Robert Wagner (13)

American Classical Singer (Baritone, Tenor) and Jazz Contrabass Player Robert Wagner, a native of New Orleans, began his Musical training at the early age of 5 years playing guitar and shortly after began singing as a boy soprano in St. Dominic's Concert Choir. After completing high school numerous scholarships were offered from many Universities and Conservatories throughout the United States, but he chose to stay in New Orleans and to attend Loyola University, where he studied Jazz Studies on the Contra Bass, and Classical Voice, playing and singing in virtually every ensemble and orchestra available. His Jazz training allowed him to study and perform with some of the more formidable Jazz musicians of today, including Ellis Marsalis and Billy Higgins. He was awarded the Louisiana Federation of Music Clubs' "Outstanding Music Major for the State of Louisiana" as a Sophomore at Loyola, as well as many other singing awards and honors ranging from The Loyola University's Opera Workshop Award (twice) and 3rd and 1st place at NATS competitions. Mr. Wagner then made his professional debut with The New Orleans Opera Company during his studies at Loyola, singing supporting roles as a baritone for the next three seasons with such artists as Renato Capecchi, June Anderson, Diana Soviero, Teresa Zylis-Gara, Carlo Bergonzi, Christina Deutekom, Johanna Meier, Victor Braun and Siegfred Jerusalem. He was then awarded full scholarships to The Curtis Institute of Music and to the Juilliard School in New York. He chose Curtis in Philadelphia and continued his opera studies under the direction of Boris Goldovsky and his proteges, making other important debuts with The Opera Company of Philadelphia, The Pennsylvania Opera Theater and The Harrisburg Opera Company. After receiving his Masters Degree, his voice began to move into the tenor range and at the advice of Anna Moffo and other important teachers, he began to retrain his voice. During this time, he was invited to sing for Pope John Paul II, at the Vatican in Rome, and was given the opportunity to study with Mstro. Carlo Bergonzi, who confirmed his voice change to tenor. Returning to the U.S., he attended The Academy of Vocal Arts before moving to New York City, where he began to study with two renown tenors at the Metropolitan Opera. During this time, he also appeared in various Musical and Theater Productions Off-Broadway. He then made his New York Oratorio debut with The New York Choral Arts Society and was also invited to sing for the Kennedy family. After this, he appeared along with New York Metropolitan Opera artists in an all Verdi Concert at The International Verdi Festival in Busseto, Italy. He also made his debut in Tosca with The New Jersey State Opera before moving to Europe to live, study and perform. Mr. Wagner now lives in Vienna, where has appeared with the Vienna State Opera, the Volksoper, the Neuer Oper Wien and other venues in Europe. In November, 2003, he made his Paris debut at the Opera Bastille in Die Meistersinger. He is to be seen regularly on tour with Europe's most successful and longest running Broadway Musical Highlights show entitled, "The Night of the Musicals" (Die Nacht der Musicals), which tours throughout Germany, Switzerland and Austria. Since living in Vienna, Mr. Wagner has regularly appeared with the Seefestspiele in Moerbisch. Johanna Doderer chose him for her opera Strom in which he sang the title role of Bote. He is on the recording of the new opera Hamlet on the Vienna Modern Masters/Naxos label and his solo CD entitled "Love Beyond Death" for the same label has come out on the market in November, 2012. In August, 2013 he also sang the title role of Edgar Aubry in Marschner's opera Der Vampyr with the Donau Philharmonie.