Praised for his “clean, clear voice,” David Walton dazzles stages across the country to critical acclaim as a versatile lyric tenor to watch. A favorite tenor of bel canto, Mr. Walton has frequented such roles as Ernesto in Donizetti’s Don Pasquale, Tonio in La fille du régiment, Ramiro in Rossini’s La Cenerentola and Almaviva in Il barbiere di Siviglia. His voice has been described as a “plangent tenor tone” (Opera Today) and “the sweetest singing of the evening...a lyric tenor with strong Italianate stylings” (Star Tribune), “a 21st century Rossini tenor” (Opera War Horses), and “smooth, lyrical, and capable of scaling the heights” (Virginia Pilot). Company appearances include Cincinnati Opera, Kentucky Opera, Virginia Opera, Minnesota Opera, and the Glimmerglass Festival in a new production by Francesca Zambello where Opera News labeled him “genuinely funny.” Other operas include Rossini’s L’occasione fa il ladro and La scala di seta, Mozart’s Così fan tutte, Die Zauberflöte, Die Entführung aus dem Serail, and Handel’s Acis and Galatea.  

 

In the 2024-2025 season, Mr. Walton brings his celebrated Count Almaviva in Il barbiere di Siviglia to Minnesota Opera and to Madison Opera. In his début with the South Florida Symphony, he sings the title role in their semi-staged Candide, makes his role debut as Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni with Livermore Valley Opera, and returns to the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra in an all Bach/Mozart program. Other concert appearances include Transept Vocal Ensemble in Sioux Falls, Columbus Symphony and Pacific Symphony for the tenor solo in Handel’s Messiah, and his debut as the Evangelist in Bach’s Christmas Oratorio with Winona Symphony.