Biography

David Cangelosi has firmly established himself as an artist who combines both excellent singing with winning characterizations. He is highly acclaimed by major opera companies and symphony orchestras in the U.S. and abroad, particularly for his portrayal of Mime in Wagner’s Ring Cycle.

Additionally, Mr. Cangelosi serves as the Artistic/Program Director of the Vann Vocal Institute in Montgomery, Alabama, and actively travels the country as a recitalist, symphonic guest-artist, competition adjudicator, and Master Class instructor for aspiring vocalists.

Full Background and Career

Reviews

"The remarkable David Cangelosi dominates the show to such an extent that the opera should be renamed ‘Mime’."

The Classical Review
Opera Review: as Mime

All of the roles were well taken. Chief among them was the remarkable character tenor David Cangelosi as the Blind Judge. His powerful singing emphasized the Judge’s tenacity...

Opera Canada
Das Wunder der Heliane, Bard Music Festival

"David Cangelosi’s lustrous Tenor tones were conveyed with complete control as the character Mime… he obviously relished the potential of this multi-layered role...a 'tour-de–force' performance."

DC Metro Theater Arts
Opera Review: as Mime

“Pagliacci’s best singing of the night came from Beppe…in a sweetly sung serenade, courtesy of tenor David Cangelosi. “

William V. Madison, Opera News
Opera review: Pagliacci, Lyric Opera of Chicago

The henchman (Spoletta)...well sung by David Cangelosi (a splendid character actor).

Washington Classical Review
‘Tosca’, Washington National Opera (May 11, 2019)

Similarly, I always enjoy veteran performer American tenor David Cangelosi. In this production, he was Monostatos. Cangelosi has been around international opera long enough to telegraph “I got this” to the audience. My guess is that kind of cool has a calming effect backstage, similar to that of a veteran ballplayer sitting on the bench with the jumpy rookies. DC Metro Theater Arts

DC Metro Theater Arts
The Magic Flute, Washington National Opera

And casting David Cangelosi in the problematic role of Monostatos was inspired. Cangelosi went to town playing up the character’s officious buffoonery, singing strongly all the while.

Washington Post
The Magic Flute, Washington National Opera

“Mime is David Cangelosi – beyond any doubt whatsoever the best acting I’ve seen anywhere in the world for this very fun – and challenging role.”

Operawarhorses.com
Opera Review: Siegfried, San Francisco Opera

“David Cangelosi’s Mime was vocally exactly right…moving…climbing…even doing an (impressive) series of cartwheels. “Cangelosi comes through it all, to his credit, singing well all along.”

San Francisco Examiner
Opera Review: Siegfried, San Francisco Opera

“Tenor David Cangelosi made a real human being out of the secondary character Prunier, and delivered the musically important part with panache. “

T.J. Medrek, Boston Herald
Opera review: La Rondine, Boston Lyric Opera

"Mime…brilliantly sung and acted by David Cangelosi, possibly the greatest Mime ever."

Opera West
Opera Review: as Mime

The supporting cast was first rate. David Cangelosi as the Blind Judge gave a stentorian hint that Justice might be rendered.

ConcertoNet
Das Wunder der Heliane, Bard Music Festival

"Nobody has ever been more effective or as amusing than David Cangelosi as Mime; he made every minute of this role a total pleasure."

Opera West
Opera Review: as Mime

More Reviews and Publicity

Cange's Corner

See All Videos

Featured Guest on ABC World News with Diane Sawyer (sort of)

September 7, 2011
Category:

When I was stopped on the streets of Chicago on an unusually chilly early September Tuesday, and was asked to participate in the inaugural segment of something entitled “Bringing America Back” for ABC World News, how could I refuse?!  I was told I would be a featured guest that very evening (Sept. 6); so with […]

Read More

Old in San Diego (subtitle: What ever happened to class??)

August 23, 2011
Category:

When I first heard the characters Mama Morton and Velma Kelly sing the duet “What Ever Happened to Class” from the Kander/Ebb/Fosse musical Chicago, my derriere became a size or two smaller from laughing so hard.  Even though the characters are from the days of Prohibition, their social commentary about men, women, and the ‘youth […]

Read More

Opera Review: Wozzeck, Santa Fe Opera-July 30, 2011

August 1, 2011
Category:

There have been many ‘soldier portrayals/characters’ in the annals of the operatic forum; from the comic, blustering Belcore in Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore, all the way to a cross between Gomer Pyle and Forrest Gump in the character of Josef Schweik in Kurka’s rather contemporary opera The Good Soldier Schweik, that dates as recently as the […]

Read More

It's All History Now!

July 19, 2011
Category:

When the final curtain came down on San Francisco Opera’s newly rolled out Ring Cycle, a great sigh (or shall we say “heave”) of relief came from all corners of the Opera House:  From the Administrative Office Suites, across to the Media Studio, through the Public Relations wing, right down to the Rehearsal Department, and […]

Read More

One Last Hurrah…

June 30, 2011
Category:

It’s Final Siegfried Eve here in San Francisco, and as I gaze out at the clear blue sky (a true rarity these past few months) from my temporary condo at the Opera Plaza complex, I am thinking back on just how quickly the time has passed.  Even though the past three months have been saturated with […]

Read More

Out of the Closet…(Finally)

June 23, 2011
Category:

As a result of the dizzying success of San Francisco Opera’s new Ring Cycle, and for me, Siegfried in particular; I have come so close to being ‘outed’, that I might just as well cop to it right now on my own terms.  If I do not, then I am at risk of photos that […]

Read More

Butterflies are free…

June 14, 2011
Category:

I write this blog posting as I wait to perform Das Rheingold, the first installment of Richard Wagner’s epic Ring of the Nibelungen, on this, the first of our ‘Cycle’ presentations.  We will perform all four operas this week, and repeat this task to complete 3 full cycles by the July 4th Holiday weekend.  As […]

Read More

Siegfried pandemonium, and "One for the Techies"

June 2, 2011
Category:

The roof of San Francisco’s War Memorial Opera House almost blew off of it’s trusses last Sunday evening (May 29) at approximately 5:55 p.m. local time–and I am not kidding!!!  Don’t just take my word for it; ask anyone who was there!!  Read on, and you will understand some of what may have contributed to […]

Read More

Browse All Articles

Schedule

    25apr19mayCunning Little Vixen, Detroit Opera (debut)

    11jul(jul 11)7:30 pm14(jul 14)2:00 pmIl Prigioniero, Opera Festival of ChicagoAthenaeum Theater 2936 N Southport Ave Chicago, IL 60657

    05oct7:00 pm9:00 pmVann Vocal Institute, Farewell Celebrity Recital

View Full Schedule

Let's Chat

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

X