Bio
With a velvety tone and a stage presence that exudes confidence and charm, Levi Hernandez has made a name for himself in a wide variety of baritone repertoire. Opera News has praised him for his “voice with natural power,” and “warm, inviting baritone.” The El Paso native has joined the rosters of leading opera companies including the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, and Houston Grand Opera, where he debuted in Madama Butterfly (Sharpless).
Most recently he joined El Paso Opera for their Mozart by Moonlight concert, Opera San Antonio in Hansel and Gretel (Father), appeared in La Cenerentola (Dandini) with Boston Lyric Opera, performed in Pagliacci (Tonio) with Hawaii Opera Theatre, returned to Opera Omaha in El último sueño de Frida y Diego (Diego Rivera), and appeared with the Virginia and Oregon Symphonies in Handel’s Messiah. Additional recent appearances include joining Opera Idaho in their Celebrando a México concert, Manon Lescaut (Lescaut) with North Carolina Opera, a return to The Metropolitan Opera in The Magic Flute (Papageno, cover) and The Elixir of Love (Dulcamara, cover), Handel’s Messiah with Kansas City Symphony, an appearance with the El Paso Symphony for Mozart’s Requiem, and Opera Idaho’s Opera in the Park concert. The upcoming 2024-25 Season sees his return to Madison Opera for The Barber of Seville (Bartolo), Manon Lescaut (Lescaut) with the Washington Concert Opera, Handel‘s Messiah with the Tucson Symphony, Florencia en el Amazonas (Alvaro) with North Carolina Opera, and Mozart’s Requiem with the Utah Symphony.
In recent seasons, Levi returned to Lyric Opera of Chicago in Florencia en el Amazonas (Alvaro), reprised the title role in Gianni Schicchi with Tulsa Opera, debuted with Hawaii Opera Theater in Madama Butterfly (Sharpless), and performed Mahler’s Songs of a Wayfarer with Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra. He has continued his longstanding relationship with the work of composer Daniel Catan, appearing in La hija de Rappaccini (Rappaccini) with Chicago Opera Theater. Additionally, he sang in Pagliacci (Tonio) with Opera Colorado and El Paso Opera, and in El milagro del recuerdo (Aba) with Houston Grand Opera. He has sung in The Grapes of Wrath (Pa Joad) with Michigan Opera Theatre, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Virginia Opera, Nashville Opera, Arizona Opera, and Chattanooga Symphony & Opera. He recently debuted with Opera Colorado in La bohème (Marcello), with Chicago Opera Theater in Elizabeth Cree (Inspector Kildare), with San Diego Opera and Madison Opera in Florencia en el Amazonas (Alvaro), and with Intermountain Opera in Falstaff (Ford).
A 2002 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions finalist, his many awards include a Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation grant as well as being a 2002 Operalia competition finalist. With an undergraduate degree from Westminster Choir College and his master’s degree from the University of North Texas, Levi also attended the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia and was a member of the prestigious Ryan Opera Center at Lyric Opera of Chicago.