Branch Fields, whom Opera America describes as "a bass of resonant richness," and The New York Times declared to be "a gifted young bass," recently was chosen to understudy the role of Emile de Becque SOUTH PACIFIC at the Lincoln Center Theater, a Bartlett Sher directed production which has won seven Tony Awards. His versatility as a singing actor allowed him to join the ensemble while understudying Emile de Becque, a first for this Broadway production. Mr. Fields was busy in 2007-2008, his third season performing with the New York City Opera, singing the roles of Angelotti TOSCA, Major Domo VANESSA and Zuniga CARMEN. In addition to his duties at New York City Opera, last season also included performances at Asheville Lyric Opera and Opera Company of North Carolina as Raimondo LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR and at Opera on the James as Colline LA BOHÈME. An audience favorite, all of these regional companies invited Mr. Fields back for return engagements, slating him to sing the roles of Sparafucile RIGOLETTO, Alidoro LA CENERENTOLA and Commendatore DON GIOVANNI, respectively, in 2009.
Branch Fields, whom Opera America describes as "a bass of resonant richness," and The New York Times declared to be "a gifted young bass," recently was chosen to understudy the role of Emile de Becque SOUTH PACIFIC at the Lincoln Center Theater, a Bartlett Sher directed production which has won seven Tony Awards. His versatility as a singing actor allowed him to join the ensemble while understudying Emile de Becque, a first for this Broadway production. Mr. Fields was busy in 2007-2008, his third season performing with the New York City Opera, singing the roles of Angelotti TOSCA, Major Domo VANESSA and Zuniga CARMEN. In addition to his duties at New York City Opera, last season also included performances at Asheville Lyric Opera and Opera Company of North Carolina as Raimondo LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR and at Opera on the James as Colline LA BOHÈME. An audience favorite, all of these regional companies invited Mr. Fields back for return engagements, slating him to sing the roles of Sparafucile RIGOLETTO, Alidoro LA CENERENTOLA and Commendatore DON GIOVANNI, respectively, in 2009.
Mr. Fields joined the New York City Opera roster in 2005/06, covering Don Basilio IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA and Timur TURANDOT as well as roles in LYSISTRATA and CAPRICCIO. The following season marked Mr. Fields' mainstage debut as Zuniga CARMEN, a role he has since reprised both at New York City Opera and Princeton Festival. He was pleased to return to City Opera for their 2009-2010 season as the Gravedigger in Weisgall's dynamic opera ESTHER.
In 2007, Mr. Fields created the role of John Rolfe in the world-premiere of POCAHONTAS, commissioned by the Virginia Arts Festival and Virginia Opera in celebration of the 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown. Of this performance, a critic wrote, "[Mr. Fields] brought a big, clear, gorgeous bass to the role... with such warmth, passion and tenderness" (Portfolio Weekly).
Mr. Fields has portrayed Samuel PIRATES OF PENZANCE for Santa Fe Opera, Monterone RIGOLETTO for Piedmont Opera Theatre, Hosie McClendon COLD SASSY TREE for Opera Carolina and Colline LA BOHÈME for Greensboro Opera. At Boston Lyric Opera he appeared as Un Moine DON CARLO, the Foreman in Tod Machover RESURRECTION and Colline LA BOHÈME. Mr. Fields has sung Caronte L'ORFEO, Don Basilio IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA, Alidoro CENERENTOLA and Sparafucile RIGOLETTO at Opera Roanoke. He was Simone GIANNI SCHICCHI under the baton of Ransom Wilson at the OK Mozart Festival. He has sung Figaro LE NOZZE DI FIGARO, King of Clubs THE LOVE FOR THREE ORANGES, Sarastro DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE, and Ferrando IL TROVATORE. As an apprentice artist with the Santa Fe Opera in 2002 and 2003, he performed the roles of The Captain EUGENE ONEGIN, Kuligin KATYA KABANOVA and one of the Accusers in Bright Sheng MADAME MAO.
Following his apprenticeships at Santa Fe Opera, he was guest soloist with the Santa Fe Symphony and Chorus in Brahms Ein deutches Requiem and Handel Messiah, and for Christmas concerts with the Santa Fe Opera. He sang with the Colorado Springs Philharmonic in Mozart Requiem and Verdi Requiem, and with the National Symphony Orchestra under Leonard Slatkin in the role of Fifth Jew in a concert version of SALOME starring Deborah Voigt. Other concert performances include two solo recitals for Art Song of Williamsburg (VA), Rossini Petite Messe Solennelle with the Williamsburg Choral Guild and Christmas Concerts with the Williamsburg Symphonia. His oratorio appearances include Bach Mass In B Minor and Christmas Oratorio, Haydn Lord Nelson Mass, Mendelssohn Elijah, and Stravinsky Pulcinella.
After completing an undergraduate degree at Virginia Tech, Branch won the Cole and Kate Porter Memorial Scholarship to attend music school at Indiana University where he studied with Giorgio Tozzi. Upon graduation with a Master's degree, he was granted a coveted spot at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, a full scholarship institution. He received grants to summer opera programs in Italy in Chiari, Lucca and Rome. In Rome, he served as an artist/faculty member for the Opera Festival di Roma, singing Don Basilio IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA, which received the 2001 National Opera Association Award. Mr. Fields was the 1999 winner of the Anna Maria Saritelli-DiPanni Bel Canto Competition, second place in the NJAPA Vocal Competition (2000) and tied for fourth place in the Liederkranz Foundation Competition (2000).
The 2010-2011 season promises to be quite busy for Mr. Fields, as he is scheduled to reprise several roles including Colline LA BOHÈME with Dicapo Opera Theatre, Basilio THE BARBER OF SEVILLE with Opera on the James and Emile de Becque SOUTH PACIFIC with the Utah Festival Opera. The upcoming season will also see Mr. Fields debuting the role of Varlaam BORIS GODUNOV on the stage of Utah Festival Opera and making an international debut with the Munich Philharmonic in a concert version of CANDIDE.
