|
The American baritone, Robert Honeysucker, earned his Bachelor of Music degreefrom Tougaloo College and his Master of Music degree from Miami University. He has completed additional studies at Boston University and trained vocally with Donna Roll, Mary Davenport, Barbara Stevenson, Mac Morgan, Thomas Holt, George Barron and Areil Lovelace.
Robert Honeysucker is recognized internationally for his brilliant opera, concert and recital performances. His voice has inspired critical acclaim: "...powerful, passionate and plaintive....a voice that possesses great richness and warmth." Honored as 1995 “Musician of the Year" by The Boston Globe critic Richard Dyer, Honeysucker has also been a winner of the National Opera Association Artists Competition and a recipient of the New England Opera Club Jacopo Peri Award.
Robert Honeysucker's opera performances have included the roles of Don Giovanni, Amonasro, Escamilio, Ezio, Figaro, Germont, Miller, Iago, Renato, Rigoletto, Sharpless, and Porgy. He has appeared with such companies as Boston Lyric Opera, Connecticut Opera, Delaware Opera, Eugene Opera, Fort Worth Opera, Opera Boston, Opera Company of Boston, Sacramento Opera, Tulsa Opera, and Utah Opera. Overseas, he has performed in Auckland, New Zealand; in Berlin, Germany; and in the world premiere of Icarus, by Paul Earls, at Brucknerfest in Linz, Austria. Additionally, he has appeared in opera concerts in the Persian Gulf directed by Cesare Alfieri (assistant conductor at La Scala, Milan), as well as numerous concerts in Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
Robert Honeysucker has appeared as soloist in: Elijah with Handel and Haydn Society, directed by Christopher Hogwood; world premiere of Howard Frazin’s The Voice of Isaac with PALS Children’s Chorus (Boston, MA); Missa Solemnis with the Northwest Bach Festival Orchestra (Spokane, WA), directed by Gunther Schuller; Charles Ives' General William Booth Enters into Heaven, with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, directed by Michael Tilson Thomas at Great Woods Performing Arts Center; Aaron Copland's Old American Songs with Flagstaff Symphony Orchestra, Harold Weller, conductor; Carmina Burana with Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of David Wiley, and with Omaha Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Bruce Hangen; and Hodie (Ralph Vaughan Williams) with the Utah Symphony Orchestra and Mormon Tabernacle Choir, directed by Keith Lockhart, which was televised on PBS. He has also performed with Detroit Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Raymond Harvey, Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, Long Island Philharmonic, Portland (ME) Symphony Orchestra (Maine), and Sacramento Symphony Orchestra. Engagements in Japan have featured him as soloist with Sapporo Symphony, Osaka Philharmonic, and Tokyo Philharmonic in L.v. Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony; soloist with the Tokyo Symphony in George Frideric Handel's Messiah; The Telemann Chamber Orchestra in Osaka in J.S. Bach's Christmas Oratorio (BWV 248), with Jeffrey Rink, conductor; and the Kansai Chamber Orchestra in Kobe and Kyoto in performance of G.F. Handel’s Messiah and Bach cantatas
Robert Honeysucker has enjoyed many performances with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, including an appearance as soloist in L.v. Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, in celebration of Seiji Ozawa’s 25th season as Music Director. He has most recently appeared as Second Prisoner, in L.v. Beethoven’s Fidelio, conducted by James Levine. He was the baritone soloist in All Rise (Winton Marsalis), conducted by Kurt Masur at Symphony Hall, with a repeat performance at Tanglewood, and has sung Copland’s Old American Songs, conducted by Marin Alsop. Among his many appearances with the Boston Pops Orchestra, he has sung at the Fourth of July concerts on the Esplanade, conducted by John Williams, and Keith Lockhart. He has also performed under the directions of Harry Ellis Dickson and Grant Llewellyn.
Robert Honeysucker is a member of Videmus, as well as member and co-founder of the Jubilee Trio, which presents American art songs, including those of under-performed African American composers.
Discography includes performances on five Videmus discs: "Music of William Grant Still" (New World), "Watch and Pray" (Koch International), "More Still" (Cambria), Highway 1, USA (Wm. Grant Still), (Albany Records), and “Good News” (Videmus Records). “Let’s Have a Union,” with The Jubilee Trio, has recently been released by Brave Records. Robert Honeysucker is also featured on the Centaur, Ongaku and Titanic labels.
Robert Honeysucker is a member of the voice faculties at The Boston Conservatory, New England Conservatory Extension and The Longy School of Music. |
