Ben Wager, bass-baritone

Ben Wager is a 2009 graduate of the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, where his roles included: Raimondo in Lucia di Lammermoor, Enrico in Anna Bolena, the title role in Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Sparafucile in Rigoletto, Don Alfonso in Così fan tutte and Padre Guardiano in La forza del destino.

Mr. Wager performed the role of Colline in La bohème with PORTOpera during summer 2013. His 2013-2014 engagements included Nourabad in Les pêcheurs de perles with Nashville Opera, as well as a company debut with Lyric Opera of Kansas City as Colline. He joined the Albany Symphony for Dvořák’s Stabat Mater,and returned to the Deutsche Opera Berlin, to perform such as roles as Doctor Grenvil (Traviata), Zuniga (Carmen), Angelotti (Tosca), Der Steuermann (Tristan und Isolde), and Johann (Werther).

Mr. Wager sang Haydn’s Seasons with Chicago’s Grant Park Music Festival and Carlos Kalmar in summer 2012. His engagements in 2012-2013 included Il Re in Aida with Dallas Opera, the Hotel Manager in Powder Her Face and the Sprecher in Die Zauberflöte with Opera Company of Philadelphia, Count Rodolfo in La sonnambula with Washington Concert Opera, and the title role in Don Giovanni in a new production with Kentucky Opera.