Photo © Kristin Hoebermann
BIOGRAPHY
David Salsbery Fry is receiving vast attention from leading opera companies throughout the United States. As Il Commendatore in Don Giovanni, The Tennessean said, “the voices? They’re all marvelous. That includes the frightening passages sung by bass David Salsbery Fry as The Commendatore. I think even Mozart aficionados will agree he brings fresh life to the role.”
Possessed of an imposing three octave range which gives him command of both the bass and bass-baritone repertoire, Mr. Fry plunged down to contra G (49 Hz) for his performances of Ogro in Gotham Chamber Opera’s production of Montsalvatge’s El gato con botas. Notable engagements from the past few seasons include Truffaldin in Ariadne auf Naxos under the baton of Christoph von Dohnányi and Wuorinen’s Never Again the Same at Tanglewood, Arkel in Pelléas et Mélisande and Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte in Tel Aviv, his Mostly Mozart debut in Stravinsky’s Renard, his debut as Olin Blitch in Susannah with Opera at Rutgers, and T.J. Rigg in Aldridge’s Elmer Gantry in New Jersey. He also returned to New York City Opera for concert performances of Antony and Cleopatra and as Bernard the Bull in Where the Wild Things Are, and joined the Metropolitan Opera roster, taking part in the company’s production of The Gambler as well as workshops of Nico Muhly’s Two Boys and Jeremy Sams’s The Enchanted Island.
Previous engagements include Il Commendatore in Don Giovanni at Théâtre Municipal de Castres in France, Osmin in Die Entführung aus dem Serail with the Aspen Opera Theater Center, his debut with Opera Cleveland as Fifth Jew in Salome, and his debut in Acis and Galatea with Santa Fe Pro Musica. Of his performance, the Albuquerque Journal said, “As Polyphemus, bass David Fry threw marvelously wild tantrums, while plunging securely down in his range.”
With The Santa Fe Opera, he debuted as Second Soldier in Salome as a member of their Apprentice Program for Singers, and returned for the company’s productions of Daphne and Platée. At New York City Opera, Mr. Fry has performed in Capriccio and Acis and Galatea. Before graduating from The Juilliard School in 2006, Mr. Fry performed Giove in La Calisto, Osmin in Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Peter Quince in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and created the role of Goldsmith in Lowell Liebermann’s Miss Lonelyhearts to unanimous acclaim.
Mr. Fry received a Graduate Diploma in voice from The Juilliard School, a Master of Music in opera from the University of Maryland, and a Bachelor of Arts in music from the Zanvyl Krieger School of Arts and Sciences of The Johns Hopkins University. Mr. Fry was recently named first place winner of the Bidu Sayão International Vocal Competition, also taking home the prize for best opera aria performance. Originally from Mount Joy, Pennsylvania, he currently divides his time between New York City and Boston.
“Incredible! ... Rich, deep voice, stirring and overwhelming. Truly remarkable and astounding.”
- Haaretz
As Olin Blitch in Susannah, Opera at Rutgers
Photo © Larry Levanti
As Il Commendatore in Don Giovanni, The Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Showcase Scenes
Photo © Ken Howard