Praised for his “vocal power and finesse” & “irresistible hijinks,” baritone Andy Papas is sought after for his impeccable musicianship and mastery of comic repertoire.
2023-24 is highlighted by Andy’s return to New England’s major opera outfits. He joins the roster of Boston Lyric Opera as Magnifico (cover) for La Cenerentola, and as cover in Matthew Aucoin’s Eurydice at the Huntington Theater with BLO. 2024 has Andy making a comic return to Opera Co. of Middlebury as Hortensius in La Fille du Regiment, and Guest Artist stage directing for OCM Young Artist production of Rossini’s La Scala di Seta. He also performs one of his signature roles, The Major General in The Pirates of Penzance, for Raylynmor Opera in New Hampshire’s Monadnock region. Finally, Andy returns to the concert stage as soloist in Mozart’s Requiem for Music on Norway Pond.
In the 2022-2023 season, Mr. Papas was pleased to make his debut with The Ojai Music Festival as Owen/Johnson in Omar’s Journey, singing alongside Omar creator Rhiannon Giddens. He also covered these roles in the Boston Lyric Opera production of Giddens’ Pulitzer Prize Winning Omar. 2023 also had Mr. Papas reprising the title role in Don Pasquale in back to back productions with both Opera Saratoga and Union Avenue Opera. In 2021-22 he returned to Anchorage Opera as Major General Stanley, rejoined Opera Company of Middlebury as John Styx in Orphée aux Enfers, brought his celebrated Doctor Bartolo (Il barbiere di Siviglia) to Pacific Northwest Opera, and reprised his acclaimed Don Magnifico (La Cenerentola) at Fargo-Moorhead Opera. Mr. Papas has also sung Bartolo with Union Avenue Opera, Opera Theater of Connecticut, Anchorage Opera, Painted Sky Opera, and covered the role at Boston Lyric Opera. His committed, musically sophisticated performances have consistently earned him praise for “creating a character both sinister and silly,” and for his “rich voiced portrayals... of considerable aplomb.”
Other noteworthy recent engagements for Mr. Papas include the Music Master in Ariadne auf Naxos with Vashon Opera, Benoit in La bohème with The Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra, The Major General for Opera Naples, Baron Zeta in The Merry Widow with Opera Saratoga, Pandolfe in Cendrillon with Opera Company of Middlebury; and the title role in Falstaff & Tonio in Pagliacci with Raylynmor Opera.
An accomplished performer on the musical theater stage, Mr. Papas has brought his acting prowess to roles such as Mr. Bumble in Oliver at New Repertory Theatre and as George/Lord Boxington in My Fair Lady at The Lyric Stage Company of Boston. He has also performed the role of Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof at Music on Norway Pond, and delighted audiences as Chef Louis in The Little Mermaid for Fiddlehead Theater.
Mr. Papas can be heard on Bridge Records as Bugs/Gent, which he also performed with Opera Saratoga, on Albany Records as Stephano in the world premiere of composer Joseph Summer’s The Tempest, and on New World Records as part of White Snake Projects recording of The Ouroboros Trilogy: Naga.
Andy completed his Master of Music degree in Voice at the University of Houston, and his Bachelor of Music in Voice at the University of Michigan. He was born and raised in Metro Boston, and started playing both piano and trumpet at the age of 8. In his free time, Andy enjoys skiing & traveling, and owes everything to his family and husband Christopher.