From humble, mid-western roots, dramatic bass Brian Haase began the journey to professional classical singer with passion, determination, and a prodigious vocal talent. During his college years, he pursued singing as a talented baritone and received accolades from teachers and coaches alike for his operatic performances in leading roles.
In 2016, after years of success as a baritone, Mr. Haase heeded the advice of a few experienced operatic professionals and began to pursue serious bass repertoire. Two years of re-training from baritone to dramatic basso have produced phenomenal results. He has developed into an elegant, world-class ‘basso cantate’ and has begun preparing to perform the great basso roles of Ernani, Simon Boccanegra, Don Carlo, Boris Godunov, Die Zauberflöte, Faust, Don Giovanni, La bohême, Il barbiere di Siviglia. He will soon pursue the great operatic roles of Richard Wagner
Mr. Haase began his formal education in music at Northwestern College in Saint Paul, MN. After completing his undergraduate degree, he received a scholarship for further vocal study at Denver University in 2008, where he performed Guglielmo in Così fan tutte. While studying in Denver, he was invited to study at the International Institute of Vocal Arts in Chiari, Italy where he performed the role of Conte Palmieiri in the world premiere of Dodici personaggi written by Bruno Rigacci.
In 2009, he entered the master’s program as a baritone in operatic studies at Rice University in Houston where he studied with the eminent Dr. Stephen King. While there, he was cast as the title role in Don Giovanni, Carl Magnus in Sondheim’s A Little Night Music, Marco in Gianni Schicchi, and Procolo in Donizetti’s Viva la mama. That summer he became a fellow at the world-renowned Aspen Music Festival in Colorado. In Aspen, he covered the title role in Don Giovanni, Marcello in La bohême, and was a featured soloist in the Opera on Stage concerts and the Festival’s July 4th Gala Concert performing for thousands. He sang under the direction of conductors Richard Bado, Bruno Rigacci, and Lawrence Leighton Smith, and coached by Mignon Dunn, Coradina Caporello, and Thomas Muraco.
In 2011, Mr. Haase returned to Minneapolis, where he appeared with the Minnesota Opera in Lucia di Lammermoor and the featured role of the Scottish Soldier in their Pulitzer Prize-winning production of Silent Night by Kenneth Puts. He became a soloist with the Mirandola Ensemble and performed with the critically-praised Consortium Carissimi. He is currently soloist at the prestigious St. Louis King of France Catholic Church in Saint Paul. He has been heard as a soloist at The Schubert Club, and he was engaged to sing the baritone solos in Brahms’ German Requiem with the Exultate Chorus. His first public performance as a bass soloist was in Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle with MacPhail’s Sonomento in June 2017.
Public reactions to Brian’s recent performances in the bass repertoire are unanimous and resounding endorsements of his vocalism. Experienced operaphiles, coaches, and voice teachers liken his voice to the sound of “Nicolai Ghiaurov, René Pape, and Kurt Moll.” His basso instrument possesses lustrous vocal beauty and massive resonance. His imposing physical presence is dramatic and impressive.