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John Cheek

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Biography

Born: August 17, 1948; Greenville, NC

Taken into the fold of the Metropolitan Opera before the age of 30, this versatile bass baritone has grown from a promising beginning to satisfying artistic maturity. John Cheek's compact, finely focused instrument has gained in density over the years without losing its firm, handsome sound; indeed, his finest work has come since he entered his forties, a time when many other basses and bass baritones are already showing evidence of vocal Read more deterioration. His good looks have also served to make his an effective stage presence. Often, he has produced performances perceptibly better-sung and acted than those by singers far more aggressively promoted by recording companies. Although Cheek has frequently recorded and has primarily been heard in leading roles, stardom has eluded him. On the other hand, listeners seeking vocal polish and artistic sensitivity have discovered in him a singer who commands utmost respect.

Born in South Carolina, Cheek grew up in Wilmington, NC, and was a student at the North Carolina School for the Arts. Upon graduation, he studied at the Manhattan School of Music and in Siena, Italy, where he underwent advanced training with Gino Bechi, the famous baritone who sang and recorded in Italy during the 1940s and 1950s. Cheek's Metropolitan Opera debut took place on October 11, 1977, when he sang the Physician in Pelléas et Mélisande. In subsequent seasons, he was heard in more prominent roles, such as Mozart's Figaro, Ferrando in Il trovatore, Monterone, Pimen, Panthée (Les troyens), Wurm, Alfonso, Méphistophélès, and even Klingsor. Cheek's New York City Opera debut came in 1986 and he has since sung a number of leading roles in that theater.

Cheek's career has taken him far beyond New York. In the 1990s alone, he sang in Verdi's Don Carlos in Nice and performed Berlioz's La Damnation de Faust with the Minnesota Orchestra under Valery Gergiev. During the 1993 - 1994 season, he again performed La Damnation de Faust in concert, this time singing Méphistophélès with the St. Louis Symphony and in Europe was heard as Attila in Nice and Zaccaria in Bregenz. The 1994 - 1995 season found Cheek returning to Nice for Boito's Mefistofele and essaying Berlioz's devil once more, this time in Stockholm. The next season was notable for Cheek's first Don Pasquale at the Cincinnati Summer Opera, Don Giovanni with Milwaukee's Florentine Opera, and Nick Shadow (his first on-stage) with the Berkshire Opera. For the 1997 - 1998 season, Cheek sang his first Vanderdecken in the Florentine Opera's Flying Dutchman, presented Gounod's Méphistophélès at the Quebec Opera and portrayed Frère Lawrence in Pittsburgh. For 1998 - 1999, Cheek took his Dutchman to both Houston and Columbus, sang King Philip in Montreal and bedeviled Gounod's Faust in Seattle. As his career crossed into the new millennium, Cheek sang with the Dallas Civic Opera in La clemenza di Tito and sang Berlioz's Méphistophélès in Helsinki.

Cheek has achieved equal distinction on the concert stage, having sung with nearly all the major American symphonies and many abroad. Under such estimable conductors as Leonard Bernstein, Sir Andrew Davis, Sir Colin Davis, Charles Dutoit, James Levine, Zubin Mehta, Leonard Slatkin, and Sir Georg Solti, he has sung an eclectic assortment of the core concert repertory as well as works by contemporary composers. Aside from such works as Verdi's Requiem, Beethoven's Missa Solemnis, and Schoenberg's Gurrelieder (recorded), he premiered Tippett's Mask of Time (also recorded) and has been acclaimed in Martinu's Field Mass and Frank Martin's In Terra Pax. Read less

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1.

Schoenberg: Gurre-lieder / Mehta, Lakes, Marton, Quivar, New York Philharmonic

Label: Newton Classics Catalog: 8802190 Release Date: 07/30/2013 Number of Discs: 2
Composer: Arnold Schoenberg
Performer: Florence Quivar, Eva Martón, Hans Hotter, Jon Garrison ...
Conductor: Zubin Mehta
Orchestra/Ensemble: New York Choral Artists, New York Philharmonic
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2.

Bernstein: Songfest, Symphony No 1 / Slatkin, Bernstein

Label: Rca Victor Red Seal Catalog: 61581 Release Date: 03/04/2011 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Leonard Bernstein
Performer: John Cheek, Wendy White, Patricia Spence, Vernon Hartman ...
Conductor: Leonard Slatkin, Leonard Bernstein
Orchestra/Ensemble: St. Louis Symphony Orchestra

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3.

Scearce: The 99 Beautiful Names Of God / John Cheek

Label: Albany Records Catalog: 1139 Release Date: 09/08/2009 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: J. Mark Scearce
Performer: John Cheek
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4.

Stravinsky: The Rake's Progress / West, Garrison, Cheek, Craft, Orchestra Of St. Luke's

Label: Naxos Catalog: 8660272-73 Release Date: 05/26/2009 Number of Discs: 2
Composer: Igor Stravinsky
Performer: Jeffrey Johnson, Shirley Love, Melvin Lowery, Jayne West ...
Conductor: Robert Craft
Orchestra/Ensemble: Orchestra of St. Luke's, Gregg Smith Singers
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5.

Franck: Les Beatitudes / Rilling, Stuttgart Radio Symphony

Label: Hänssler Classic Catalog: 98548 Release Date: 05/12/2009 Number of Discs: 2
Composer: César Franck
Performer: Juan Vasle, Reinhard Hagen, John Cheek, Ingeborg Danz ...
Conductor: Helmuth Rilling
Orchestra/Ensemble: Gächinger Kantorei Stuttgart, Stuttgart Radio Symphony Orchestra
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6.

British Composers - Tippett: The Mask Of Time / Andrew Davis

Label: Emi Classics Catalog: 64711 Release Date: 07/23/2008 Number of Discs: 2
Composer: Michael Tippett
Performer: Sarah Walker, Robert Tear, Faye Robinson, John Cheek
Conductor: Sir Andrew Davis
Orchestra/Ensemble: BBC Symphony Orchestra, BBC Symphony Chorus, BBC Singers

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7.

Tippett: Child Of Our Time / Robinson, Walker, Et Al

Label: Naxos Catalog: 8557570 Release Date: 02/22/2005 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Michael Tippett
Performer: Faye Robinson, Sarah Walker, Jon Garrison, John Cheek
Conductor: Michael Tippett
Orchestra/Ensemble: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Choir
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8.

Handel: Deidamia / Palmer, Baird, Brewer Chamber Orchestra

Label: Albany Records Catalog: 460 Release Date: 08/28/2001 Number of Discs: 3
Composer: George Frideric Handel
Performer: Brenda Harris, Julianne Baird, D'Anna Fortunato, John Cheek ...
Conductor: Rudolph Palmer
Orchestra/Ensemble: Brewer Baroque Chamber Orchestra, Rudolph Palmer Singers

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9.

Opera - Puccini: Tosca (Highlights) / Levine, Scotto, Et Al

Label: Emi Seraphim Catalog: 74131 Release Date: 10/24/2000 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Giacomo Puccini
Performer: Renata Scotto, Andrea Velis, Paul Hudson, Placido Domingo ...
Conductor: James Levine
Orchestra/Ensemble: Philharmonia Orchestra, St. Clement Danes Grammar School Boys Choir, Ambrosian Opera Chorus

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10.

Handel: Messiah /Westenburg, Musica Sacra

Label: Rca Red Seal Hp Catalog: 63317 Release Date: 08/10/1999 Number of Discs: 2
Composer: George Frideric Handel
Performer: John Cheek, Richard Westenburg, Martin Berinbaum, Frederick Zlotkin ...
Conductor: Richard Westenburg
Orchestra/Ensemble: Musica Sacra

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11.

Menotti: The Consul / Revzen, Castle, Golden, Et Al

Label: Newport Classic Catalog: 85645 Release Date: 10/20/1998 Number of Discs: 2
Composer: Gian Carlo Menotti
Performer: Joyce Castle, Beverly Thiele, Emily Golden, John Davies ...
Conductor: Joel Revzen
Orchestra/Ensemble: Berkshire Opera Company

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12.

The Art Of The American Singer

Label: Newport Classic Catalog: 85636 Release Date: 09/15/1998 Number of Discs: 1
Composer: Amy Marcy Beach, George Frideric Handel, André Messager, Victor Herbert ...
Performer: Mary Ellen Callahan, Frederick Urrey, Ted Christopher, Julianne Baird ...
Conductor: Rudolph Palmer, J. Lynn Thompson, Johannes Somary, Michael Butterman ...
Orchestra/Ensemble: Rudolph Palmer Singers, Brewer Baroque Chamber Orchestra, Ohio Light Opera ...

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13.

Haydn: Creation / Somary, Amorartis, Harris, Halvorson, Etc

Label: Newport Classic Catalog: 85627 Release Date: 03/17/1998 Number of Discs: 2
Composer: Franz Joseph Haydn
Performer: Brenda Harris, Carl Halvorson, John Cheek
Conductor: Johannes Somary
Orchestra/Ensemble: Amor Artis Orchestra, Fairfield County Chorale

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14.

Schoenberg: Gurre-lieder / Mehta, Lakes, Marton, Quivar

Label: Sony Catalog: 48077 Release Date: 02/27/1998 Number of Discs: 2
Composer: Arnold Schoenberg
Performer: Eva Martón, Florence Quivar, Hans Hotter, Jon Garrison ...
Conductor: Zubin Mehta
Orchestra/Ensemble: New York Philharmonic, New York Choral Artists

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15.

Puccini: Tosca / Levine, Scotto, Domingo

Label: Warner Classics Catalog: 66504 Release Date: 09/30/1997 Number of Discs: 2
Composer: Giacomo Puccini
Performer: Renato Bruson, John Cheek, Paul Hudson, Placido Domingo ...
Conductor: James Levine
Orchestra/Ensemble: Ambrosian Opera Chorus, Philharmonia Orchestra, St. Clement Danes Grammar School Boys Choir

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16.

Haydn: The Creation / Revzen, Dawson, Rosenshein, Et Al

Label: Albany Records Catalog: 5/6 Release Date: 07/06/1995 Number of Discs: 2
Composer: Franz Joseph Haydn
Performer: Neil Rosenshein, Lynne Dawson, John Cheek
Conductor: Joel Revzen
Orchestra/Ensemble: St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, Minnesota Chorale

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17.

Dvorák: Stabat Mater, Etc / Macal, New Jersey Symphony

Label: Delos Catalog: 3161 Release Date: 09/20/1994 Number of Discs: 2
Composer: Antonín Dvorák
Performer: Manfred Hemm, John Aler, Claudine Carlson, John Cheek ...
Conductor: Zdenek Macal
Orchestra/Ensemble: New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, Westminster Choir

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18.

Paine: Mass In D / Schuller, Saint Louis Symphony

Label: New World Records Catalog: 80262 Release Date: 12/08/1992 Number of Discs: 2
Composer: John Knowles Paine
Performer: John Cheek, Vinson Cole, Carmen Balthrop, Joy Blackett
Conductor: Gunther Schuller
Orchestra/Ensemble: St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, St. Louis Symphony Chorus

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19.

Haydn: The Creation / Shaw, Atlanta So & Chorus

Label: Telarc Catalog: 80298 Release Date: 10/27/1992 Number of Discs: 2
Composer: Franz Joseph Haydn
Performer: Heidi Grant Murphy, Jon Humphrey, James Michael McGuire, John Cheek ...
Conductor: Robert Shaw
Orchestra/Ensemble: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Atlanta Symphony Chamber Chorus

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20.

Classics - Berlioz: Requiem; Boïto, Verdi / Shaw, Atlanta

Label: Telarc Catalog: 80109 Release Date: 10/25/1990 Number of Discs: 2
Composer: Giuseppe Verdi, Hector Berlioz, Arrigo Boito
Performer: John Aler, John Cheek
Conductor: Robert Shaw
Orchestra/Ensemble: Atlanta Symphony Chorus, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Young Singers of Calanwolde ...
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