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Interview “Opera Now” with Mark S. Doss

October 2023

https://www.gramophone.co.uk/opera-now/features/article/one-of-the-judges-said-i-should-make-up-my-mind-or-i-d-never-have-a-career-mark-s-doss-interview?fbclid=IwAR2SnspRz9JFmgd3bvdyBGuMaPinJed9_5uE-aOt8nI5D-61zMXI2SKNxVQ

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LA TRAVIATA at the Welsh National Opera

On September 21, 2023, Mark S. Doss will sing the role of Giorgio Germont in La traviata, at the Wales Millennium Centre Cardiff for the Welsh National Opera. Alexander Joel leads the David McVicar production. There will be a total of fifteen performances through November 25, touring towns such as Llandudno, Bristol, Plymouth, Birmingham, Milton Keynes, and Southampton.
The American Canadian bass-baritone, who has already sung the role of Germont in Hyogo, Japan, is a familiar name to the audiences of the Welsh National Opera, having already been greeted as Scarpia in Tosca and in the title role of Rigoletto, receiving rave reviews on both occasions.

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New album out on Cedille label

On July 14 Cedille Records releases Mark S. Doss’s latest CD entitled “Welcome To My World”. Accompanied by pianist Ken Smith, the American bass-baritone sings twenty-one selections including operatic arias, lieder, Neapolitan songs, excerpts from musicals, and spirituals, ranging from Handel to living composers.
You may purchase the CD digitally or physically by clicking on the image of the CD cover here below. On that link, you’ll also find more information and the complete list of the pieces.

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Beethoven’s 9th at St. Mark’s Square Venice

On July 8, Mark S. Doss sings the bass soloist part in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 at the St. Mark’s Square in Venice, as part of the season of the Teatro La Fenice.

The huge open air event will be live telecast on RAI5 and live broadcast on RAI Radio 3.

Juraj Valčuha leads the Orchestra e Coro del Teatro La Fenice and a cast that also includes soprano Federica Lombardi, mezzo-soprano Veronica Simeoni and tenor Michael Schade. 

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Leoš Janáček’s FROM THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD at the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma

On May 23, Mark S. Doss will make his role debut as Alexandr Petrovič Gorjančikov, the main character in Leoš Janáček’s “Z mrtvého domu” (From the House of the Dead), at the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, where he first bowed as Cadmus in Henze’s The Bassarids in 2015. Dmitry Matvienko leads the new production by Krzysztof Warlikowski. Other performances will be on May 25, 27, 28

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HERE I STAND: PAUL ROBESON’S 125TH BIRTHDAY

On April 1, Mark S. Doss will make his Lincoln Center debut at David Geffen Hall in “Here I Stand”, a homage to the art of legendary bass-baritone, actor, sportsman, and political activist Paul Robeson, on the 125th anniversary of his birth, an event hosted by multidisciplinary artist Helga Davis. Accompanied by a selection of orchestra members from the New York Philharmonic, he will sing arias and songs associated with Paul Robeson.

Mark S Doss at the “Here i stand concert”
Mark S Doss at the “Here i stand concert”
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THE TIME OF OUR SINGING AT THE THEATER ST GALLEN

From March 11 to April 23 at the Theater St Gallen, Mark S. Doss will take part in The Time of Our Singing as William Daley, the role he created at the 2021 premiere in Brussels of Kris Defoorts’s powerful contemporary opera depicting the life of a mixed-race family that is both united and divided by music, against the backdrop of segregation in the post-war United States. The production by Ted Huffmann, led by Kwamé Ryan, also includes in the cast Claron McFadden as Delia Daley, Kristján Jóhannesson as David Strom, Joshua Stewart as Jonah, Markel Reed as Joey, Naomi Simmonds as Ruth, and Jennifer Panara as Lisette Soer.

Photo taken by Edyta Dufaj
Photo taken by Edyta Dufaj
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Grammy Winner Mark S. Doss performs solo recital at New York’s Baruch Performing Arts Center, May 16th

New York, New York – April 17, 2018  Q: Who is Mark Steven Doss? Is he… John the Baptist or Méphistophélès? Performing spirituals or Baroque Oratorio? From West Point or the seminary? Preaching from a pulpit or inspiring audiences from the stages of the world’s most prestigious opera houses? The right voice or the wrong voice? The right ethnic background or the wrong one?

Embodying these dualities during his lifetime, Mr. Doss has successfully woven the contrasts together into a celebrated operatic career spanning three decades. Performing nearly 100 stage roles to date with 60-plus major opera companies worldwide, his talents have taken the North American bass baritone from New York City Opera and Chicago Lyric to La Scala and London’s Covent Garden. Now local audiences will have the opportunity to hear the international opera star’s powerful voice in a special series of performances.

Grammy Award winner, former Metropolitan Opera Finalist Winner, 1st Prize Winner of the International Verdi Competition and recipient of the National Institute for Music Theatre’s George London Opera Prize, opera star Mark S. Doss returns to New York City to perform a solo recital at the Baruch Performing Arts Center on May 16, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. Mr. Doss will be joined for the performance by Russian pianist, Artist of the Moscow Philharmonic Society, and winner of the 2016 New York Concert Artists Worldwide Debut Audition, Vyacheslav Gryaznov. Both are artists-in-residence at The Drozdoff Society.

“Mr. Doss found a compelling ministry when he answered the call to sing; I have not often found such a perfect marriage of voice, bearing, acting of the highest order, intelligence, humility, musicianship, integrity, and generosity of spirit in one performer,” said Natasha Cherny, Founder of The Drozdoff Society.

Part of The Drozdoff Society’s Impromptu! Classical Music Recital Series, Mr. Doss’ program will include both classical and contemporary repertoire, encompassing five languages and genres and several musical epochs. The New York performance is in the first leg of Mr. Doss’ four-state solo recital series with the society from May 13th through to 22nd, with engagements in New Haven, CT, Stamford, CT, Baltimore, MD, and Red Bank, NJ (additional details are provided below).

Recent acclaim for Scarpia performance in Tosca

Celebrated by critics and audiences for his signature performances as Méphistophélès in Faust, Amonasro in Aida, and the title roles in Verdi’s Macbeth and The Flying Dutchman, Mr. Doss has received universal praise for his recent portrayal as the villainous Baron Scarpia in Puccini’s Tosca with the Welsh National Opera (WNO) this past winter-spring. Of note:

“As for Scarpia, American Mark S Doss was quite brilliant in the role – which is undoubtedly one of the greatest in opera. A strong punchy baritone, he chewed up the stage with an elegant but menacing flamboyance – at times fastidious, at times revelling in his forthcoming conquest – not to mention a suitably louche silk morning coat. He was overall the best Scarpia I have seen performed live, mixing beauty with brutality.”

– Will Frampton, Bournemouth Daily Echo, Friday, March 23, 2018

“Mark S Doss, however, is spot-on as Scarpia, avarice and evil wrapped up in swagger, menace and dangerous charm.”
– Rebecca Franks, The Times of London, February 13, 2018

“Mark S Doss’s Scarpia achieves more by means of a dark solid core to his tone and a manner that combines some of the suavity and sadism required for this iconic operatic villain.”
– George Hall, The Stage, February 13, 2018

Media and industry recognition

In recent years, Mr. Doss’ performances and storied career have earned him significant media attention. TV appearances include ABC, NBC, FOX, KPBS, CBC Television, CBC News Toronto, Rogers, and OMNI, as well as an array of print and radio interviews (The Chicago Sun-Times, The National Post, The Toronto Star, NPR-KUSC Los Angeles, WUSF Tampa, and Radio Canada International, amongst others).

Mr. Doss is also a recipient of the prestigious Entertainment Award from Planet Africa, recognizing his achievements both as an artist and for being a positive role model for youth, both in Canada and the United States. Appreciative of his tremendous success, Mr. Doss always finds time to share with the communities in which he lives and works, presenting master classes and teaching apprentice artists. He also donates his time and talents to fundraising concerts for churches and opera companies.

Recital dates, locations

Mr. Doss performs at the Baruch Performing Arts Center on May 16, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. ET, in the Rosalyn and Irwin Engelman Recital Hall, 55 Lexington Avenue, New York City. Tickets are available at the box office, online or by calling 212-352-3101.

Other scheduled performances in Mr. Doss’ four-state solo recital series with The Drozdoff Society (May 13-22, 2018) include:

• First Presbyterian (“Fish”) Church of Stamford and PROJECT MUSIC in Stamford, Connecticut (May 13 and May 22);
• Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s OrchKids in Baltimore, Maryland (May 14 and 15);
• Lyric Hall Theater and the Truman School in New Haven, Connecticut (May 17 and 21); and
• Classical Music at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Red Bank, New Jersey (May 19, 2018).

Please call 347-224-7577 for information about the announced recitals.

You can connect with Mark S. Doss through his Facebook fan page (http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Mark-S-Doss/78423203990), watch his YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/marksdoss) and follow him @marksdoss on Twitter (http://twitter.com/marksdoss).

ABOUT MARK S. DOSS:
Mark S. Doss (www.box2107.temp.domains/~marksdos) is a celebrated bass-baritone whose accomplishments include a Grammy Award for his work on the recording of Semele (Handel), and numerous engagements with the famous Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Italy. Mr. Doss began his musical studies to aid in his ambitions to become a Catholic priest, but instead found opera to be his true calling. He has since emerged as one of the opera world’s leading singers, performing nearly 100 stage roles to date with more than 60 major opera companies around the globe.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND INTERVIEW REQUESTS:

Adam Bello
Publicity office for Mark S. Doss
+ 1 (416) 489-0092
media@box2107.temp.domains/~marksdos
www.box2107.temp.domains/~marksdos

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE DROZDOFF SOCIETY

Natasha O. Cherny
Founder, Co-President
The Drozdoff Society
+1 (347) 224-7577
natasha@vladimirdrozdoff.com
www.vladimirdrozdoff.com