Michael Pistorio is a lyric baritone whose mission is to bring modern finesse to classical singing. As an artist he blends his commanding voice with intimate drama, making him an audience favorite. Michael has performed as a professional chorister, concert soloist, and opera principal in the Mid-Atlantic region for over a decade. Of note was his recent debut as Joseph De Rocher in Jake Heggie’s celebrated opera Dead Man Walking which was described as “vocally and dramatically stirring”, “fully portraying the character”; DC Theatre Arts noted ”the defiance and fear in his portrayal.”

Michael made his international solo debut in 2015 as an invited artist of the Assisi Performing Arts Festival, performing the concert roles of Dancäire (Carmen), Masetto (Don Giovanni), and Marcello (La Bohéme), additionally soloing in Faure’s Requiem, Mozart’s Mass in C, and Schubert’s Mass in G. Further principal opera and concert credits include The Tender Land (Copland), The Consul (Menotti), Die Zauberflöte, Don Giovanni, Le Nozze di Figaro (Mozart), Tosca (Puccini), Der Corregidor (Wolf); Messe solennelle en l’honneur de Sainte-Cécile (Gounod), Messiah (Händel), Son of Man (Hall Johnson); Fantasia on Christmas Carols, Five Mystical Songs, and Songs of Travel (Vaughan Williams). Michael’s performance as Adam in Haydn’s The Creation with Easton Choral Arts Society was lauded as “his magnificent voice echoed with conviction and power” by George Davis of The Star Democrat.

Aside from his interpretations for stage and theater, Michael is also a reputable sacred singer, predominantly of Christian denominations. His voice has carried in houses of worship including the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen (Baltimore), Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Baltimore), National Shrine of St. Alphonsus Liguori (Baltimore), Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle (DC), Washington National Cathedral (DC), and multiple sacred spaces in Assisi, Italy including the Chiesa di Santa Maria Maggiore and Santa Maria sopra Minerva, the Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli, Cattedrale di San Rufino di Assisi, and the Basilica di San Francesco d’Assisi both the main sanctuary and lower chapel where St. Frances is interred.

In the 2024-2025 season, Michael made multiple role and company debuts including a historical performance with Really Spicy Opera and the American Friends of LaFayette for a series Bicentennial Commemoration Concerts featuring original compositions from 1824; the Maryland premiere of The Gift of the Magi, a Christmas chamber opera by Eric Whitacre; Broadway Legends! with the Naptown Philharmonic Orchestra under Dr. Anna Binneweg; Joseph De Rocher in Dead Man Walking with OperaAACC; as Jesus of Nazareth in JS Bach’s Johannes-Passion with Bach in Baltimore, among others. Michael is also a Guest Artist with the Heritage Signature Chorale (Washington, DC) and a Paul M. Angell Foundation Emerging Artist with Bach in Baltimore, and maintains a private voice studio in the Baltimore-metro area. 

This season, Michael makes his solo recital debut with artistic collaborator Benjamin Touzeau beforing joining the roster of Opera Baltimore and Opera Delaware's co-production of Tosca. In November, Michael returns to Bach in Baltimore for a performance of Bach's Himmelskönig, sei willkommen (BWV 182), then performs with Ted Davis of St. Bartholomew's Concert Series "Vivacious Vivaldi" featuring Magnificat (RV 610) and Dixit Dominum (RV 595), followed by a performance of The Merry Widow with Maryland Opera, and soloing with the Heritage Signature Chorale for "Reaching New Horizons" as part of the HSC Chamber Singers. In December, Michael joins the ensemble of Edward Polochick for performances of Händel's Messiah at The Baltimore Basilica. beatnikbaritone.com