(Credit: Brinkhoff/Mogenburg)

Enescu’s “Œdipe” is a rarely performed work that premiered in 1936 and has since has made limited appearances around the world. It’s a work that depends on the dramatic powers of its lead baritone and one that many consider a challenge. This week, the Salzburg Festival is set to present the opera in a new production with Christopher Maltman making his role debut.

Maltman is one of the leading baritones of his generation and one who has taken an interesting career trajectory.

While Maltman has performed some of the leading Verdi, Puccini, Mozart, and Bel Canto roles, the baritone has also taken on a number of rarely performed classic works as well as new works that include “Marnie,” “The Tempest,” “Julius Caesar,” “The Rape of Lucretia” and “Thérèse Raquin,” among many others.

With the title role of “Œdipe,” the baritone adds another powerful character to his repertoire and shows Salzburg audiences another facet of his diverse career.

After the Salzburg performances of Enescu’s work, Maltman returns to the title role of Verdi’s “Rigoletto” in Berlin and Frankfurt before taking on the eponymous character of  Rossini’s “Guillaume Tell” at the Wiener Staatsoper. He also sings in a new production of Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro” at the LA Opera.

Recordings

Maltman has made a number of recordings and DVDs including Schubert’s “Die Schone Mullerin” and “Winterreise.” He is also on DVD recordings of “Don Giovanni” from the Salzburg Festival, “The Death of Klinghoffer,” and “The Rape of Lucretia” from the English National Opera. 

 Here is the baritone performing in “Il Barbiere di Siviglia…” 

… and here he is performing from “the Merry Widow” alongside Renée Fleming.