures. This season it will present the American premiere of “Brokeback Mountain” starring Daniel Okulitch, who created the opera role of Ennis del Mar at the Teatro Real de Madrid.

When Okulitch sang the first production in 2014, he earned rave reviews with critics noting the baritone “embodies the character from the moment we first see him, his cowboy hat almost covering his eyes, his stride nervous and halting.” Now he brings the role to “The People’s Opera,” the company the opera was originally meant to premiere with.

An exponent of contemporary opera and works, Okulicth has become well-known for his turns in Seth Brundle in “The Fly” at Théâtre du Châtelet and Los Angeles Opera, Willy Wonka in “The Golden Ticket” at Opera Theatre of St. Louis and Atlanta Opera, LBJ in David T. Little’s “JFK” at Fort Worth Opera and Opera de Montréal, and Herman Broder in “Enemies, A Love Story” at Palm Beach Opera. He also created the role of Mark Rutland in Nico Muhly’s “Marnie” at the English National Opera and will cover the role at the Metropolitan Opera. This season, he will open a new production of John Adam’s “Doctor Atomic” at the Santa Fe Opera.

Okulitch’s performances in “Brokeback Mountain” marks his return to the New York City Opera where has performed leading Mozart roles.

Recordings

For those not familiar with Okulitch’s voice, the baritone has a complete recording of “Brokeback Mountain” as well as an album dedicated to the American Songbook. He can also be heard in the world premiere recording of Thomas Pastieri’s “Frau Margot.”