Bio
Known for their “sonorous baritone” (Broad Street Review) and “commanding stage presence," (Miami Herald) Philadelphia native Matthew Maisano (they/them) enjoys performing a variety of vocal music from the classical, operatic, musical theater, and popular repertoires. They have sung various solo and ensemble roles both in the Greater Philadelphia area as well as across the country! In April 2024, Matthew is thrilled to return to the Hogfish Festival to sing Escamilla (a drag queen toreador) in an exciting retelling of Bizet’s Carmen entitled, CarmXn! Stay tuned for details!
Most recently, Matthew appeared for their 4th season with Opera Philadelphia singing in the chorus of Verdi’s Simmon Boccanegra as part of the O23 Festival. They were also a guest performer (as their opera singing drag personality, Balena Canto) in Late Night Snacks, "A mixed-plate performance that’s 50% cabaret destination, 50% neighborhood jawn, and 100% good to the last bite" (co-produced by Opera Philadelphia/O23 Festival, The Bearded Ladies Cabaret, and Philly Fringe). In April of this year, Matthew made their solo role debut with the company singing "The Sargent" in Puccini’s La Bohème. In July, Matthew traveled to Leugny, France with Opera-Cation to perform a series of concerts at several local churches and venues throughout the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of France! Opera-Cation's mission is to foster community and a shared love of music between American singers and the people of rural France. Matthew began the 2023 season by returning to Baltimore Musicales to sing Ravel’s Cinq mélodies populaires grecques for a program entitled, Songs of Solace. They had previously joined the ensemble in February 2022 for Love is in the Air, a Valentine’s Musicale where Matthew sang art songs by Barber, Hahn, Saint-Saëns & Schubert.
As a winner of Montpelier Arts Center 2022/2023 Classical Recital Competition, Matthew presented a program of vocal music by De Falla, Ravel, Respighi, and Vaughan Williams in November 2022 with pianist, Benjamin D'Annibale! In August 2022, Matthew joined Hogfish Festival in Cape Elizabeth, ME as an Artist-in-residence performing as Wood Sprite/Thomas (cover) in the company’s inaugural production of Gluck's L'arbre enchanté . In May 2022 Matthew was a soloist in Lancaster Symphony's Neighborhood Concert Series singing Leporello in scenes from Mozart's Don Giovanni and Schlendrian in scenes from Bach's Coffee Cantata under the baton of guest conductor, Chelsey Gallo.
Additional opera/theater highlights include, the title role in Eugene Onegin (Russian Opera Workshop), Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro (Wilmington Concert Opera and Cleveland Institute of Music Opera Theater), Pandolfe in Cendrillon (Miami Music Festival), Senex in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum & Schaunard (cover) in La Bohème (Natchez Festival of Music), Morbio in Strauss' Die schweigsame Frau and Baptista in Kiss Me, Kate! (Pittsburgh Festival Opera), The Strong Man in Sid the Serpent Who Wanted to Sing (Penn Square Opera), Bob in The Old Maid and the Thief and First Stepsister in Martin's The True Story of Cinderella (Opera Tutti!), Melissa in a queer retelling of Handel's Alcina entitled, Alcina REVAMPED (Alter Ego Chamber Opera/Philly Fringe Festival), Dr. Falke in Die Fledermaus, Albert in Werther, and Marco in Gianni Schicchi (Temple University Opera Theater).
Additional concert/recital highlights include bass soloist in Bach’s Magnificat and Mozart’s Coronation Mass (Vox Ama Deus Ensemble), Siméon in L'enfant prodigue, bass soloist in Schubert's Mass in G & Mass in C, Bach's Cantata 140, Mozart's Vesperae solennes de confessore & Charpentier’s Messe de Minuit, (Trinity Church Swarthmore), bass soloist in Haydn's Missa in Angustiis (Fairmount Presbyterian Church), bass soloist in Bach’s Cantata 58, Bruhn’s De Profundis, and Merula’s Credidi (Case Western Reserve University’s Baroque Chamber Ensemble, and baritone soloist (Cleveland Art Song Festival).
Matthew frequently performs in numerous concerts and shows with Opera on Tap: Philadelphia, including a semi-staged concert of Humperdinck's Hansel & Gretel where Matthew appeared as "The Witch!" They've also appeared as a soloist for many seasons with The Rose Tree Pops Orchestra (Media, PA) singing musical theater, American Song Book classics, and even larger classic works like Copland's American Folk Songs for voice and orchestra! You can catch Matthew singing at Fellini Cafe of Media's Opera Night on numerous Mondays every month! For 10 years, Matthew was the bass section leader/soloist at Trinity Church Swarthmore where they gave a number of solo recitals. For a full list of Matthew's performance credit's, please view their résumé here! Matthew received a BM in Vocal Performance from Temple University's Boyer College of Music & Dance and an MM in Vocal Performance from The Cleveland Institute of Music.
Matthew is a co-founder of Prismatic Arts Ensemble, a new chamber ensemble that creates immersive stagings of song literature, featuring new works and the works of lesser known composers. To learn more about Prismatic, please click here!
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 has performed extensively throughout the Greater Philadelphia area and loves combining her two loves of drag and opera! To learn more about Balena, please click here!
Video
Audio - Opera
Daniel Foltz-Morrison, tenor & Matthew Maisano, baritone (Penn Square Music Festival, 2019)
Art Song
Musical Theater
Pop, Et Al.
Matthew singing with The Rose Tree Pops Orchestra
Upcoming Events
For Matthew's most up-to-date schedule,
please visit their Linktree account!
Past Events
Mondays! Matthew is off this April, but will return on May 15th from 6:30 - 8:30 pm (Matthew is taking October off): Opera Night at Fellini Cafe, Media RETURNS after a 2 year covid induced hiatus! Join our cast for an evening of opera/musical theater classics and some delicious Italian food! Call the restaurant for reservations!
Wednesday, 3/1 @ 10 PM: Matthew joins the cast of Gaybill at Tavern on Camac hosted by Cleo Phatra for an all show tune cabaret!
Sunday, January 27 @ 3:30 PM: Enjoy Baltimore Musicales encore performance of The Sound of Solace—
a stunning program of songs and spirituals exploring the ways in which we find solace—in nature, in the divine, and in our relationships with those we love. Matthew perform Maurice Ravel's Cinq Mélodies populaires grecques. Click on the above image for more info and tickets!
Wednesday, 12/7 @ 10 PM: Matthew joins the cast of Gaybill at Tavern on Camac hosted by Cleo Phatra for an all show tune cabaret!
Sunday, November 20th @ 3:00 PM: As a winner for their 2022/2023 Classical Recital Competition ,Matthew will present an art song recital (program TBA) at the Montpelier Arts Center in Laurel, MD! Click above for tickets!
Saturday, October 29 @ 5:00 PM: Matthew joins Opera on Tap Philadelphia and Historic Germantown for an exclusive, enchanted concert of classical vocal music in a historic cemetery! This haunted Halloween event is sure to thrill as we tell musical stories of ghouls, ghosts, and goblins.
Sunday, October 23rd @ 3:30 PM: Matthew returns to Baltimore Musicales for their 9th season opener, The Sound of Solace — a stunning program of songs and spirituals exploring the ways in which we find solace—in nature, in the divine, and in our relationships with those we love. Matthew perform Maurice Ravel's Cinq Mélodies populaires grecques.
August 26-28: Matthew is ecstatic to join the inaugural season of Hogfish Festival in their production of Gluck's L'Arbre Enchanté as a magical satyr and covering the role of Thomas. For info and tickets, please click the above image!
Sunday, June 12th @ 4 pm: An Afternoon of Romantic Music features the choir of Trinity Church Swarthmore and a fine array of solo singers in songs by Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Fanny Henzel and Brahms. The highlight of the concert will be Brahms' Liebeslieder Waltzes for chorus and piano four-hands. Contributions will benefit the music fund at Trinity Swarthmore. The concert is both in-person and virtual streaming here!
Thursday, May 5th @ 7 pm Matthew makes his solo debut with the Lancaster Symphony singing Leporello in the Act II finale of Mozart's Don Giovani as well as Schlendrian in Bach's Coffee Cantata as part of LSO's Neighborhood Concert Series under the baton of Chelsea Gallo!
Friday APR 29 @ 7:30 PM: Join Matthew and the cast of Opera on Tap: Philadelia for "Go Fach Yourself - Again!" Ever wondered what a soprano aria sounds like when sung by a baritone? Or whether or not a mezzo can start as much✨drama✨ as those darn tenors? Now's your chance to find out! Come on down to Meyers Brewing to hear us get all "fached up."
3/25/22 @ 7:30 pm: Join Matthew and the cast of Opera on Tap: Philadelphia for Seeing Double: Duets and Then Song. A night out is more fun with friends! That's why this month we're focusing on duets, trios and then some! Stop by for your favorite Meyers DIPA and favorite opera ensembles! Don't take this show title literally; drink responsibly!
3/23/22 @ 10 pm: Matthew joins the cast of Gaybill for a night of showtune classics!
2/18/2022: Join Matthew and pianist Eric Smrcka as they perform songs from the Johnny Mathis Song Book! Click on the photo for details!
2/6 & 2/13/2022: Join Matthew as he makes his premiere with Baltimore Musicales as a soloist in Love is in the Air, a Valentines themed song recital! Plus, the 13th is Matthew's Birthday! Click the above photo for details and tickets!
1/21 & 1/23/2022: Matthew joins the Opera Philadelphia in the chorus for Stravinsky's Opera-Oratorio, Oedipus Rex at The Kimmel Center's Verizon Hall! Click photo for detals! Live Stream Recording Available for free here!
12/15/21: Matthew appears as Balena Canto along side soprano, Rachel Sigman and pianist, Kat Bowman, presenting a cabaret of classical and popular Holiday favorites at the historic Glen Foerd Mansion!
12/5/21: Matthew sings his 4th! Melchior in the Gian Carlo Menotti Holiday classic, Amahl and the Night Visitors presented by Three Oaks Opera under the baton of Opera Philadelphia's Liz Braden.
Reviews
The bass role of Melisso becomes Melissa—and in a further act of genderqueering, the part is essayed by Balena Canto, the drag persona of Matthew Maisano, a sonorous baritone...Canto/Maisano appears to be having a ball.
-Broad Street Review, Cameron Kelsall
"In this version Cinderella’s father Pandolfe has a large role. Matthew Maisano encompassed the serious and comic elements of the role superbly. Maisano’s dark baritone and commanding stage presence gave the role greater dimension. The tenderness of the scenes with his daughter proved one of the evening’s highlights. And his turn from harried, henpecked husband to finally standing up to his wife and Cinderella’s stepsisters, garnered approving l laughter from the audience."
-Miami Herald & South Florida Classical, Lawrence Budmen
"Aplauso especial, para Matthew Maisano como el Padre, el personaje de carácter en la obra,
que tuvo un hermoso dúo con DeLorenz./Special applause, for Matthew Maisano as the
Father, a person of character in the play, who had a beautiful duet with DeLorenz."
-el Nuevo Herald, Daniel Fernández
"The comic antics of Matthew Maisano (Morbio)...added greatly to the entertainment, both vocally and in appearance."
- Pittsburgh in the Round, George. B Parous
"Matthew Maisano made a physically imposing Count Almaviva."
-Cleveland Classical, Daniel Hathaway
Matthew Maisano joined Bergan in a duet from Massenet’s Manon...the performance of the duet was an unqualified winner...Maisano gave a forceful rendition of Count Almaviva’s aria from Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro.
-West Lake West Bay Village Observer, Louise Seeholzer
"The aria by the Count, sung by Matthew Maisano, is a soliloquy of sorts about his concern of how he is viewed by his servants. An aria that Bamberger said has been labeled the “greatest psychological aria in opera.” Maisano conveyed well the deep emotion of the composer’s work."
-West Lake West Bay Village Observer, Louise Seeholzer
"Matthew Maisano made an impressive ROW debut. His voice is stentorian at full-throttle - he sings Puccini's Michele - yet he can hone it to delicate soft singing...Matthew deftly conveyed Onegin's eternal boredom, peppered with superciliousness, condescension, misogyny and general lack of empathy...Matthew, a tall man, sang Onegin's famous aria, 'Когда бы жизнь домашним кругом' with a compelling sense of bel canto line, all the while literally looking down on a cringing, cowering Tatyana, dramatically ratcheting up, thereby, the lass's humiliation...At Gremin's society cotillion, where Onegin rediscovers the newly minted
Tatyana, Matthew, animated by his character's reawakened passion, made the love -
struck arioso, 'Ужель та самая Татьяна' containing an ironic reprise of the principal Letter
Scene melody, a vocal high point of the evening."
-Lew's Opera Views and Experiences in Tempo (Internet Blog), Lew Loesberg
News
Matthew sits down with Voyage Baltimore Magazine to discuss their life and career as an classical singer and a drag artist! Click the above image to read this exciting interview!
12/2021: LA based designer and opera diva, Suzanne
Vinnik introduces the "Maisano" print (named after yours truly) to her stunning clothing line, by vinnik! Purchase your very own "Maisano" print before they sell out! Just click the above photos!
12/27/2021: A clip from my interview with The Empowered Musician where I talk about being able to fulfill my queer opera dreams this past summer as Melissa in Alter Ego Chamber Opera's unique and stunning production of Alcina REVAMPED! Thank you so much for the feature!
11/05/2020: Soprano and Host of Fermata Fashion, Rachel Sigman sits down with opera singer and drag performer Matthew Maisano aka Balena Canto as they discuss the intersecting worlds of opera and drag, inclusivity and growing up to be the person you were meant to be.
10/15/2018: Company Feature: Wilmington Concert Opera
Matthew appears in Modern Singer Magazine's featurette on Wilmington Concert Opera and their Fall 2018 production
of Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro
05/2018: Matthew appears on LMTV's The Library Show to discuss his career in opera and classical music. The
segment begins at the 12:58 mark.
11/02/2015: "The Making of Figaro" Episode 8: Recitative
Matthew appears in the Cleveland Institute of Music's online docuseries about the institute's fall 2015 production of
Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro
10/20/2015: "The Making of Figaro" Episode 2: Meet the Cast
Matthew appears in the Cleveland Institute of Music's online docuseries about the institute's fall 2015 production of
Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro.