BIO
American Baritone Matthew Gamble is firmly establishing himself as an artist of rare versatility. Already, in the onset of his career, he has performed with some of the most important artists of our time.
Noted for his flexible technique, he has been able to cross genres that have garnered success from both audience and critics alike. Matthew made his anticipated Musical Theatre debut at the THÉÂTRE du CHÂTELET (Paris), performing as Private Augenti in Sondheim's PASSION, alongside leading soprano Natalie Dessay as Fosca, directed by celebrated French actress, Fanny Ardant. He has most recently concluded a fruitful collaboration with the BILL T JONES / ARNIE ZANE DANCE COMPANY (2014-2019), as Principal Soloist, in the world premieres of A Letter to my Nephew/Lance and Analogy/Lance aka Pretty the Escape Artist with consistent performances throughout Asia, Europe, and North America including debuts with the KENNEDY CENTER, SPOLETO FESTIVAL, BAM's Next Wave Festival, RAVENNA FESTIVAL, MAISON DES ARTS CRETEIL (France), MICHIGAN OPERA THEATRE, and both the MACAU and SIINGAPORE Festival of Arts. For the remainder of the 2018-2019 season Matthew revisited the role of Leporello DON GIOVANNI where Opera News acclaimed his portrayal as a "street smart procurer who seemed closer to a proactively thinking Figaro than the usually put-upon servant" for CHAMBER MUSIC NORTHWEST, as a co-production with HEARTBEAT OPERA (NYC). Finally, Matthew, debuted with the PROTOTYPE FESTIVAL (NYC) in the highly anticipated world premiere of MILA, GREAT SORCERER as the "Uncle/Yellow Demon", directed by Kevin Newbury and conducted by Manoj Kamps, in his North American debut.
Continuing his commitment to new and contemporary opera, the 2019-2020 season will see Matthew join the groundbreaking co production of the MET/LINCOLN CENTER THEATER in Lynne Nottage/Ricky Ian Gordon's INTIMATE APPAREL (World Premiere), directed by Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher (LCT's South Pacific, The King and I), conducted by Steven Osgood. He makes his first appearance at JOE'S PUB (The Public Theater) performing as George Soper in Amy Ziff/Peter Keisewalter's new adaptation of TYPHOID MARY, finally, Matthew joins the roster of AMERICAN OPERA PROJECTS for two new projects, including The Stonewall Operas for Opera America Creators in Concert Series, and a premiere workshop presentation of THE NIGHT FALLS, an innovative dance opera led by Troy Schumacher (New York City Ballet). The Summer of 2020 brought the digital world premiere of MOTHER TO SON, a new piece for solo baritone, piano, and dance conceived by Matthew, composed by Scott Bradley Joiner, based on the poem of the same name by Langston Hughes. Matthew will also make his recital debut at Elm Court Concert Series (PA) in August of 2020, a program that will include Schumann, Loewe, Ravel, and Spirituals by H. T. Burleigh, Lina Mclin, Moses Hogan and Robert Morris. This will be the second collaboration with world renown dancer Chanel Howard, joining him for a week long residency. Looking towards the future, Matthew has begun a collaboration with composer Scott Bradley Joiner, on the creation of a new piece for solo Baritone, Piano, and Dance based on Langston Hughes acclaimed poem, MOTHER TO SON.
In the 2014/15 season Matthew was a resident artist at Bard College and Montclair State University with Analogy/Lance, worked with Joan Dornemann at IVAI in New York, performed Mr. Gobineau in Menotti's THE MEDIUM at the PHOENICIA FESTIVAL OF THE VOICE and made a return to the HIGHLANDS OPERA STUDIO as the 3rd American in the Ontario premiere of Tobin Stoke's THE VINEDRESSERS, where Opera Canada acclaimed the 3 Americans as “outstanding…their tight three part harmony running the gamut of emotion as audience laughed, cried, and sympathized with the characters on stage.”
Operatic engagements include his "wildly amusing, deeply sympathetic Leporello" - (Threepenny Opera Review) DON GIOVANNI with HEARTBEAT OPERA (NYC), Don Alfonso COSI FAN TUTTE with the Highlands Opera Festival, Escamillo CARMEN with the TRENTINO MUSIC FESTIVAL, Italy, a debut with the BUDAPEST SUMMER FESTIVAL, and with Martina Arroyo's Prelude to Performance in Verdi's FALSTAFF where Opera News praised his "foppishly entertaining Signor Fontana, and truthfully realized 'E sogno, o realta.". Other recent engagements include two company debuts, with the PRINCETON FESTIVAL (New Jersey) under the baton of Richard Tang Yuk, as well as the ROYAL DANISH OPERA in Copenhagen, under the batons of Michael Boder, Lionel Friend, and Geoffrey Paterson, where he debuted as the Undertaker in the Gershwin’s PORGY AND BESS. This stunning new production was under the direction of two time Tony Award winning director John Doyle (Sweeney Todd, Company, The Color Purple) in a run of 30 sold out performances. He also joined the elite Highlands Opera Studio, under the mentorship of acclaimed tenor Richard Margison, where he sang the title role of William Walton's THE BEAR.
Currently a student of Metropolitan Opera baritone Louis Otey, and noted voice coach Ira Siff. Roles include Count Almaviva LE NOZZE DI FIGARO, Papageno DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE and title role DON GIOVANNI, Sharpless and Yamadori in MADAMA BUTTERFLY, both Marco and Betto in GIANNI SCHICCHI, the Sacristan TOSCA, Luther/Schlemil in LES CONTES D’HOFFMANN and King Melchior in Menotti's AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS.