“Seth Carico is a veritable earthquake in human form in his portrayal of the obstinate Joseph [Dead Man Walking]. This is an unhinged man steeped in denial, who resists and writhes against any acknowledgement of his diabolical deed. Carico renders one of the most visceral performances you will ever seen in an opera. He might put you on the edge of your seat.”
Hailed by Opera News as “powerful in both voice and bearing” and particularly noted for his commanding stage presence and expressive vocalism, American bass-baritone Seth Carico is distinguishing himself at home and internationally. Opera Today praised “the dynamic presence of Carico, whose ringing baritone gave much pleasure.” He effortlessly capitalizes on his dramatic training, bringing a unique sensitivity to operatic characters at disparate ends of the theatrical spectrum.
Last season saw Carico making his role début as Wotan in Die Walküre at Bühnen Bern, performing Pistola in Falstaff with Komische Oper Berlin, and the title role in Don Giovanni at Minnesota Opera as well as returning to Deutsche Oper Berlin for Turnage’s Greek. This season, he joins Bühnen Bern as Scarpia in Tosca, brings his Don Alfonso in Così fan tutte to Komische Oper Berlin, sings Dr. Kolenatý in Věc Makropulos with the Concertgebow in Amsterdam, Escamillo in Carmen with Austin Opera, and Kissinger in Nixon in China in his return to Deutsche Oper Berlin.
In recent seasons, Carico has built a robust repertoire with Deutsche Oper Berlin, where he was in the Ensemble from 2010-2019. With the company he has performed Figaro in Le nozze di Figaro, Leporello in Don Giovanni, Sancho Pansa in Don Quichotte, The Doctor in Wozzeck, Dr. Kolenatý in Věc Makropulos, Saint-Bris in Les Huguenots, The Traveler, et al. in Death in Venice, Oberthal in Le Prophete, Gunther in Götterdämmerung, Redburn in Billy Budd, the Police Commissioner in Lady Macbeth from Mtsensk, Klingsor in Parsifal, Dulcamara in L’elisir d’amore, Sonora in La fanciulla del West, Abimélech in Samson et Dalila, and Kassandra in Oresteia, a role for which he was nominated for the 2015 German National Theater Prize, “Der Faust,” for Best Male Singer. In addition, he has portrayed Junius in The Rape of Lucretia, Biterolf in Tannhäuser, Farfarello in L’amour des trois oranges, Panthée in Les Troyens, the villains in Offenbach/Champert’s Hoffmann, Andrew Cunanan in the world premiere of Brandt Brauer Frick’s electronic opera Gianni, and The Father in the world premiere of Aribert Reimann’s L’invisible.
International guest engagements have included his house and role début as Don Giovanni with Dutch National Opera, his Dallas Opera début as the Minskman in Flight, Joseph de Rocher in Dead Man Walking with Minnesota Opera, Astradamors in Le grand macabre and Snow Queen/Reindeer/Clock in The Snow Queen with Radio Philharmonic Orchestra Amsterdam, Orest in Elektra with Stadttheater Klagenfurt, Fortnum Roscoe/ Johnson Evesham in the world premiere of Dai Fujikura and Harry Ross’ A Dream of Armageddon with New National Theatre Tokyo, Tonio in Pagliacci with Aalto-Musiktheater Essen, Scarpia in Tosca with Staatsoper Hannover, Nick Shadow in The Rake’s Progress with Theater Basel, Figaro in Le nozze di Figaro with Utah Opera and Tulsa Opera, Dulcamara in L’elisir d’amore with Opera Saratoga, Panthée in Les Troyens with Staatsoper Hamburg, Antonio in Le nozze di Figaro with Oper Leipzig, The Sacristan in Tosca with Anhaltisches Theater Dessau, Roberto in I vespri siciliani and Marquis d’Obigny in La Traviata with Teatro Regio Torino, Leonidas in Lysistrata and Victor in the world premiere of Before Night Falls with Fort Worth Opera, and Marquis de Brisaille in the world premiere of David DiChiera’s Cyrano with Michigan Opera Theatre.
Concert appearances have included Bach’s Kantate Nr. 82, Mendelssohn’s Die erste Walpurgisnacht, Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, Dvořák’s Stabat Mater, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Verdi’s Requiem, Handel’s The Messiah, Rossini’s Petite messe solennelle, Bach’s Coffee Cantata, and Mozart’s Requiem, with orchestras/ festivals including the Cologne Early Music Festival, the Nashville Symphony, the Atlanta Ballet, the Chautauqua Symphony, the Richmond Symphony, and the Michigan Sinfonietta. Carico was invited to offer a recital at the University of Michigan of Dvořák’s Cypřiše, accompanied by renowned pianist and specialist in Czech music, Timothy Cheek.
In the summer of 2012, Carico joined the prestigious Merola Opera Program at San Francisco Opera Center, finishing years of successful apprenticeships with companies such as Deutsche Oper Berlin, Teatro Regio Torino, Fort Worth Opera, Michigan Opera Theatre, Nashville Opera, Lake George Opera, and Chautauqua Opera. Seth won Fourth Prize in the Shreveport Opera Singer of the Year competition, the Grand Prize of the Orpheus National Vocal Competition, and an Encouragement Award from the Chautauqua Opera Guild.