With a velvety tone and a stage presence which exudes confidence and charm, baritone Levi Hernandez is gaining momentum as a soughtafter artist on the operatic stage. Mark Thomson Ketterson of OperaNews declared of his principal debut with Lyric Opera of Chicago as Dandini in La Cenerentola, “Young baritone Levi Hernandez’s intelligent Dandini displayed a most impressive knack for subtle text-painting within a pristinely negotiated coloratura line…” The El Paso native has joined the rosters of leading opera companies including the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, and Houston Grand Opera where he debuted as Sharpless in Madama Butterfly opposite Ana Maria Martinez and Joseph Calleja. In the 2021-2022 season, Mr. Hernandez returns to Lyric Opera of Chicago as Alvaro in Florencia en el Amazones, reprises the title role in Gianni Schicchi with Tulsa Opera, debuts with Hawaii Opera Theater as Sharpless in Madama Butterfly, returns to Intermountain Opera Bozeman for his role debut as Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro, and performs Mahler’s Songs of a Wayfarer with Cheyenne Symphony Orchestra. In recent seasons, he has continued his longstanding relationship with the work of composer Daniel Catan, appearing as Rappaccini La Hija de Rappaccini with Chicago Opera Theater, sang Tonio in I Pagliacci with Opera Colorado and El Paso Opera, and Aba in El milagro del recuerdo Houston Grand Opera. He has sung Pa Joad in The Grapes of Wrath with Michigan Opera Theatre, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Virginia Opera, Nashville Opera, Arizona Opera, and Chattanooga Symphony & Opera. He recently debuted with Opera Colorado as Marcello in La bohème, Inspector Kildare in Elizabeth Cree with Chicago Opera Theater, Alvaro in Florencia en el Amazonas with San Diego Opera and Madison Opera, and Ford in Falstaff with Intermountain Opera. He has covered the title role in The Death of Klinghoffer and productions of Die Frau ohne Schatten and Carmen with the Metropolitan Opera. Additionally, he has sung Alvaro in Florencia en el Amazonas with Arizona Opera, Sonora in La fanciulla del West with Opera Omaha, Music Master in Ariadne auf Naxos with Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Don Magnifico in La cenerentola with Opera Omaha, Dandini in La cenerentola with Opera Roanoke and Opera North, Papageno with Opera Theatre of St. Louis and Madison Opera, Gianni Schicchi with Intermountain Opera, Germont in La traviata with Opera Roanoke and Intermountain Opera, Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Pine Mountain Music Festival, Guglielmo in Puccini’s Le Villi with the Spoleto Festival, USA, his European debut with Komische Oper Berlin’s Pique Dame in the role of Tomski, Guglielmo/Remigio in Le villi/ La Navarraise at Bard Music Festival Tobias Mill in Rossini’s La cambiale di matrimonio with Opera Omaha, Sharpless in Madama Butterfly with Arizona Opera, Nashville Opera, Minnesota Opera, Intermountain Opera, Virginia Opera, Lake George Opera and Cedar Rapids Opera, his debut with the Opera Theatre of St. Louis as Leporello in Don Giovanni, Marcello in La bohème with Opera Memphis, San Antonio Opera, and El Paso Opera, Schaunard in Lyric Opera of Chicago’s La bohème, Valentin in Faust with the Kalamazoo Symphony, Count Ceprano in Rigoletto, Moralès in Carmen, and Haly in L’italiana in Algeri, all with Opera Company of Philadelphia, and Don Lucas in Luisa Fernanda, Sciarrone in Tosca, and Crébillon in La rondine with Los Angeles Opera. An alumnus of the Lyric Opera center for American Artists, Mr. Hernandez made his Lyric Opera main stage debut during the 2004-2005 season. During his tenure at Lyric, he was seen as Marullo in Rigoletto, Sciarrone in Tosca, the Innkeeper in Manon Lescaut and the Bartender in the world premiere of William Bolcom’s A Wedding. Mr. Hernandez has been seen on the concert stage as a soloist in Handel’s Messiah with the El Paso Symphony, Charlotte Symphony, the Phoenix Symphony, the Pennsylvania Ballet, and Cheyenne Symphony and in Orff’s Carmina burana with the Pennsylvania Ballet. A 2002 Metropolitan Opera National Council Awards finalist, his many awards include a Licia AlbanesePuccini Foundation grant as well as being a 2002 OPERALIA competition finalist. After receiving his undergraduate degree at Westminster Choir College, Mr. Hernandez attended the prestigious Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia.