Rafael Porto

Brazilian bass-baritone Rafael Porto recently performed the role of Guard in David Lang’s world premiere of prisoner of the state with the New York Philharmonic led by Jaap van Zweden and Putnam in Jake Heggie’s world premiere of If I Were You conducted by Nicole Paiement with San Francisco Opera’s Merola Opera Program. During the 2021-22 season, Mr. Porto will reprise the role of Leporello in Don Giovanni led by Patrick Summers at Aspen Music Festival; sings Dancaïre in Carmen with Opera San José under the baton of Joseph Marcheso; and performs with Amarillo Opera on their spring Gala. Recent roles include Alisdoro (La Cenerentola), Leporello (Don Giovanni), Belcore (L'elisir d'amore), Sacristan, Jailer (Tosca), Bonze, Commissioner (Madama Butterfly), Luther, Crespel (Les contes d’Hoffmann), Don Basilio, Bartolo (Il barbiere di Siviglia), Bartolo (Le Nozze di Figaro), Capitán (Florencia en el Amazonas), Dr. Grenvil (La Traviata), and Billy Jackrabbit, José Castro (La Fanciulla del West) with Florida Grand Opera, Nashville Opera, Indianapolis Opera, Northern Lights Music Festival, and Philharmonia Orchestra of New York. In concert, he has appeared with orchestras in the works of Bach, Haydn, Mozart, Mendelssohn, and Vaughan Williams. Mr. Porto has worked under the baton of Raymond Leppard, Alberto Zedda, Ramón Tebar, Joseph Rescigno, Timothy Myers, among others. He participated as a Young Artist at The Glimmerglass Festival; Apprentice Artist at the Merola Opera Program; Young Artist at La Musica Lirica; and a Studio Artist at Florida Grand Opera. Mr. Porto received his education from the prestigious Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University and Butler University in Indianapolis.