Ao Li

Ao Li (born 8 February 1988) is a Chinese operatic bass-baritone and voice teacher who is particularly known for his performances at the San Francisco Opera. In 2013 he won first prize in the Operalia, The World Opera Competition and in 2014 he won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.[1][2]

For the Taiwanese writer, see Li Ao.

Ao Li
Born	(1988-02-08) 8 February 1988 Dezhou, China
Occupation	Classical bass-baritone Academic teacher
Organization	San Francisco Opera Shandong Normal University
Awards	Operalia, The World Opera Competition Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions

Life and career

Born in Dezhou, Shandong,[3] Li earned a bachelor's degree in vocal performance from Shandong Normal University before pursuing graduate studies in the United States at the University of Cincinnati – College-Conservatory of Music.[2] After completing his master's degree, he attended the Canada Vocal Arts Institute and joined the Merola Opera Program at the San Francisco Opera (SFO) where he was coached by César Ulloa. He spent three years working with the SFO as an Adler Fellow. He is currently a member of the Washington National Opera's Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program.[2] He drew international attention in 2013 when he won the Operalia, The World Opera Competition, and again in 2014 when he won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.[4][5]

Li made his professional opera debut in 2011 with the SFO as Le Dancaïre in Georges Bizet's Carmen. His subsequent appearances with the SFO include Ascanio Petrucci in Lucrezia Borgia (2011), Lorenzo in I Capuleti e i Montecchi (2012), Sciarrone in Tosca (2012), The Indian Gardener / Ben Weatherstaff in the world premiere of Nolan Gasser's The Secret Garden (2013), and both Fiorello and Don Basilio in The Barber of Seville (2013).[6] He was also a featured soloist in a 2013 concert honoring mezzo-soprano Zheng Cao at the San Francisco War Memorial and Performing Arts Center.[7] He has also appeared at the Seoul Arts Centre in Korea as Gremin in Eugene Onegin, and appeared in that same opera as the Captain of the Guards at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing in 2014.[3][8] In 2015 he created the role of Male Soloist No. 4 in the world premiere of Huang Ruo's Paradise Interrupted at the Spoleto Festival USA.[9]

Li currently teaches on the voice faculty of Shandong Normal University.[3]

References

1. E.H.B. (February 6, 2014). "Opera: The new superpowers". The Economist.
2. "Two Chinese are winners in Met auditions". China Daily. April 3, 2014.
3. "Ao Li". Tchaikovsky International Music Competition Bio. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
4. "Russian Soprano Aida Garifullina and Chinese Bass-Baritone Ao Li Earn Top Prizes in Plácido Domingo's Operalia Competition". Opera News. August 26, 2013.
5. "Five Singers Named as Final-Round Winners in the 2014 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions". Opera News. March 30, 2014.
6. "Ao Li". San Francisco Opera Performance Archives. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
7. David Wiegand (June 25, 2013). "Zheng Cao memorial at Opera House". San Francisco Chronicle.
8. Andrea Burro (March 14, 2014). "Beijing – NCPA: Evgenj Onegin (English Version)". OperaClick.
9. Adam Parker (May 23, 2015). "Review: 'Paradise Interrupted' a visual and aural display". The Post and Courier.