BIOGRAPHY
Praised by Opera Magazine (UK) and The New York Times for his “devilish manner and burly baritone” that is “robust and vocally powerful,” Joseph Flaxman is a baritone who has been drawing international praise from musicians and critics alike for his compelling dramatic portrayals. Originally from Succasunna, New Jersey, Joseph has performed at the Metropolitan Opera Guild, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, La Palacio del Opera (Spain), Lyrique-en-mer (France), Lorin Maazel’s Castleton Festival, Opera Memphis, Kentucky Opera, Chautauqua Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Sarasota Opera, Bard Summerscape, Opera Saratoga, Opera Naples, and St. Petersburg Opera amongst others.
Recently, Joseph appeared at Lincoln Center with Teatro Grattacielo as Il Banchiere Miskinsky and L’Invalido in Giordano’s Siberia as well as Il Fazionale del Porto in Gnecchi's Cassandra, the Father in Hänsel and Gretel at Opera on the James, Alfio in Cavalleria rusticana at Illinois State University and with Eastern Opera NJ, Escamillo in Carmen at the Natchez Festival of Music, Il Conte di Luna in Il trovatore and Scarpia in Tosca with La Forza del Opera, Belcore in L’elisir d’amore and Hymen in Purcell's The Fairy Queen at Opera NEO, and Ophémon in Saint Georges’ L’Amant anonyme with Little Opera Theatre of NY.
Suited to many of Verdi’s iconic baritone roles, Joseph has performed Renato in Un ballo in maschera and Don Carlo in Ernani at Symphony Space with NY Vocal Productions, Germont in La traviata with Bronx Opera, Iago in Otello, Amonasro in Aïda and Ezio in Verdi’s Attila with the Opera Company of Brooklyn, the title role in Verdi’s Macbeth with La Forza del Opera, as well as Montano in Otello while covering Iago at Lyrique-en-mer (France), as well as under the baton of Lorin Maazel at the Castleton Festival.
In previous seasons he premiered the role of Teddy Forsythe in Daron Hagen’s A Woman in Morocco at Kentucky Opera, performed Bello in La fanciulla del west at Kentucky Opera and at the Castleton Festival, Guglielmo in Cosi fan tutte at Opera Memphis and Tri-Cities Opera, Marcello in La bohème and the Count in Le nozze di Figaro with Martina Arroyo’s Prelude to Performance, Il Monaco Traba in Montemezzi’s rarely performed La nave at Lincoln Center, the title role in Gianni Schicchi at Raylynmor Opera, Tonio in I pagliacci and the title role of Don Giovanni with Opera Company of Brooklyn, Don Parmenione in the New York premiere of Rossini’s L’occasione fa il ladro with the Little Opera Theatre of NY, Wagner in Gounod’s Faust at Opera Memphis, Fiorello in Il barbiere di Siviglia at Opera Naples, Mozart’s Requiem with the Helena Symphony, the baritone soloist in Brahms’ Ein Deutches Requiem with the Riverdale Choral Society, as well as new works with American Opera Projects, the Center for Contemporary Opera and Opera on Tap.
A graduate of the Manhattan School of Music, Mr. Flaxman’s talents have been recognized by the Liederkranz Foundation, the Hans Gabor Belvedere Competition, Opera Index, the Bel Canto Foundation Scholarship, the Orpheus Competition, Career Bridges, the Comeptizione dell’Opera, the Armel Opera Competition, and the MacGraw Hill Young Artist Showcase on WQXR.
Fun Flax-Facts: Joe enjoys making artisan gelato, ran his first marathon in 2016, and currently resides in Chatham, NJ with his wife Laura who is a mezzo-soprano. Together they have two sons, Elias and Isaiah, and a 7 pound Havapoo named Siegfried.
Recently, Joseph appeared at Lincoln Center with Teatro Grattacielo as Il Banchiere Miskinsky and L’Invalido in Giordano’s Siberia as well as Il Fazionale del Porto in Gnecchi's Cassandra, the Father in Hänsel and Gretel at Opera on the James, Alfio in Cavalleria rusticana at Illinois State University and with Eastern Opera NJ, Escamillo in Carmen at the Natchez Festival of Music, Il Conte di Luna in Il trovatore and Scarpia in Tosca with La Forza del Opera, Belcore in L’elisir d’amore and Hymen in Purcell's The Fairy Queen at Opera NEO, and Ophémon in Saint Georges’ L’Amant anonyme with Little Opera Theatre of NY.
Suited to many of Verdi’s iconic baritone roles, Joseph has performed Renato in Un ballo in maschera and Don Carlo in Ernani at Symphony Space with NY Vocal Productions, Germont in La traviata with Bronx Opera, Iago in Otello, Amonasro in Aïda and Ezio in Verdi’s Attila with the Opera Company of Brooklyn, the title role in Verdi’s Macbeth with La Forza del Opera, as well as Montano in Otello while covering Iago at Lyrique-en-mer (France), as well as under the baton of Lorin Maazel at the Castleton Festival.
In previous seasons he premiered the role of Teddy Forsythe in Daron Hagen’s A Woman in Morocco at Kentucky Opera, performed Bello in La fanciulla del west at Kentucky Opera and at the Castleton Festival, Guglielmo in Cosi fan tutte at Opera Memphis and Tri-Cities Opera, Marcello in La bohème and the Count in Le nozze di Figaro with Martina Arroyo’s Prelude to Performance, Il Monaco Traba in Montemezzi’s rarely performed La nave at Lincoln Center, the title role in Gianni Schicchi at Raylynmor Opera, Tonio in I pagliacci and the title role of Don Giovanni with Opera Company of Brooklyn, Don Parmenione in the New York premiere of Rossini’s L’occasione fa il ladro with the Little Opera Theatre of NY, Wagner in Gounod’s Faust at Opera Memphis, Fiorello in Il barbiere di Siviglia at Opera Naples, Mozart’s Requiem with the Helena Symphony, the baritone soloist in Brahms’ Ein Deutches Requiem with the Riverdale Choral Society, as well as new works with American Opera Projects, the Center for Contemporary Opera and Opera on Tap.
A graduate of the Manhattan School of Music, Mr. Flaxman’s talents have been recognized by the Liederkranz Foundation, the Hans Gabor Belvedere Competition, Opera Index, the Bel Canto Foundation Scholarship, the Orpheus Competition, Career Bridges, the Comeptizione dell’Opera, the Armel Opera Competition, and the MacGraw Hill Young Artist Showcase on WQXR.
Fun Flax-Facts: Joe enjoys making artisan gelato, ran his first marathon in 2016, and currently resides in Chatham, NJ with his wife Laura who is a mezzo-soprano. Together they have two sons, Elias and Isaiah, and a 7 pound Havapoo named Siegfried.
