Branch Fields

Branch Fields, whom Opera America describes as "a bass of resonant richness," and The New York Times declared to be "a gifted young bass," is delighting audiences and critics alike with his glorious instrument and leading man looks in opera, concert and musical theater. He has sung with Santa Fe Opera, New York City Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, Opera Carolina, Michigan Opera Theatre, Utah Opera, Opera San Jose, and many other regional opera companies throughout the U.S. In concert, Branch has performed with the Munich Philharmonic, National Symphony Orchestra, Santa Fe Symphony, Colorado Springs Philharmonic, and the American Symphony Orchestra.

Branch’s versatility as a singing actor led to his Broadway debut in SOUTH PACIFIC, understudying the role of Emile de Becque in this Lincoln Center Theater production, sharing the stage with Matthew Morrison, Kelli O’Hara and Skipp Sudduth. This monumental 2008 revival won 7 Tony Awards. Mr. Fields has since reprised Emile for Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theater (UFOMT) and the historic Ogunquit Playhouse, earning stellar reviews.

Mr. Fields spent 2012 singing his first Méphistophélès in FAUST at Opera San Jose, Palémon in THAÏS at Opera Company of Middlebury, Simone in GIANNI SCHICCHI on Martha’s Vineyard and debuting at Bard Music Festival as Thomas Cranmer in a concert version of Saint-Saëns HENRY VIII. Upcoming performances include his first Don Alfonso in COSÍ FAN TUTTE in Bozeman in October, Father/Joseph in Tim Janis' THE CHRISTMAS ROSE at Carnegie Hall in late November, Sarastro in DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE at Opera on the James in March,and a reprise of Méphistophélès for Opera Fort Collins in late May.
Branch was busy in 2011, performing Pistola in FALSTAFF with Utah Opera, Varlaam in BORIS GODUNOV with UFOMT, Don Basilio in IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA with Opera on the James, and Colline in LA BOHÈME with DiCapo Opera Theater. Other recent performances include Raimondo in LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR, Alidoro in CENERENTOLA, Marco in A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE, the Commendatore in DON GIOVANNI, Samuel in PIRATES OF PENZANCE, and Hosie “Roach” McClendon in COLD SASSY TREE. He has performed Un Moine in DON CARLO, The Foreman in Tod Machover's RESURRECTION, and Gremin in EVGENY ONEGIN.
The New York City Opera played a vital role in Mr. Fields’ development as an artist. He debuted there in 2005 as the 5th servant in CAPRICCIO, and remained on their roster for the next 5 seasons. As a house bass, he sang Zuniga in CARMEN, Angelotti in TOSCA, Major Domo in VANESSA, and Gravedigger in ESTHER. Branch covered roles in productions of IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA, LA BOHÈME, TURANDOT, MADAME BUTTERFLY, CAPRICCIO, ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA and LYSISTRATA.
“Fields sang with such warmth, passion and tenderness, that it was perfectly clear how Pocahontas could have fallen in love with him; every woman in the packed house was swooning.” M.D. Ridge, Portfolio Weekly
Several contemporary opera composers have adapted romantic lead roles for Branch’s bass voice. He workshopped and performed Joe Coogan in the jazzy opera THE LIFE AND LOVE OF JOE COOGAN, composed by Paul Salerni, based on the episode of Carl Reinert’s 1950‘s television series, The Dick Van Dyke Show. Mr. Fields was the jealous husband Frederick Goldentrill in a new version of Mozart’s THE IMPRESARIO by playwright David Richmond and Wendy Taucher at YardArts! on Martha’s Vineyard. The role of the love struck romantic parrot Sam in ANIMAL TALES, workshopped and performed through Family Opera Initiative in several venues, was written to showcase Branch’s bass coloratura. And he recently toured in Minnesota with Duluth Festival Opera in the new musical drama POCAHONTAS, playing Pocahontas’ husband John Rolfe. Commissioned by the Virginia Arts Festival and Virginia Opera, with music by Linda Tutas Haugen and book by Joan Vail Thorne, Mr. Fields created this role when it premiered in 2007 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown.
Mr. Fields is a Virginian, from Williamsburg. His prodigious talent for singing was discovered at Virginia Tech while doing undergraduate work in chemistry. He was persuaded to do a Master of Music degree at Indiana University School of Music, where he was soon awarded the Cole and Kate Porter Memorial Scholarship and made quick progress studying voice with the great Metropolitan Opera bass, Giorgio Tozzi. He was a member of The Singing Hoosiers, through which he garnered the attention of the late Maestro Erich Kunzel during their concerts and recordings with the Cincinnati Pops. He can be heard on the Cincinnati Pop’s album Puttin’ On the Ritz (TELARC). Branch was later granted a coveted spot at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, a full scholarship institution, where he studied with Met baritone Louis Quilico, and participated in summer opera programs in Chiari, Lucca, and Rome, Italy. In New York City, he was placed in the studio of bass specialist Armen Boyajian, voice teacher of Samuel Ramey and Paul Plishka, during which time Branch won 1st prize in the Saritelli-DiPanni Bel Canto Competition, 2nd in the NJAPA Vocal Competition, and was a prize winner in the Liederkranz Foundation Competition.