(continued) Highlights of Mr. Van Derick's international opera career include his 1995 Metropolitan Opera debut in John Corigliano's THE GHOSTS OF VERSAILLES, and return engagements at the MET for five further seasons singing roles in DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE, SALOME, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, CAPRICCIO, ANDREA CHENIER. Along side his 1997 portrayal of the title role in GIANNI SCHICCHI with the Metropolitan Opera Guild in New York, he has sung frequently with The American Symphony Orchestra in rare masterpieces such as Smyth's THE WRECKERS and Schrecker's DER FERNE KLANG (also staged at Bard's SummerScape).

He has been a frequent artist with the Los Angeles Music Center Opera, where he sang in productions of MACBETH, LA BOHEME, TRISTAN UND ISOLDE, COSI FAN TUTTE and WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE. His skill in contemporary opera resulted in productions with the Santa Fe Opera (Matthus' JUDITH and Rihm's OEDIPUS), the Lyric Opera of Chicago (Bolcom's McTEAGUE), and Opera de Marseilles (PETER GRIMES). He appeared with the San Diego Opera in DIALOGUES OF THE CARMELITES under the baton of Richard Bonynge, and in Long Beach Opera's productions of JENUFA and the world premiere of THE ANATOL CYCLE. He also sang in the world premieres of Thea Musgrave's HARRIET, THE WOMEN CALLED MOSES (Virginia Opera) and Lee Hoiby's THE TEMPEST (Des Moines Metro Opera).

Classic dramatic baritone roles abound, such as I PAGLIACCI's Tonio for the Oakland Opera and Germont in LA TRAVIATA for Virginia Opera. In addition, his concert engagements include solos in Beethoven's NINTH SYMPHONY, Handel's MESSIAH, Brahms' REQUIEM, Bach PASSIONS and Bloch's SACRED SERVICE.

Ten years ago, Van Derick launched a new direction in his career when he was musical director of MADAMA BUTTERFULY for Idaho Falls Opera Theatre and returned the following year to conduct THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO. In New York, he has conducted Menotti's THE OLD MAID AND THE THIEF and Pergolesi's LA SERVA PADRONA with the Champagne and Candlelight Opera, and DON GIOVANNI, I PAGLIACCI, and IL TABARRO with Dive Opera. More recently he has appeared as the narrator in SILENT VOICES with The League of Composer's Orchestra, and in his first spoken Shakespearean role, Leonato in MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING with Snapped Productions.

...back