Introduction

“Bass-baritone Curtis Sullivan was vocally and visually dazzling as La Haine.” (Armide, Opera Atelier)
Opera News, Christopher Hoile

Biography

A suave baritone sound and the look of a matinee idol have assured Curtis Sullivan of success in a variety of musical idioms.  On the opera stage, he starred as Count Almaviva in Opera Atelier's THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO in Toronto and Tokyo and he has also been heard for Opera Atelier in Charpentier’s MEDÉE, as Sarastro in DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE and as Neptune in IDOMENEO.  For the Stratford Festival, he was cast as Giuseppe in THE GONDOLIERS directed by Brian Macdonald. Sondheim's innovative music theatre work, PASSION, was his assignment at the Canadian Stage in Toronto where he starred as the brooding romantic hero, Giorgio.  In another change of pace, the Banff Centre alumnus appeared in the Classical Kids production of TCHAIKOVSKY DISCOVERS AMERICA with the Houston Symphony, Oklahoma City Philharmonic, San Diego Symphony, and the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center.  

His recent and upcoming schedule includes Masetto and Il Commendatore in DON GIOVANNI for Opera Atelier, workshops for Tapestry’s OXANA G, Publio in LA CLEMENZA DI TITO for Opera Atelier and he was featured in Grand Bend’s production of HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING.

He has appeared in Korea in DON GIOVANNI and in Cleveland in L’INCORONAZIONE DI POPPEA  An Opera Atelier favourite, he has been seen as Aeneas in DIDO AND AENEAS, Eumete in IL RITORNO D’ULISSE IN PATRIA, Ministre in IPHIGENIE EN TAURIDE, Bartolo in LE NOZZE DI FIGARO as well as featured roles in ENTFÜHRUNG AUS DEM SERAIL, ARMIDE, PERSÉE and ORFEO. Balancing Baroque with contemporary, he returned to Grand Bend for THE SECRET GARDEN and MAN OF LA MANCHA, Calgary for Weill’s SEVEN DEADLY SINS, Popolescu in Kalman’s COUNTESS MARITZA, and Weill’s LADY IN THE DARK and KNICKERBOCKER HOLIDAY for Toronto Operetta Theatre. In the Toronto Fringe Festival, he was featured in JOE WHITE AND THE SEVEN DIVORCEES and later starred in THE MUSIC MAN at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope.

Mr. Sullivan debuted at the San Francisco Opera, sharing the stage with Federica von Stade and Bo Skovhus in THE MERRY WIDOW conducted by the late Erich Kunzel.   In Calgary he sang Schaunard in LA BOHEME, starred as the Pirate King in THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE at the Kawartha Lakes Playhouse and was Lancelot in CAMELOT for the Ganaraska Festival Summer Theatre.

The New Brunswick native starred as Petrucchio in Giannini’s THE TAMING OF THE SHREW for Pacific Opera Victoria, Henry Higgins in MY FAIR LADY for Toronto Operetta Theatre and he was Aeneas in DIDO AND AENEAS for Apollo's Fire in Cleveland. Contemporary Canadian works have figured prominently in his career and he has been heard in the World Premieres of EREWHON by Applebaum and Moore (Pacific Opera Victoria), ELSEWHERELESS by Sharman and Egoyan and THE IRON ROAD by Chan Ka Nin, both for Tapestry New Opera Works. Further engagements included “A Broadway Spectacular” at the National Arts Centre Rossini's MESSA DI GLORIA with the Hamilton Philharmonic and MESSIAHs in Kingston and Peterborough.

Mr. Sullivan has been guest soloist with the Prince George Symphony, Toronto Chamber Society, the Elora Festival, Orchestra London and the Amadeus Choir in repertoire ranging from Monteverdi to Bernstein to Broadway "Pops" evenings. His repertoire also includes featured roles in MADAMA BUTTERFLY, CARMEN, THE RAKE'S PROGRESS, L'ITALIANA IN ALGERI and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM with the opera companies of Vancouver, Hamilton, Toronto, Ottawa, Calgary and Festival Canada.

                                                                                                      January 2012

Full Repertoire

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CONCERT REPERTOIRE

MUSICAL THEATRE

FILM

TELEVISION

CBC RADIO

TRAINING

David Rotenberg – Acting on Camera
Britten-Pears School for Advanced Musical Study – 20th Century Song
University of Toronto – Diploma in Operatic Performance
Banff Centre for the Arts – Opera Music Theatre, Voice, Acting, Movement
University of Western Ontario – Bachelor of Music (Voice)

SPECIAL SKILLS/INTERESTS

Fencing, Fly Fishing, Painting

Engaged By

Calgary Opera
Canadian Stage Company
Drayton Entertainment
Edmonton Symphony
Hamilton Philharmonic
Houston Symphony
National Arts Centre Orchestra, Ottawa
National Symphony, Kennedy Center
Oklahoma City Philharmonic
Opera Atelier, Toronto
Opera Lyra, Ottawa
Opera Ontario
Orchestra London
Pacific Opera Victoria
San Diego Symphony
San Francisco Opera
Stratford Festival
Sullivan Entertainment
Tapestry New Opera Works
Toronto Operetta Theatre
Vancouver Opera

Reviews

“Curtis Sullivan was effectively menacing vocally, balletically and dramatically as the diabolical personification of Hatred.”

“As Giorgio, the young military officer, Curtis Sullivan is both commanding and compassionate, sensual enough to underscore his appeal to his married mistress, aesthetic enough to fire the heart of a dying woman after a single glance.”

“Sullivan (Colonel Popoff, The Chocolate Soldier) catches his satirical nature so well his every comic remark hits home.

“Curtis Sullivan oozed machismo from every pore and swept the entire show along in his wake whenever he was on stage.”

“Curtis Sullivan (Guiseppe)…outstanding…wonderful on stage, sings beautifully and acts with just the right amount of G & S hamminess.” THE GONDOLIERS, Stratford Festival

The Gleaner – Anne Ingram