BEATNIKBARITONE

Baritone Michael Pistorio aims to bring modern finesse to classical singing. By blending his "magnificent voice" with intimate drama, making him an audience favorite. Michael has performed as an opera principal and concert soloist in the Mid-Atlantic region for over a decade, most recently he was praised for "fully encapsulating" the titular character of Dead Man Walking by Jake Heggie "...with a mixture of defiance and fear..." (with OperaAACC)​​. ​

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​In 2024, Michael was thrilled to make multiple company and role debuts beginning with Ark & Dove Presbyterian Choir for a concert of Heather Sorenson's new Easter cantata These Ancient Words as the bass soloist. This was followed by a staged production of Craig Hella Johnson's fusion-oratorio Considering Matthew Shepard with OperaAACC, covering the roles of The Fence & Cantor. During this time he also joined the Heritage Signature Chorale for performances of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony performed at The Clarice Center for the Performing Arts and Washington National Cathedral under the baton of internationally acclaimed conductor, Marin Alsop. 

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The following season, Michael rejoined the Heritage Signature Chorale for Silence the Violence in Washington DC before a series of concerts sponsored by Really Spicy Opera and The American Friends of LaFayette to commemorate the bicentennial of General LaFayette's tour of Baltimore, Maryland in 1824, with historically informed performances of music compositions from the occasion. Again with the Heritage Signature Chorale, Michael performed at The Kennedy Center for the National Symphony Orchestra's Holiday Pops with Jessica Vosk, under the baton of Steven Reineke. Also during the holiday season, Michael gave his role debut as Jim Young in the Mid-Atlantic premiere of The Gift of the Magi, a new Christmas chamber opera by Eric Whitacre.

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In 2025, Michael joined the roster of Bach in Baltimore under the direction of Herb Dimmock as a Paul M Angell Foundation Emerging Artist where he performed Haydn's The Creation, Cantata BWV 194, Cantata BWV 194, Cantata BWV 29, selections from both Matthäus-Passion and Weihnachtsoratorium, and as Jesus of Nazareth in Johannes-Passion. He also gave his highly anticipated role debut as Joseph De Rocher in a new production of Dead Man Walking with OperaAACC under the direction of Douglas Brandt Byerly and conducted by Mr. Quinton Folks; he returned in the spring for an abridged concert of Considering Matthew Shepard (C. Hella Johnson) debuting the roles of The Fence & Cantor, marking his ninth career collaboration with the company. 

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In addition to performing, Michael is also a reputable private voice instructor. His former students have gone on to attend major US conservatories with scholarships, claim top prizes at the NATS Auditions, and perform Off-Broadway under his guidance. Michael is also the Co-Founder and Marketing Director of Charm City Opera Retreat, a development program for early career and emerging opera singers in the Maryland area. 

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