For 20 years, in a range of opera and concert repertoire including Baroque, Classical, verismo, 20th Century and many of today's composers, Keith Phares has appeared in leading roles with Washington National Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Seattle Opera, the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, São Paolo Symphony Orchestra, Santa Fe Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and elsewhere; in collaboration with Hal Prince, Francesca Zambello, Frank Corsaro, Paul Curran, Richard Hickox, Patrick Summers, Harry Bicket, Marin Alsop, Sir Colin Davis, Sir Thomas Allen, among others; and in recital with the Marilyn Horne Foundation, WordSong, Illuminarts and LyricFest; bachelor's degree from the University of Richmond and master's degree from the New England Conservatory, with additional study at Music Academy of the West, Aspen Music Festival and the Juilliard Opera Center; studied with W. Stephen Smith, Richard Hughes, Edward Zambara, Marilyn Horne, Warren Jones, Steven Blier, Ken Merrilll and John Moriarty.
An ardent exponent of contemporary American opera, Phares sang Kynaston on the Grammy-nominated recording of Carlisle Floyd’s Prince of Players, Charlie in the premiere and recording of Jake Heggie's Three Decembers opposite Frederica von Stade with Houston Grand Opera and San Francisco Opera, the Father in the premiere and recording of Gregory Spears’ Paul's Case with UrbanArias and PROTOTYPE, Elder Tull in the premiere of Craig Bohmler's Riders of the Purple Sage, Dr. Ludwig Binswanger in the premiere of Ricky Ian Gordon's Ellen West, George Hurstwood in the premiere and recording of Robert Aldridge's Sister Carrie, and the title role in the premiere and live, Grammy-winning recording of Aldridge's Elmer Gantry.
