
baritone
"gorgeously warm tone"
"electrifying"
"spot-on timing"
Darren Lekeith Drone

ABOUT
Described as having “a gorgeously warm tone and deep resonance” (Opera News), baritone Darren Drone is quickly making a name for himself in the opera world. In the 2022-2023 season, Mr. Drone will make a series of exciting debuts with esteemed American companies including Seattle Opera as Baron Douphol in La Traviata, Portland Opera as Zuniga in Carmen, and Opera San José in the title role of Verdi’s Falstaff. He will also participate in a workshop of Nmon Ford’s House of Orfeus, perform in a concert of operatic favorites with the Santa Fe Symphony and join the Lyric Opera of Chicago roster where he will cover Preacher Man and Bilal in the world premiere of Daniel Roumain and Anna Deavere Smith’s The Walkers. In the summer of 2023, Mr. Drone will debut at The Glimmerglass Festival as Marcello in La bohème and Grégorio in Roméo et Juliette. Future seasons will also see him at Dallas Opera and Florentine Opera.
In the summer of 2021, Mr. Drone joined the Santa Fe Opera roster, covering the roles of the Count in Le nozze di Figaro, Starveling in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and the Captain in Eugene Onegin. In the summer of 2022, Mr. Drone returns to Santa Fe, singing Moralès in Carmen and covering the title role of Falstaff.
His 2020-21 season began with his second year of residency with Michigan Opera Theatre. During his first year with the company, roles included covering Leporello in Don Giovanni, covering the title role of Sweeney Todd, performing both the title role of Gianni Schicchi, as well as Buoso’s Ghost, covering Tonio in Pagliacci, and preparing the role of Young Man/Man in Bar in Champion (canceled due to COVID-19). In the spring of 2020, Mr. Drone was awarded as a semifinalist in the Lotte Lenya Competition, performed with the Detroit Youth Symphony Orchestra, and was scheduled to make his company debut with Opera Maine as William in The Fall of the House of Usher (canceled due to COVID-19). In 2021, Mr. Drone made his company debut with Opera Naples as Riff in West Side Story and singing Baron Douphol while covering Germont in La Traviata. He was also set to make his role debut as the title role in Le nozze di Figaro with Opera in the Heights (COVID 19)

GIANNI SCHICCHI & BUOSO'S GHOST at Michigan Opera Theater
"The audience was in good hands with Studio Artist Darren Drone as Gianni Schicchi. Ideally cast in the broad comedic role, Drone has a gorgeously warm tone and deep resonance which he deployed with spot on timing." -Opera News
"Darren Drone, as the wily Schicchi, proved he has the chops,
the charisma, and the comedic nuance to excel in this role."
-Encore Michigan
LA FILLE DU RÉGIMENT at Opera in the Heights
"As Sulpice, surrogate father to Marie, baritone Darren Drone projects lighthearted macho charm and a drill sergeant's commanding voice." -Houston Press
AMAZING GRACE at Utah Festival Opera
"In the second act he sings 'Nowhere Left to Run' which is one of the most powerful numbers in the show. Drone's rich baritone voice is filled with such passion as he sings it, and it received the biggest applause from the audience." -Front Row Reviewers
"Darren Lekeith Drone is electrifying as Thomas." -HJ News

UPCOMING
Falstaff-Falstaff
Opera San Jose
Feb 2023
Bilal/Preacher Man (cover)-The Walkers
Lyric Opera of Chicago
March/April 2023
Baron Douphol-La traviata
Seattle Opera
May 2023
Marcello-La boheme
Glimmerglass Festival
July/August 2023


CONTACT

Stratagem Artist Management, LLC.
New York, NY USA
tel. 646.847.9924
Justin Werner - Artist Manager
500 Terry Francois Street, San Francisco, CA 94158 info@mysite.com | Tel: 123-456-7890