Mark S. Doss
Encyclopedia
Mark Steven Doss is a Grammy Award-winning African-American bass-baritone
, specializing in opera
, concert and recital. He has performed major roles with many international opera companies, including Milan's La Scala
, Vienna State Opera
, Lyric Opera of Chicago
, San Francisco Opera
, the Royal Opera House
Covent Garden, Deutsche Staatsoper Berlin, Brussels' La Monnaie
, Canadian Opera Company
, and Oper Frankfurt. He divides his time between Toronto, Ontario and Erie, Pennsylvania.
, where in addition to avid participation in varsity sports he took drama and chorus, and performed in a school production of Godspell
. Following high school, and a summer work-study program dedicated to training in the performing arts, he pursued a lifelong ambition to become a Catholic priest, enrolling in the formation program (seminary) at Saint Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Indiana.
While at Saint Joseph's, Doss continued to take music courses and performed in recitals and musical theatre productions. After two years, he left the seminary and became a secular student at the college, graduating with a BA in music and sociology.
After graduating from Saint Joseph's, Doss entered the Master's Degree program at Indiana University's School of Music (1980–1983), studying voice with Walter Cassel and Nicola Rossi-Lemeni
. Doss's first operatic performance was in the role of Khan Konchak in the Indiana University
Musical Theatre's production of Borodin's Prince Igor
. He performed a total of six roles at Indiana University, including that of Mephistopheles in Faust
, which he has reprised on several occasions throughout his professional career.
in 1983, where he worked with Nico Castel, Thomas Stuart, Martin Katz
, and John Fiore
, he then became an ensemble member of Chicago's Lyric Opera Center for American Artists
. After a two-year stint in Chicago, Doss commenced his professional career in January 1986 as a member of the Metropolitan Opera
in New York City.
Since then, Doss has performed at many leading international opera companies, including Lyric Opera of Chicago
, the Canadian Opera Company
, San Francisco Opera
, Brussels' Théâtre de la Monnaie, Deutsche Opera Berlin, Royal Opera House
,a Covent Garden, Teatro La Fenice, Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Oper Frankfurt, New York City Opera
, Deutsche Staatsoper Berlin and Teatro alla Scala.
His roles have included the Title Role in Boito's Mefistofele
, Escamillo in Carmen
, Mephistopheles in Faust
, Zaccaria in Nabucco
, Leporello in Don Giovanni
, Raimondo in Lucia di Lammermoor
, the High Priest in Samson et Dalila, Jaroslav Prus in The Makropulos Case, Jochanaan in Salome, Amonasro in Aida, Mustafa in L’Italiana in Algeri, Thoas in Iphigénie en Tauride
, Alidoro in La Cenerentola
(Cinderella), Argante in Rinaldo
, Scarpia in Tosca, among others. In the course of his career, Doss has performed with operatic artists such as Plácido Domingo
, Renée Fleming
and Denyce Graves
.
Doss made his debut at Milan's La Scala
in 2004 in the role of Escamillo in Carmen
. Since then, he has been a regular performer at La Scala, most recently in the role Amonasro in the opera's production of Verdi's Aida
on July 6, 2009. In 2009, Doss performed the roles of Mephistopheles in Gounod’s Faust with Opera Tampa
, Amonasro in Verdi's Aida
at La Scala and in Tel Aviv (with La Scala on Tour), Jochanaan in Strauss' Salome
with the Deutsche Staatsoper Berlin, and Premysl in Sarka
with La Fenice
in Venice
.
His 2010 engagements included a tour of Italian opera houses (many being debuts) as Jochanaan in Salome with Florence's Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
, the Arena di Verona as Escamillo in Carmen
, Balstrode in Peter Grimes
with the Teatro Regio di Torino, Jochanaan at Bologna's Teatro Comunale
, and Escamillo at the Teatro Municipale di Salerno. Doss has also been contracted for a return performance with the Canadian Opera Company
in the fall of 2011.
When he is not touring, Doss divides his time between residences in Toronto, Canada and Pennsylvania
. He is married to Dawn Rivard and has two sons by a previous marriage.
, (Best Opera Recording category) for his performance on the Deutsche Grammophon recording of Handel's Semele, conducted by John Nelson. In 1986 he won First Prize in the International Verdi Competition in Busseto
, Italy, as well as being a Metropolitan Opera Finalist Winner that same year. In 1987 he received The National Institute for Music Theatre's George London Opera Prize.
in East Lansing, Michigan
. He left the post in 1997 to avoid conflicts with his performance schedule. Doss continues to give occasional vocal master classes and to work with apprentice artists engaged with professional opera companies.
Bass-baritone
A bass-baritone is a high-lying bass or low-lying "classical" baritone voice type which shares certain qualities with the true baritone voice. The term arose in the late 19th century to describe the particular type of voice required to sing three Wagnerian roles: the Dutchman in Der fliegende...
, specializing in opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
, concert and recital. He has performed major roles with many international opera companies, including Milan's La Scala
La Scala
La Scala , is a world renowned opera house in Milan, Italy. The theatre was inaugurated on 3 August 1778 and was originally known as the New Royal-Ducal Theatre at La Scala...
, Vienna State Opera
Vienna State Opera
The Vienna State Opera is an opera house – and opera company – with a history dating back to the mid-19th century. It is located in the centre of Vienna, Austria. It was originally called the Vienna Court Opera . In 1920, with the replacement of the Habsburg Monarchy by the First Austrian...
, Lyric Opera of Chicago
Lyric Opera of Chicago
Lyric Opera of Chicago is one of the leading opera companies in the United States. It was founded in Chicago in 1952, under the name 'Lyric Theatre of Chicago' by Carol Fox, Nicolà Rescigno and Lawrence Kelly, with a season that included Maria Callas's American debut in Norma...
, San Francisco Opera
San Francisco Opera
San Francisco Opera is an American opera company, based in San Francisco, California.It was founded in 1923 by Gaetano Merola and is the second largest opera company in North America...
, the Royal Opera House
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
Covent Garden, Deutsche Staatsoper Berlin, Brussels' La Monnaie
La Monnaie
Le Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie , or the Koninklijke Muntschouwburg is a theatre in Brussels, Belgium....
, Canadian Opera Company
Canadian Opera Company
The Canadian Opera Company is an opera company in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is the largest opera company in Canada and the third largest producer of opera in North America. The COC performs in its own opera house, the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.-History:For 40 years until...
, and Oper Frankfurt. He divides his time between Toronto, Ontario and Erie, Pennsylvania.
Early life and education
Mark S. Doss was born on July 2, 1957 in Cleveland, Ohio. He attended Cleveland's East Technical High SchoolEast Technical High School
East Technical High School or East Tech is a secondary school under the operation of the Cleveland Metropolitan School District in Cleveland, Ohio.-History:...
, where in addition to avid participation in varsity sports he took drama and chorus, and performed in a school production of Godspell
Godspell
Godspell is a musical by Stephen Schwartz and John-Michael Tebelak. It opened off Broadway on May 17, 1971, and has played in various touring companies and revivals many times since, including a 2011 revival now playing on Broadway...
. Following high school, and a summer work-study program dedicated to training in the performing arts, he pursued a lifelong ambition to become a Catholic priest, enrolling in the formation program (seminary) at Saint Joseph's College in Rensselaer, Indiana.
While at Saint Joseph's, Doss continued to take music courses and performed in recitals and musical theatre productions. After two years, he left the seminary and became a secular student at the college, graduating with a BA in music and sociology.
After graduating from Saint Joseph's, Doss entered the Master's Degree program at Indiana University's School of Music (1980–1983), studying voice with Walter Cassel and Nicola Rossi-Lemeni
Nicola Rossi-Lemeni
Nicola Rossi Lemeni, , was a basso opera singer of mixed Italian-Russian parentage.Rossi Lemeni was born in Istanbul, Turkey, the son of an Italian colonel and a Russian mother. In his prime he was one of the most respected bassos in Italy...
. Doss's first operatic performance was in the role of Khan Konchak in the Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
Musical Theatre's production of Borodin's Prince Igor
Prince Igor
Prince Igor is an opera in four acts with a prologue. It was composed by Alexander Borodin. The composer adapted the libretto from the East Slavic epic The Lay of Igor's Host, which recounts the campaign of Russian prince Igor Svyatoslavich against the invading Polovtsian tribes in 1185...
. He performed a total of six roles at Indiana University, including that of Mephistopheles in Faust
Faust (opera)
Faust is a drame lyrique in five acts by Charles Gounod to a French libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré from Carré's play Faust et Marguerite, in turn loosely based on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's Faust, Part 1...
, which he has reprised on several occasions throughout his professional career.
Career
Following an apprenticeship with the Santa Fe OperaSanta Fe Opera
The Santa Fe Opera is an American opera company, located north of Santa Fe in the U.S. state of New Mexico, headquartered on a former guest ranch of .-General history:...
in 1983, where he worked with Nico Castel, Thomas Stuart, Martin Katz
Martin Katz
Martin Katz is an American pianist, educator and conductor, primarily known for his work as an accompanist.Over his 30 years as a performer, Mr...
, and John Fiore
John Fiore
John Fiore may refer to:*John Fiore , American actor*John Fiore , American politician who succeeded Jim Stork...
, he then became an ensemble member of Chicago's Lyric Opera Center for American Artists
Lyric Opera of Chicago
Lyric Opera of Chicago is one of the leading opera companies in the United States. It was founded in Chicago in 1952, under the name 'Lyric Theatre of Chicago' by Carol Fox, Nicolà Rescigno and Lawrence Kelly, with a season that included Maria Callas's American debut in Norma...
. After a two-year stint in Chicago, Doss commenced his professional career in January 1986 as a member of the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
in New York City.
Since then, Doss has performed at many leading international opera companies, including Lyric Opera of Chicago
Lyric Opera of Chicago
Lyric Opera of Chicago is one of the leading opera companies in the United States. It was founded in Chicago in 1952, under the name 'Lyric Theatre of Chicago' by Carol Fox, Nicolà Rescigno and Lawrence Kelly, with a season that included Maria Callas's American debut in Norma...
, the Canadian Opera Company
Canadian Opera Company
The Canadian Opera Company is an opera company in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is the largest opera company in Canada and the third largest producer of opera in North America. The COC performs in its own opera house, the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.-History:For 40 years until...
, San Francisco Opera
San Francisco Opera
San Francisco Opera is an American opera company, based in San Francisco, California.It was founded in 1923 by Gaetano Merola and is the second largest opera company in North America...
, Brussels' Théâtre de la Monnaie, Deutsche Opera Berlin, Royal Opera House
Royal Opera House
The Royal Opera House is an opera house and major performing arts venue in Covent Garden, central London. The large building is often referred to as simply "Covent Garden", after a previous use of the site of the opera house's original construction in 1732. It is the home of The Royal Opera, The...
,a Covent Garden, Teatro La Fenice, Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Oper Frankfurt, New York City Opera
New York City Opera
The New York City Opera is an American opera company located in New York City.The company, called "the people's opera" by New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia, was founded in 1943 with the aim of making opera financially accessible to a wide audience, producing an innovative choice of repertory, and...
, Deutsche Staatsoper Berlin and Teatro alla Scala.
His roles have included the Title Role in Boito's Mefistofele
Mefistofele
Mefistofele is an opera in a prologue, four acts and an epilogue, the only completed opera by the Italian composer-librettist Arrigo Boito.-Composition history:...
, Escamillo in Carmen
Carmen
Carmen is a French opéra comique by Georges Bizet. The libretto is by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée, first published in 1845, itself possibly influenced by the narrative poem The Gypsies by Alexander Pushkin...
, Mephistopheles in Faust
Faust (opera)
Faust is a drame lyrique in five acts by Charles Gounod to a French libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré from Carré's play Faust et Marguerite, in turn loosely based on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's Faust, Part 1...
, Zaccaria in Nabucco
Nabucco
Nabucco is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Temistocle Solera, based on the Biblical story and the 1836 play by Auguste Anicet-Bourgeois and Francis Cornue...
, Leporello in Don Giovanni
Don Giovanni
Don Giovanni is an opera in two acts with music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and with an Italian libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte. It was premiered by the Prague Italian opera at the Teatro di Praga on October 29, 1787...
, Raimondo in Lucia di Lammermoor
Lucia di Lammermoor
Lucia di Lammermoor is a dramma tragico in three acts by Gaetano Donizetti. Salvadore Cammarano wrote the Italian language libretto loosely based upon Sir Walter Scott's historical novel The Bride of Lammermoor....
, the High Priest in Samson et Dalila, Jaroslav Prus in The Makropulos Case, Jochanaan in Salome, Amonasro in Aida, Mustafa in L’Italiana in Algeri, Thoas in Iphigénie en Tauride
Iphigénie en Tauride
Iphigénie en Tauride is an opera by Christoph Willibald Gluck in four acts. It was his fifth opera for the French stage. The libretto was written by Nicolas-François Guillard....
, Alidoro in La Cenerentola
La Cenerentola
La Cenerentola, ossia La bontà in trionfo is an operatic dramma giocoso in two acts by Gioachino Rossini. The libretto was written by Jacopo Ferretti, based on the fairy tale Cinderella...
(Cinderella), Argante in Rinaldo
Rinaldo
Rinaldo may refer to:*Rinaldo , an Italian opera by George Frideric Handel*Rinaldo , a cantata by Johannes Brahms*Rinaldo , a character in Torquato Tasso's Jerusalem Delivered...
, Scarpia in Tosca, among others. In the course of his career, Doss has performed with operatic artists such as Plácido Domingo
Plácido Domingo
Plácido Domingo KBE , born José Plácido Domingo Embil, is a Spanish tenor and conductor known for his versatile and strong voice, possessing a ringing and dramatic tone throughout its range...
, Renée Fleming
Renée Fleming
Renée Fleming is an American soprano specializing in opera and lieder. Fleming has a full lyric soprano voice.Fleming has performed coloratura, lyric, and lighter spinto soprano repertoires. She has sung roles in Italian, German, French, Czech, and Russian, aside from her native English. She also...
and Denyce Graves
Denyce Graves
Denyce Graves is an American mezzo-soprano opera singer.-Early life:Graves was born on March 7, 1964, to Charles Graves and Dorothy Graves-Kenner. She is the middle of three children and was raised by her mother on Galveston Street, S.W., in the Bellevue section of Washington...
.
Doss made his debut at Milan's La Scala
La Scala
La Scala , is a world renowned opera house in Milan, Italy. The theatre was inaugurated on 3 August 1778 and was originally known as the New Royal-Ducal Theatre at La Scala...
in 2004 in the role of Escamillo in Carmen
Carmen
Carmen is a French opéra comique by Georges Bizet. The libretto is by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée, first published in 1845, itself possibly influenced by the narrative poem The Gypsies by Alexander Pushkin...
. Since then, he has been a regular performer at La Scala, most recently in the role Amonasro in the opera's production of Verdi's Aida
Aida
Aida sometimes spelled Aïda, is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni, based on a scenario written by French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette...
on July 6, 2009. In 2009, Doss performed the roles of Mephistopheles in Gounod’s Faust with Opera Tampa
Opera Tampa
Opera Tampa is the resident opera company of the Straz Center for the Performing Arts .Now in its 15th season, Opera Tampa produces and presents grand opera...
, Amonasro in Verdi's Aida
Aida
Aida sometimes spelled Aïda, is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni, based on a scenario written by French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette...
at La Scala and in Tel Aviv (with La Scala on Tour), Jochanaan in Strauss' Salome
Salome (opera)
Salome is an opera in one act by Richard Strauss to a German libretto by the composer, based on Hedwig Lachmann’s German translation of the French play Salomé by Oscar Wilde. Strauss dedicated the opera to his friend Sir Edgar Speyer....
with the Deutsche Staatsoper Berlin, and Premysl in Sarka
Šárka
The story of Šárka is a character in the so-called "Maidens' War" in Bohemian tradition. It first appeared in the twelfth-century Chronica Boëmorum of Cosmas of Prague, and later in the fourteenth-century Dalimil's Chronicle....
with La Fenice
La Fenice
Teatro La Fenice is an opera house in Venice, Italy. It is one of the most famous theatres in Europe, the site of many famous operatic premieres. Its name reflects its role in permitting an opera company to "rise from the ashes" despite losing the use of two theatres...
in Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
.
His 2010 engagements included a tour of Italian opera houses (many being debuts) as Jochanaan in Salome with Florence's Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
Maggio Musicale Fiorentino is an annual opera festival which was founded in April 1933 by conductor Vittorio Gui with the aim of presenting contemporary and forgotten operas in visually dramatic productions. It was the first music festival in Italy. The first opera presented was Verdi's early...
, the Arena di Verona as Escamillo in Carmen
Carmen
Carmen is a French opéra comique by Georges Bizet. The libretto is by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy, based on the novella of the same title by Prosper Mérimée, first published in 1845, itself possibly influenced by the narrative poem The Gypsies by Alexander Pushkin...
, Balstrode in Peter Grimes
Peter Grimes
Peter Grimes is an opera by Benjamin Britten, with a libretto adapted by Montagu Slater from the Peter Grimes section of George Crabbe's poem The Borough...
with the Teatro Regio di Torino, Jochanaan at Bologna's Teatro Comunale
Teatro Comunale di Bologna
The Teatro Comunale di Bologna is an opera house in Bologna, Italy, and is one of the most important opera venues in Italy. Typically, it presents eight operas with six performances during its November to April season....
, and Escamillo at the Teatro Municipale di Salerno. Doss has also been contracted for a return performance with the Canadian Opera Company
Canadian Opera Company
The Canadian Opera Company is an opera company in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is the largest opera company in Canada and the third largest producer of opera in North America. The COC performs in its own opera house, the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.-History:For 40 years until...
in the fall of 2011.
When he is not touring, Doss divides his time between residences in Toronto, Canada and Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. He is married to Dawn Rivard and has two sons by a previous marriage.
Awards
Doss is the recipient of Planet Africa’s 2011 Entertainment Award for his many achievements as a positive role model for youths.. In 1993, Doss received a Grammy AwardGrammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
, (Best Opera Recording category) for his performance on the Deutsche Grammophon recording of Handel's Semele, conducted by John Nelson. In 1986 he won First Prize in the International Verdi Competition in Busseto
Busseto
Busseto is a comune in the province of Parma, in Emilia-Romagna in Northern Italy. It was the capital of Stato Pallavicino. Opera composer Giuseppe Verdi was born in the nearby village of Le Roncole and he moved there in 1824...
, Italy, as well as being a Metropolitan Opera Finalist Winner that same year. In 1987 he received The National Institute for Music Theatre's George London Opera Prize.
Teaching
Between 1995 and 1997, Doss held the position of Associate Professor of Voice at Michigan State UniversityMichigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
in East Lansing, Michigan
East Lansing, Michigan
East Lansing is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city is located directly east of Lansing, Michigan, the state's capital. Most of the city is within Ingham County, though a small portion lies in Clinton County. The population was 48,579 at the time of the 2010 census, an increase from...
. He left the post in 1997 to avoid conflicts with his performance schedule. Doss continues to give occasional vocal master classes and to work with apprentice artists engaged with professional opera companies.
DVDs
- Aida (2004, Opus Arte) with La Monnaie (Brussels) http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=OA0954D
- Salome (2007, Rai Trade) with Teatro alla Scala
Recordings
- Bel Canto Arias, Kathleen Battle (1993, Deutsche Grammophon) http://www.amazon.com/Kathleen-Battle-Bel-Canto-Arias/dp/B000001GH1
- Semele (1993, Deutsche Grammophon) with Kathleen BattleKathleen BattleKathleen Battle , is an African-American operatic soprano known for her agile and light voice and her silvery, pure tone. Battle initially became known for her work within the concert repertoire through performances with major orchestras during the early and mid 1970s. She made her opera debut in...
as Semele, conducted by John Nelson http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?pid=1057319&style=classical - Amistad (1998, New World Records), with Lyric Opera of Chicago
- Florencia en el Amazonas (2001, Albany Records), with Houston Grand Opera, conducted by Patrick Summers http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/5517732/a/Florencia+In+The+Amazon.htm
- Mefistofele (2004, hr-musik.de), with Oper Frankfurt http://www.amazon.co.uk/Boito-Mefistofele-Chor-Oper-Frankfurt/dp/B000HT1WQ0
Televised productions
- Eugene Onegin (1985 VC #0981) with Lyric Opera of Chicago
- X: The Life and Times (1986 PBS /NET, Guggenheim Museum)
- Rasputin (1988, PBS /NET, Guggenheim Museum)
- Rigoletto ("Live from Lincoln Center", Air Date: 21 September 1988—Season 13, Episode 4) with New York City Opera
- The Magic Flute ("Live from Lincoln Center", Air Date: 14 October 1987—Season 12, Episode 5) with New York City Opera
- Torino (2000, Radiotelevisione Italiana—RAIDUE) with Teatro Regio Torino