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Arnold Livingston Geis

tenor

About this Artist

Praised by Opera Today for his “sizable lyric instrument” and “honeyed tone on all registers”, in the 2023/24 season tenor Arnold Livingston Geis creates the role of Josef Bader in the world and US premieres of Aaron Zigman’s new oratorio Emigré, a co-commission by the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic. He also sing performances of Carmina Burana with both the Phoenix Symphony and Erie Symphony, and returns to the LA Philharmonic for Mormon/Housmate in Leith’s Last Days. Last season, he joined LA Master Chorale at Walt Disney Hall for Haydn’s Creation, sang Rodolfo in La bohéme with Greensboro Opera and Pacific Opera Projects, returned to the LA Philharmonic as the Shepherd in Tristan und Isolde, sang his first performances of the title role in La damnation de Faust with the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra, and returned to Chautauqua Opera for Pirelli in Sweeney Todd. On the concert stage, he sang performances of Carmina Burana with the Oregon Symphony and the Berkshire Choral International at the Moss Arts Center at Virginia Tech. He made his Lincoln Center debut creating the role of Mr. Marks in Ricky Ian Gordon’s Intimate Apparel, joined four-time Grammy Award-winner esperanza spalding as Agamemnon in her and Wayne Shorter’s new opera Iphigenia on tour with performances at the Kennedy Center, MassMOCA and ArtEmerson in Boston, joined Opera Lafayette in Philidor’s The Blacksmith, New Amsterdam Opera for Georges in La Dame Blanche, Opera Saratoga for Beadle in Sweeney Todd, and sang Carmina Burana in his LA Philharmonic debut at the Hollywood Bowl with Maestro Gustavo Dudamel.

His other recent engagements include Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore with Pacific Opera Projects, Handel’s Messiah with Indianapolis Symphony and Obadiah in Mendelssohn’s Elijah with St. George’s Choral Society in New York City. Mr. Geis recently joined Washington National Opera for Jonathan Dale in Silent Night, Gastone in La Traviata, and Busdriver/New Preacher in Kamala Sankaram and Jerry Dy’s world premiere of Taking Up Serpents. He also sang Nikolaus Sprink in Silent Night with Glimmerglass Opera, Arnold Murray in The Life and Death(s) of Alan Turing with Chicago Opera Theater, and Tamino in The Magic Flute with Pacific Opera Project. While a Young Artist at Washington National Opera, he also sang Oronte in Alcina (Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Performance), Snake and Vain Man in The Little Prince, Miles in the world premiere of Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek’s Proving Up, and Count Almaviva in Il barbiere di Siviglia (Domingo Cafritz Young Artist Performance). Mr. Geis created the role of Corpsman Harris in the world premiere of Heather Raffo and Tobin Stokes’ Fallujah with Long Beach Opera, and later reprised the role with New York City Opera. His other recent performances include Ernesto in Don Pasquale and Apollo in L’Orfeo with Chautauqua Opera, Parpignol in La bohème and First man in I pagliacci with Los Angeles Opera, George Power in A Touch of Poetry with Opera A La Carte, Satyaván in Holst’s Savitri with Pasadena Pro Musica, Vanderdendur/King in Candide with Long Beach Opera, Peter Quint in The Turn of the Screw with Opera on the Avalon, Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly with Pasadena Schubertiade, and Duck in Alice in Wonderland with L.A. Philharmonic and L.A. Opera, Count in I due Figaro with UCLA Opera Theater, and Ferrando in Cosí fan tutte with the Paul Delgado Singers.

On the concert stage, Mr. Geis has performed Gitzy Razaz in the world premiere of Flight of Faith with the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with Pasadena Symphony, Handel’s Messiah with Salastina Music Society, and Britten’s Canticle III with Pacific Palisades Chamber Ensemble. He has also sung Handel’s Alexander’s Feast, Messiah, and Beethoven’s Missa solemnis with the L.A. Master Chorale. In addition to his work in the classical sphere, Mr. Geis is a member of both SAG-AFTRA and Actors' Equity unions, and has recorded solo vocals for many television projects, including popular shows like Tom and Jerry and Family Guy, and has also sung for such blockbuster film soundtracks as The Jungle Book, Sing, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Star Wars: Rogue, Fifty Shades of Grey, Minions, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, and Disney’s new live-action film of The Lion King.

Mr. Geis is a graduate of the Cafritz Young Artist Program, has been an Apprentice Artist with Chautauqua Opera, a Young Artists with Opera on the Avalon, and an Apprentice Artist with Bel Canto at Caramoor. He received his Master of Music from the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California and his Bachelor of Music from Biola University.