Praised for his “vocal power and finesse” & “irresistible hijinks,” baritone Andy Papas is sought after for his impeccable musicianship and mastery of comic repertoire. In the 2022-2023 season, Papas is pleased to make his debut with Ojai Music Festival as Owen/Johnson in Omar’s Journey, roles which he recently covered in the Boston Lyric Opera production of Omar.
Also this season, Papas reprises the title role in Don Pasquale with Opera Saratoga and Union Avenue Opera. Last season, he returned to Anchorage Opera in one of his signature roles, Major General Stanley in The Pirates of Penzance, which he also performed with Opera Naples. In 2022 he rejoined Opera Company of Middlebury as John Styx in Orphée aux Enfers, brought his celebrated Doctor Bartolo (Il barbiere di Siviglia) to Pacific Northwest Opera, and reprised his acclaimed Don Magnifico (La Cenerentola) at Fargo-Moorhead Opera. Papas has also sung Bartolo with Union Avenue Opera, Opera Theater of Connecticut, Anchorage Opera, Painted Sky Opera, and covered the role at Boston Lyric Opera. His committed, musically sophisticated performances have consistently earned him praise for “creating a character both sinister and silly,” and for his “rich voiced portrayals… of considerable aplomb.”
Other noteworthy recent engagements for Papas include the Music Master in Ariadne auf Naxos with Vashon Opera, Benoit in La bohème with The Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra, Baron Zeta in The Merry Widow with Opera Saratoga, Pandolfe in Cendrillon with Opera Company of Middlebury; and the title role in Falstaff and Tonio in Pagliacci with Raylynmor Opera.
An accomplished performer on the musical theater stage, Papas has brought his acting prowess to roles such as Bumble in Oliver at New Repertory Theatre and as George/Lord Boxington in My Fair Lady at The Lyric Stage Company of Boston. He has also performed the role of Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof at Music on Norway Pond, and delighted audiences as Chef Louis in The Little Mermaid for Fiddlehead Theater.
Papas can be heard on Bridge Records as Bugs/Gent, which he also performed with Opera Saratoga, on Albany Records as Stephano in the world premiere of composer Joseph Summer’s The Tempest, and on New World Records as part of White Snake Projects recording of The Ouroboros Trilogy: Naga.