A regular performer in both Europe and the United States, John Moore is garnering praise for his energetic performances and burnished baritone in both operatic and concert repertoire. He is a graduate of the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Program.
John Moore’s 2025-2026 season features an exciting range of repertoire. He begins the season returning to The Metropolitan Opera, singing Harry in the season-opening premiere of Mason Bates and Gene Scheer’s The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay. He then makes his debut with the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia for a program of scenes from Adams’ Nixon in China, led by the composer. He also debuts the role of George in Of Mice and Men with Des Moines Metro Opera and Lyric Opera of Kansas City. On the concert stage, John joins the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center for an evening of Bach cantatas, Washington Concert Opera as Thoas in Gluck’s Iphigénie en Tauride, and Musica Sacra for a concert and recording of Wayne Oquin’s Leaves of Grass (world premiere). Future seasons include his debut with the Finnish National Opera.
During the 2024-2025 season, John Moore made his Lyric Opera of Chicago debut as Dillon in Mazzoli and Vavrek's The Listeners, and returned to Opera Philadelphia for performances of the same role. He also debuted with Washington National Opera as Steve Jobs in The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs, a role he has sung across the United States to great acclaim. With Odyssey Opera and Boston Modern Orchestra Project, he performed and recorded the role of Kinesias in Mark Adamo's Lysistrata. He joined the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra twice in the season, for concerts of Handel’s Messiah followed later by performances of Poulenc’s Le bal masqué.
Moore’s 2023-24 season began with San Francisco Opera, bowing as Steve Jobs in The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs. In addition, he performed as Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Pittsburgh Opera, the title role of Sweeney Todd with Dayton Opera, and joined Seattle Opera for the company's 60th Anniversary Gala concert.
An in-demand interpreter of contemporary works, John Moore created the role of Jan in the world premiere of Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek’s Breaking the Waves with Opera Philadelphia, which he reprised with Beth Morrison Projects in New York City performances. He continued his relationship with Mazzoli and Vavrek as Pa Zegner in the first performances of Proving Up at Opera Omaha and the Miller Theater. He sang Hannah Before in As One with Seattle Opera, which he additionally performed with Des Moines Metro Opera, and also sang Abbé Lorenzo in a new production of Argento’s Casanova’s Homecoming at Minnesota Opera.
Since his Metropolitan Opera debut in 2007 as Fiorello in Il barbiere di Siviglia, John Moore has returned regularly to perform a range of roles including Papageno in The Magic Flute, Moralès in Carmen, Nachtigal in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, and Donald in Billy Budd, among others. His Metropolitan Opera appearances also extend to their annual Opera in the Parks summer concert series, and he has toured Russia with company members.
Moore made his international debut in 2008 at Welsh National Opera, singing Figaro in their acclaimed English production of The Barber of Seville. This marked the beginning of a significant international presence that has taken him to venues including the Glyndebourne Festival, where he has performed Achilla in Giulio Cesare and Donald in Billy Budd, as well as touring with the festival as Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro. His European engagements have extended to the Bayerische Staatsoper as Adario in Les indes galantes, while his international reach has included performances at Japan's Hyogo Performing Arts Center in Così fan tutte and Le nozze di Figaro.
Moore has distinguished himself as an in-demand interpreter of contemporary opera, creating several world premiere roles that have defined his career. Most notably, he originated the role of Jan in the world premiere of Missy Mazzoli and Royce Vavrek's Breaking the Waves with Opera Philadelphia, which he later reprised with Beth Morrison Projects in New York City. His collaboration with Mazzoli and Vavrek continued as Pa Zegner in the first performances of Proving Up at Opera Omaha and the Miller Theater. Additionally, he created the role of Jess in the world premiere of Kristin Kuster's A Thousand Acres with Des Moines Metro Opera.
A regular artist with Seattle Opera, Mr. Moore has developed a particularly strong relationship with the company, performing signature roles including Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia, the title role in Eugene Onegin, and Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro. His appearances have also showcased his commitment to contemporary works, with performances as Rasheed in the operatic adaptation of A Thousand Splendid Suns, Steve Jobs in The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs, and Hannah Before in As One.
Recent seasons have highlighted Moore's versatility. His portrayal of Count Almaviva in Le nozze di Figaro has been seen with New Zealand Opera, San Diego Opera, New Orleans Opera, and Atlanta Opera. He has brought Steve Jobs to life in The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs with Utah Opera, Austin Opera, and Lyric Opera of Kansas City, while his portrayal of Frank Lloyd Wright in Arizona Opera's Shining Brow has added another contemporary role to his repertoire. Other appearances include Zurga in The Pearl Fishers with Lyric Opera of Kansas City and covering Tadeusz in Lyric Opera of Chicago's production of The Passenger, a role he performed with Florida Grand Opera.
On the concert stage, Moore has appeared at many of America's most prestigious venues. He has performed at Carnegie Hall with the Oratorio Society of New York under Kent Tritle's direction and has been featured by the Chamber Music Society at Lincoln Center in programs of Vaughan Williams and Weber. His orchestral collaborations include performances with The Philadelphia Orchestra in Ravel's L'enfant et les sortilèges under Stéphane Denève, and with the Jacksonville Symphony in Brahms' Ein Deutsches Requiem and Mahler's Lieder eines fahrenden gesellen. He gave the American premiere of Juraj Filas's Oratorio Spei with Sacred Music in a Sacred Space and has been involved in both recording and premiering Peter Lieberson's The Coming of Light with various ensembles.
Moore's recital work has taken him to venues ranging from his alma mater Simpson College to New York's People's Symphony Concerts and Brooklyn Friends of Chamber Music. He has performed in recital with soprano Joélle Harvey for the Philadelphia Chamber Music Society and has toured with Musicians from Marlboro, demonstrating his commitment to chamber music and song literature alongside his operatic career.
