Andrew Wilkowske- when singing a “virile, sturdy Marcello” or a “garrulous yet endearing” Papageno- displays an engaging combination of musical talent and masterful stage presence. Wilkowske, whose voice has been described as “nimble,” with an “impressively open top,” is one of the most versatile performers on the stage today. A gifted actor as well as singer, Wilkowske’s recent performance in The Emperor of Atlantis with Boston Lyric Opera "hit the mark dead center, capturing both the absurd performance art of political demagoguery and the primal human bewilderment in the face of death," according to Opera News.
This season he returns to Skylight Opera Theatre for the world premiere of Kirke Mechem's The Rivals, playing the role of Prussian Mercenary Baron von Hakenbock. He will also create the role of Ponchel in the world premiere of Kevin Puts' and Mark Campbell's Silent Night at Minnesota Opera. Later this season, Wilkowske will debut as Belcore in L'Elisir D'Amore with Utah Opera and returns to Minnesota Opera as Sharpless in Madama Butterfly.
Widely known for his expertise in modern repertoire, Wilkowske recently premiered Our Basic Nature, a solo New Music Theater piece by John Glover and Kelley Rourke with American Opera Projects and Nautilus Music Theater. He also recently reprised the role of Noah in The Grapes of Wrath with the Collegiate Chorale at Carnegie Hall. As a member of the Minnesota Opera world premiere cast in 2007 he was featured on Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion” radio show and the complete recording of the opera available on P.S. Classics. In addition, he recently covered the role of Casanova in Minnesota Opera’s 25th Anniversary production of Dominick Argento’s Casanova’s Homecoming, sang the role of Geppetto in Jonathan Dove’s The Adventures of Pinocchio, and Henry Kissinger in Nixon in China with Minnesota Opera; and sang in performances of the North American premiere of Howard Shore’s The Fly at Los Angeles Opera, conducted by Placido Domingo.
Other recent engagements include Carmina Burana with the Minnesota Orchestra, under the baton of Osmo Vänskä; Figaro in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Opera on the James; Bummerli in The Chocolate Soldier with Bard Summerscape; Emperor Overall in the critically acclaimed production of The Emperor of Atlantis with Boston Lyric Opera; and Dandini in La Cenerentola with The Minnesota Opera. Wilkowske's experiences are documented in his award-winning "A Year of Figaro" blog.
Active on the musical theatre stage, Wilkowske’s performance in Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris was called “chilling” and “deeply moving” by the St. Paul Pioneer Press, and his performance in the world premiere of Sleeping Beauty with the Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati earned him a nomination for a Cincinnati Entertainment Award.
Wilkowske has participated in the Merola Opera Program, Glimmerglass Opera’s Young American Artist Program and the Minnesota Opera Resident Artist Program. He is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) and the University of Minnesota Duluth.