The baritone Rod Gilfry has performed throughout Europe and the United States. Best known as an opera singer, he is equally acclaimed as a recitalist and concert performer, with several audio and video recordings to his credit. He was brought to worldwide attention when he created the rôle of Stanley Kowalski in the 1998 première of André Previn’s A Streetcar Named Desire with the San Francisco Opera. In his fifth world première he created the rôle of Jack London in the new Libby Larsen/Philip Littell opera Every Man Jack. Other appearances have included Lionel in the San Francisco Opera production of Tchaikovsky’s Joan of Arc, Prospero in the American première of Thomas Adès’s The Tempest at the Santa Fe Opera, and Nathan in the American première of Nicholas Maw’s Sophie’s Choice in Washington DC.

Rod Gilfry has been recognised as a Distinguished Alumnus of both Cal State Fullerton, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in 1981, and the University of Southern California, where he earned a master’s degree in Vocal Performance in 1983.