For over 30 years, actor and character tenor Brian Frutiger has appeared across the United States in over 100 roles in opera, operetta, music theater, and theater.

From 2008 – 2019, Brian regularly returned to The Metropolitan Opera where he appeared in such roles as Poisson (Adriana Lecouvreur), Benvolio (Romeo et Juliette), Scaramuccio (Ariadne auf Naxos), and several roles in William Kentridge’s critically acclaimed production of Shostakovich’s The Nose.

In addition to his roles at The MET, Mr. Frutiger has sung many of the great character and spieltenor roles at opera houses across the United States. Highlights include El Remendado (Carmen) at San Francisco Opera; Dr. Caius (Falstaff) at The Santa Fe Opera; Monostatos (Die Zauberflöte) at The Dallas Opera; Guillot de Morfontaine (Manon), Pang (Turandot), and Frosch (Die Fledermaus) at Des Moines Metro Opera; Goro (Madama Butterfly) and Tanzmeister (Ariadne auf Naxos) at Sarasota Opera; Bardolfo (Falstaff) at Opera Omaha; and Pang (Turandot), Major General Stanley (The Pirates of Penzance), and Don Basilio (Le Nozze di Figaro) at Wichita Grand Opera.

A classically trained actor, Brian regularly returns to the professional theater. Credits include appearances with Artistry as Mr. Laurence (Little Women -the Musical); Chaucer (The Owl Answers) at Penumbra Theatre; Robert Steele and Mr. Oscar (Dessa Rose, west coast premiere) at TheatreWorks Silicon Valley; Mitch Mahoney (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), Mr. Sowerberry (Oliver!), and All Is Calm with Theater Latté Da; Metellus Cimber (Julius Caesar) with Shakespeare’s Motley Crew in Chicago; Jamie (My Fair Lady) and Anselmo (Man of La Mancha) with Music Theatre Wichita; and the ensemble of The Student Prince with Paper Mill Playhouse.

Equally at home on the concert stage Mr. Frutiger has appeared with the San Francisco Symphony as Le Troisième Messager in Stravinsky’s Le Rossignol under the baton of Michael Tilson Thomas, and Der Jüngling in Schumann’s Das Paradies und die Peri under the baton of Ingo Metzmacher. Brian has also appeared as Tenor Soloist with Fresno Philharmonic (Coronation Mass in C Major), Oratorio Society of Minnesota (Messiah, Esther, Mozart Requiem), St. Olaf College (Elijah), Wichita Choral Society (Messiah), San Francisco’s Old First Concerts (Brahms’ Ziguenerlieder), Normandale Lutheran (St. John Passion) and the Civic Orchestra of Minneapolis (Magnificat). In addition, Brian has sung many of Bach’s liturgical cantatas.

Coming from a long line of educators, Mr. Frutiger has championed music education across the United States. A long-time resident of the Twin Cites in Minnesota, he has taught at The University of Minnesota, Saint Paul Conservatory of Performing Arts, and Independent School District 196. In addition, Brian has been a teaching artist with San Francisco Opera, San Diego Opera, and Opera Omaha. Mr. Frutiger has also served as head instructor of Opera Academy of the Midwest.

A native Kansan, Mr. Frutiger has won several awards including a Kansas Cultural Trust Enabling Grant, 2nd Place at the Heinz Rehfuss Singing Actor Awards, and the Mann Fellowship. Mr. Frutiger has pursued doctoral studies at the University of Minnesota and holds degrees in music from Wichita State University and theater from Drake University. Mr. Frutiger was also honored to return to Wichita State University as a Distinguished Alumni speaker.