Charles David Carter

Charles D. Carter demonstrates great artistic versatility and musical prowess in his approach to bass-baritone repertoire. In the end of 2019 he started performing as well as part of the creative team on the Kanye West operas “Nebuchadnezzar” and “Mary” which thrilled audiences at the Hollywood bowl in Los Angeles, Lincoln Center in NYC, Miami, Florida as well as Calabasas ,California. In the fall of 2019 he performed in the Metropolitan Opera’s season opening production of “Porgy and Bess” which historically became the only show to ever extend its run in the Met’s history. In the spring of 2019, he sang the role of The King (IL RE) in Boheme opera’s full production of Verdi’s Aida while In February 2019 he performed the role of Count Ceprano in Hudson Opera Company’s production of Verdi’s Rigoletto. In the fall of 2018 he performed the role of Sparafucile in Lighthouse Opera’s Rigoletto production as well as Elder Ott in their production of Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah. In the Spring of 2018 he performed the role of Jimmy who later reveals himself as God in Kurt Weill’s Mahagonny Songspiel with Downtown Chamber Company in NYC. In 2017 he sang the role of  Sam in Trilogy Opera’s production of Nat Turner and Il Commendatore in Lighthouse Opera’s Don Giovanni and also in 2017 performed the roles of Pinellino/Guccio in Martina Arroyo’s Prelude to Performance presentation of Gianni Schicchi. He has performed in Lyric Opera of Chicago’s critically acclaimed productions of  Showboat and Porgy and Bess. Charles appeared with Jessye Norman at Carnegie Hall for Duke Ellington’s Sacred Concerts. He appeared in an Emmy nominated broadcast of Porgy and Bess, Live from Lincoln Center conducted by John DeMain. Additionally, Charles has sung the roles of Parson Alltalk, Simon and Luddud in Scott Joplin's opera, Treemonisha. Other past engagements include Scarpia in Puccini's Tosca, Figaro in Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro and as the bass soloist for Handel’s Messiah and Mendelssohn’s Elijah. He has also sung with numerous vocal ensembles in both the classical and gospel realm. A New York native who started his training in the church as well as the Harlem School of the Arts, Charles  continued his musical education at Morgan State University in Baltimore, where he studied voice with Betty Ridgeway and, under the guidance of the late Dr. Nathan Carter, performed with the world renowned Morgan State University Choir. His musical pursuits have taken him throughout the U.S., Czech Republic, France, Spain, Italy, The Caribbean, Argentina, Brazil, Columbia, Mexico, Chile and Uruguay. Charles is a former print model who has made television appearances on the “Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon,” Jimmy Kimmel, "David Letterman Show," "The Chris Rock Show," "New York Undercover," "Good Day New York" and also on The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television's 26th Annual Gemini Award show. A proud father of two, Charles was greatly influenced and encouraged by his mother who was a classically trained mezzo-soprano. He aspires to continue in traditions set before him, using his talents to promote cultural awareness and positive exposure to the arts.