Bass-baritone ADAM CIOFFARI (Count Ceprano) returned to the Komische Oper Berlin in the 2011/12 season for his final year in the Opera Studio. He sang Morales in Carmen and the Brother in Weill’s Seven Deadly Sins, both new productions, as well as the Nightwatchman in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Hermann and Schlemil in Les contes d’Hoffmann, and Erste Nazarene in Salome following performances of the Second Soldier in the premiere of a new production. He also sang Kaspar in Der Freischütz in student performances at Deutsche Oper Berlin. His future engagements include Papageno in Die Zauberflöte and the Novice’s Friend in Billy Budd at the Teatro Municipal de Santiago. Previously at the Komische Oper Berlin, he also sang Plutus in Pique Dame, Marquis D’Obigny in La traviata, Count Ceprano in Rigoletto, and the Herald in The Love for Three Oranges. Also last season, he sang Kaspar in Der Freischütz at the Heimathafen Neukölln and de Suze in Maria di Rohan with the Berlin Opera Group.

Cioffari recently completed a two-season tenure in the Houston Grand Opera studio. While there, he created the role of Stanley in the world premiere of André Previn’s Brief Encounter, a recording of which has been released on the Deutsche Grammophon label. Other performances with the company include Elviro in Xerxes, both Angelotti and the Jailer in Tosca, Snug in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and previous performances of Count Ceprano in Rigoletto. He also offered recital performances of Brahms’ Vier ernste Gesänge with pianist Kathy Kelly.

Other recent performances include Leporello in Don Giovanni with the Music Academy of the West, Masetto in the same opera with San Francisco Opera’s Merola Opera Program, and Colline in La bohème with Aspen Opera Theater. He was a finalist in HGO’s 2008 Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers. He holds bachelor and master of music degrees, both in voice performance, from Indiana University, from which his credits include Monterone in Rigoletto and Dr. Miracle and Coppelius in Les contes d’Hoffmann.