Praised by the LA Times for giving “One of the Performances of the Year”, Mexican-American baritone Armando Contreras is quickly becoming a standout in the world of opera. He was recently featured in Opera America Magazine as one of the rising stars in opera. In the 2024-2025 season, Armando sings three title roles starting with Antonio Cagnoni’s Don Bucefalo with Pacific Opera Project, appears as Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Opera Las Vegas, then Gianni Schicchi with Salt Marsh Opera. Armando concludes the season with his signature role of Lt. Roberto Gonzalez in The Knock with Central City Opera. In the 2025/2026 season, Armando sings the title role in The Old Man and the Sea with Opera Columbus, productions of Zorro with Arizona Opera and Pacific Opera Project and performances with Art Song Colorado.
Recently, Armando stepped in for world-renowned baritone, Nathan Gunn to sing the title role in The Old Man and the Sea with the Beth Morrison Projects. Since then, Armando has sung the role in Arizona, North Carolina and will continue the role with Opera Columbus. Armando created the role of the Lt. Roberto Gonzalez in The Knock at the Glimmerglass Festival in 2021 and has traveled with the production to Cincinnati Opera and Central City Opera. Armando also created the role of Lucca in the Rossini pastiche Tenor Overboard with the Glimmerglass Festival in 2022. He was Cesar Chavez in the workshop of Dolores with West Edge Opera.
An equal champion of bel-canto roles, Armando was recently praised for his performance of Don Bucefalo, “Casting agents searching for the next Luca Pisaroni or Alessandro Corbelli (today’s leading opera buffa baritones) should head to YouTube to witness Armando Contreras’s masterful performance.” (Stage and Cinema) He also sang a series of Dandini’s in Rossini’s Cenerentola with Kentucky Opera, Tri-Cities Opera, Syracuse Opera, Salt Marsh Opera and Raylynmor Opera where he was “so tight and perfect that I could not find any flaw at all.” (Arts-Louisville)
Equally comfortable in concert repertoire, he has performed with The Cleveland Orchestra, Kansas City Symphony, Colorado Symphony, and Omaha Symphony. His repertoire includes Carmina Burana, the Brahms’ Requiem and Hendel’s Messiah.
Mr. Contreras has had training with The Glimmerglass Festival, Central City Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Lyric Opera of Kansas City and The Aspen Music Festival. Mr. Contreras holds degrees in vocal performance at the Cleveland Institute of Music and the University of Missouri- Kansas City where he studied with Vinson Cole for both.
REVIEWS
THE KNOCK
The Glimmerglass Festival
"The easy caramel syrup of his voice grows ever richer as it vaults imploringly in prayer, and he makes compelling sense of Gonzalz's emotional landscape - a heavy combination of resentment, compassion, and duty-bound determination."
Russell Janzen, Opera Today 11/11/21
L'ELISIR D'AMORE
The Denver Philharmonic
"Armando Contreras brought both of his characters to life with his comical expressions and spirited baritone voice."
Julia Mertes, DU Clarion 11/08/21
DON PROCOPIO
Pacific Opera Project
"Armando Contreras was an effective Ernesto."
Maria Nockin, Broadway World 06/05/21
LE NOZZE DI FIGARO
Boulder Opera
"Armando Contreras was a dignified Count who relished his superiority over the rest of the household and showed occasional flashes of anger. His Act II aria, "Hai gia vinta la causa...Vedro mentr'io sospiro" ("I've won the cause...Should I see my servants happy while I'm sad?) mixed rage with disappointment, and resolve. Most impressive was his last scene discovery that he had chased his own wife."
Maria Nockin, Broadway World 03/08/21
LA GAZZETTA
Pacific Opera Project
"Armando Contreras as Fillipo the hotel manager, is another baritone with gravitas and he is quickly making his mark in the opera world."
Loren Lester, Schmopera 07/02/18
CARMEN
Central City Opera
"The smugglers Dancaire and Remendado were played for both comedy and intensity by Armando Contreras and Nathan Ward."
Kelly Dean Hansen, Daily Camera 07-12-17