Known for their “sonorous baritone” (Broad Street Review) and “commanding stage presence," (Miami Herald) Philadelphia native and Italian-American baritone, Matthew Maisano (they/them) enjoys performing a diverse vocal repertoire ranging from opera, classical, and musical theatre, to pop, folk, rock, and more! Matthew was a 2024-2025 resident artist at Portland Opera. They hold a BM in Vocal Performance from Temple University and a MM in Vocal Performance from The Cleveland Institute of Music.

Opera and concert highlights include:  Pisola in Falstaff, Baritone Soloist in The Juliet Letters, & Horace Derwent in The Shining (Portland Opera), Director/Gendarme in Les mamelles de Tirésias (Hogfish, Maine), The Sergeant in La Bohème & Featured Soloist in Late Night Snacks Cabaret Series (Opera Philadelphia/Beared Ladies Cabaret/Fringearts), Drag Queen Narrator in Romeo💜Juliette (Prismatic Arts Ensemble), Senex in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Natchez Festival of Music), Morbio in Die schweigsame Frau & Baptista in Kiss Me, Kate! (Pittsburgh Festival Opera), Leporello in selections from Don Giovanni & Schlendrian in Bach’s Coffee Cantata (Lancaster Symphony), Melissa in Alcina REVAMPED (Alter Ego Chamber Opera), Melchior in Amahl and the Night Visitors (Three Pines Opera, DVOC, & Children’s Opera Box), Albert in Werther (DVOC & Temple Opera Theater), The Sorcerex in Dido and Aeneas (DVOC) Bob in The Old Maid and the Thief & First Stepsister in The True Story of Cinderella (Opera Tutti!), Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro (Wilmington Concert Opera & Cleveland Institute of Music Opera Theater),Strong Man in Sid the Serpent Who Wanted to Sing (Penn Square Opera), Pandolfe in Cendrillon (Miami Music Festival), and the title role in Eugene Onegin (Russian Opera Workshop). 

Matthew has a vibrant and active 5+ year career as drag artist, Balena Canto (Philadelphia's seductive song-wielding siren with a voice snatched for the gods)! Balena performs, hosts, and produces extensively throughout Greater Philadelphia, the tri-state area, and beyond! Nothing makes her more happy than combining her two greatest loves—drag and opera! To learn more about Matthew, please follow them on their musical journey here!