Joshua Zabatta, tenor, never imagined that singing while driving a tractor on a Montana farm, where he grew up, would eventually lead to a promising music career.  Although initially studying for a career in broadcasting, Joshua was lured into the world of opera when he was invited to participate in the Johanna Meier Opera Theatre Institute.

 

Since emerging onto the professional scene, Mr. Zabatta has been praised for his dynamic storytelling and his full, warm voice described by audiences as "audible chocolate."  Joshua quickly received acclaim as a “terrific soloist” by Sarah Bryan Miller of the St. Louis Post Dispatch after singing engagements with the Bach Society of St. Louis, with whom he was an apprentice for 3 seasons.  In addition to his multiple appearances with the Bach Society and Union Avenue Opera, Joshua Zabatta served as a soloist in Alban Berg’s Wozzeck with the St. Louis Symphony under the baton of David Robertson.

 

After relocating to Colorado, some of Mr. Zabatta’s concert performances in the region included the Mass in G by Carl Maria von Weber, Oratorio de Noël by Saint-Saëns, Dvořák Mass in D, and Beethoven Mass in C.  During the 2016-2017 Season, Joshua made his debut with Opera Colorado, singing Harry in Puccini's La Fanciulla del West.  Then, through engagements with Boulder Opera, Mr. Zabatta further expanded his repertoire, performing Don José in Carmen, Fernando in Goyescas by Granados, and Turridu in Cavalleria Rusticana.

 

In recent seasons, Joshua Zabatta was seen performing the roles of Harlekin and Ein Soldat in Viktor Ullmann's Der Kaiser von Atlantis with the newly formed People's Theatre of Denver.  Mr. Zabatta was pleased to work with opera companies as they began to reopen after Covid, singing Count Barigoule in Viardot’s Cendrillon (Loveland Opera), plus the roles of Eduardo Jr. and Mr. Xoloti in Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Girl in the World as part of a television production for Opera Steamboat.  

 

Last season, Joshua reprised the roles of Eduardo Jr. and Mr. Xoloti from Frida Kahlo and Bravest Girl in the World with Central City Opera.  Mr. Zabatta also returned to Opera Colorado, singing the First Philistine in Samson et Dalila by Saint-Saëns.  Mr. Zabatta also performed Parpignol in La Boheme with the Philadelphia Orchestra as part of the Bravo Vail Festival.

 

An avid music education advocate, Mr. Zabatta teaches and mentors dozens of students in the Denver, CO area and around the continent.  Through piano tuning and repair work, he also helps ensure that families and teachers, especially in rural areas, can access working pianos.  Joshua Zabatta currently serves as a touring and teaching artist with Central City Opera.  You can follow Joshua Zabatta’s career through his website: www.joshuazabatta.com.