Tenor Charles Calotta is known for his luminous voice, refined musicianship, and compelling stage presence.
In 2026, Charles joined Knoxville Opera as Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi, where Arts Knoxville wrote, “Tenor Charles Calotta was a marvelous Rinuccio, his vocal clarity establishing him as the romantic lead.” He was tenor soloist in The Liverpool Oratorio with the Eugene Concert Choir and made a triumphant return to Union Avenue Opera as Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore, where Broadway World noted, “Calotta brings a rich, powerful vocal beauty to the role — plus a handsome face, a physical grace, and a personal charm that totally wins us.” The busy tenor returns to Tulsa Opera in the role of Laurie in Little Women and sings his first Roméo in Roméo et Juliette with Mobile Opera. His 2027 engagements include role and company debuts as Rodolfo in La bohème with Anchorage Opera and as the Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto with Annapolis Opera.
In 2025, Charles sang Hiloha and Loksi’ Sipokni’ in the world premiere of Shell Shaker—the first opera in the Chickasaw language—with the Mt. Holyoke Symphony, Y-chromosome Adam and Pano in White Raven, Black Dovewith White Snake Projects, Freddy Eynsford-Hill in My Fair Lady with Union Avenue Opera, Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni with Annapolis Opera, All is Calm at Opera Steamboat, and covered the role of Diego de la Vega in Héctor Armienta’s Zorro at Opera San Jose.
In 2024, Charles was heard at Opera Neo as Grimoaldo in Rodelinda and Ferrando in Così fan tutte, a role he also sang with Opera Ithaca. He debuted Curzio in Le nozze di Figaro with Sacramento Opera and Laurie in Little Womenat Fort Worth Opera where the Dallas Morning News declared him ‘a most sympathetic Laurie…’ The talented tenor also sang his first Narraboth in Salome at National Sawdust. Notable performances include appearances with the Prague Summer Nights and Lyrique International de Belle-Île Festivals, Florida Grand Opera, Opera North, and the Maryland Opera Studio. His roles include Tamino in Die Zauberflöte and Count Almaviva in Il barbiere di Siviglia,Nyman’s The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, Gregory Spears’ Fellow Travelers and André Previn’s A Streetcar Named Desire.
Recent highlights include performances as Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore with Opera Mobile, Spoletta in Tosca and Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi with Florida Grand Opera, Orpheus in Orpheus in the Underworld with Opera Ithaca, and the title role in Mitridate, Re di Ponto at Opera Neo. He also made his recital debut with Lyric Fest in Philadelphia, showcasing early Italian music to great acclaim. Additional recent engagements include Ferrando in Così fan tutte with Opera North and Almaviva in Il barbiere di Siviglia with the Winter Harbor Music Festival.
Calotta’s concert credits include performances of the Saint-Saëns Requiem and Beethoven’s Mass in C with several orchestras. A native New Yorker, he has received several prestigious awards, including the Delene Laubenheim McClure Prize and the Michelson Collaborative Arts Award. Calotta holds degrees from Vanderbilt University and the University of Maryland.