Rod Nelman, MM

Associate Professor of Voice

With a repertoire that includes over 100 roles, ROD NELMAN has performed with the Metropolitan Opera, New World Symphony, Washington National Opera – both at the Kennedy Center and on tour in Tokyo, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, Arena di Verona, Florida Grand Opera, Virginia Symphony, Michigan Opera Theater, Milwaukee Symphony, New York City Opera, Palm Beach Opera, Opéra du Nante, Florentine Opera, Fort Worth Opera, and Chicago Opera Theatre, among others.

A versatile and “superb singer-actor” (The Washington Times), and “a natural comedian” (The Washington Post) he is sought after for both dramatic and comic roles.  “Rod Nelman brought a booming bass-baritone voice and comically oafish presence to Dr. Bartolo.” (New York Times) The solid-toned bass-baritone Rod Nelman proved very amusing without any caricature as Bartolo.” (Opera News) “Rod Nelman’s gigantic bass-baritone and expressive acting filled the bill.” (Bachtrack)  “Rod Nelman showed a fresh, bright bass tone. He sang the patter passages at a blistering pace…An experienced and easy actor, he made Pasquale funny, yet real” (Scherzo Madrid)

His performances as dramatic characters have been called “emotionally grand”, possessing a “rock-steady presence”, with an “arresting charisma and big, pliant voice”, “vocally and dramatically riveting”, (Opera News) with a “deeply touching grasp of the character” (Opera Festival). His voice has been described as a “colorful, theater-filling bass tone”, “dark, cavernous and sumptuously beautiful”, “strong and powerful”, “pure enjoyment, with pointed diction and silky tone” (Opera News) “robust vocal color” (giornaledellamusica.it) “smooth, expressive bass, showing marvelous diction” (Opera Festival)

He has performed with Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras, Michael Tilson Thomas,  Loren Maazel, Joyce di Dinato, Valery Gergiev, Keith Lockhart, Tan Dun, Paul Plishka, Isabel Leonard, Ana Maria Martinez, Michael Fabiano, and Carlisle Floyd, among others.

Rod is highly respected as a vocal pedagogue and has given masterclasses in singing and stage skills at many opera companies and universities across the country including Opera Orlando, Fort Worth Opera, Sacramento Opera, Utah Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Orlando Opera, Lyric Opera of the North, University of Wisconsin Superior, University of Minnesota Duluth, University of North Carolina Pembroke, Sacramento State University, and University of Central Florida.