{{Short description|Serbian-born French operatic baritone (born 1975)}} {{use dmy dates|date=December 2025}} {{Infobox person | name = David Bižić | image = DavidBizic.jpg | alt = | caption = David Bižić | native_name = Давид Бижић | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1975|11|25|df=yes}} | birth_place = Belgrade, Serbia | education = Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance | occupation = Operatic baritone | years_active = 2000–present | awards = {{unbulleted list|Second Prize from Operalia (2007)|AROP Prix Lyriques (2005)}} | spouse = | children = 2 | relatives = Dr. Mina Bizic (sister) | module = {{Infobox musical artist | embed = yes | instrument = Voice | genre = Opera | module = {{Infobox | label1 = Major opera houses | data1 = Metropolitan Opera, Paris Opera, San Francisco Opera, Vienna State Opera }} }} }}
'''David Bižić''' ({{lang-sr-Cyrl|Давид Бижић}}; born 25 November 1975 in Belgrade, Serbia) is a Serbian-born French operatic baritone.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Décret du 22 décembre 2025 portant naturalisation |url=https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jorf/jo/2025/12/23/0300 |website=Legifrance |access-date=2025-12-29}}</ref>
==Early life== Bižić was born in Belgrade, Serbia. He studied archaeology<ref name="opera">{{Cite web|last=Necula|first=Maria-Cristina|date=2020-06-24|title=Baritone David Bizic on His Bold and Passionate Journey to the Met|url=https://www.womanaroundtown.com/sections/playing-around/baritone-david-bizic-on-his-bold-and-passionate-journey-to-the-met/|access-date=2022-06-16|website=Woman Around Town|language=en-US}}</ref> before he pursued vocal arts. His father was a physical chemist and his mother is a psychologist.
His love for opera, he states, started at early age being exposed to opera records at home,<ref name="opera1">{{cite news |last=Radović |first=Branka |date=2014-08-18 |title=Iz Zemuna do najvećih svetskih operskih kuća |url=https://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/302620/Iz-Zemuna-do-najvecih-svetskih-operskih-kuca |language=Serbian |work=Politika |access-date=2012-06-16}}</ref> especially The Three Tenors concerts. Two of the four main artists from those recordings, Zubin Mehta and by Placido Domingo conducted him later in the career.<ref name="laopera">{{cite news|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-review-la-opera-don-giovanni-at-the-dorothy-chandler-pavilion-20120920,0,6989008.story|title=Review: L.A. Opera's ''Don Giovanni'' upholds tradition expertly|author=Richard S. Ginell|date=24 September 2012|newspaper=Los Angeles Times}}</ref>
<blockquote>I remember feeling really connected to Domingo, Pavarotti, the famous tenors. I was seven or eight years old when I listened to them sing arias, and although I didn't know what they were singing about, I could feel the emotion and passion, and that spoke so much to me. I also did conducting at home and became passionate about expressing myself through music. But I had no idea that I would become an opera singer. It was never on my list of possible professions."<ref name="opera"/></blockquote>
==Education and early career==
In 2000 at the age of 24 he started studying voice at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance with Bibiana Goldenthal.<ref name="opera"/> He later continued his education with International Vocal Arts Institute (IVAI)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ivai.org/alumni/|title=IVAI Alumni|access-date=16 June 2022}}</ref> and apprenticed with the Israeli Opera YAP<ref>האופרה הישראלית. (2025, December 17). Meitar Opera Studio | The Israeli Opera. האופרה הישראלית תל-אביב - יפו. https://www.israel-opera.co.il/en/the-israeli-opera-general-information/meitar-opera-studio</ref> and Paris National Opera – Atelier Lyrique program.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ciavarini Azzi|first=Lorenzo|date=2014-03-29|url=https://www.francetvinfo.fr/culture/musique/opera/un-quot-don-giovanniquot-frais-et-energique-par-l-039-atelier-lyrique-de-l-039-opera-de-paris_3288525.html|title=Un "Don Giovanni" frais et énergique par l'Atelier lyrique de l'Opéra de Paris|access-date=16 June 2022|website=franceinfo:culture|language=fr}}</ref>
He has participated in numerous master classes and concerts in France, Israel, New York and Japan working with José van Dam, Teresa Berganza and Gabriel Bacquier among others.
==Singing career==
After his musical training in Tel Aviv, Paris and New York, Bizic's principal role debut was in the title role of Mozart's ''Le Nozze di Figaro'' in Nantes, in 2006. During that same time, he was awarded the AROP Prix lyrique by the Paris National Opera, and has won the second prize of Operalia world opera competition.<ref name="operalia">[https://www.operaliacompetition.org/winners/#paris2007 "Operalia Winners 2007"]. Retrieved 16 June 2022</ref>
Bižić has since appeared in major opera houses and festivals across Europe and America.
Bižić's career first garnered international attention in the role of Masetto in two critically acclaimed productions of ''Don Giovanni''<ref name="paris">[https://www.memopera.fr/artiste.php?numint=5748 "David Bizic"], MémOpéra.fr. Retrieved 16 June 2022</ref> by Michael Haneke at the Paris Opera{{sfn|Cieutat|Rouyer|2017|p=259}} and Dmitri Tcherniakov in Aix-en-Provence Festival.{{sfn|Will|2022|p=276}} He later revived both of those productions, now in the role of Leporello.<ref name="paris"/>
In 2014 Bižić made his debut<ref>{{cite news |last=Tommasini |first=Anthony|author-link=Anthony Tommasini|date=2014-02-19 |title=Things End Badly for a Poet, but Quite Well for the Tenor |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/20/arts/music/a-play-it-safe-werther-with-touches-of-modernity.html|newspaper=The New York Times|access-date=2022-06-16}}</ref> at the Metropolitan Opera in New York singing Albert in Richard Eyre's production of ''Werther'' alongside Jonas Kaufmann and Sophie Koch and came back the following season to sing Marcello (''La bohème''). He has been back to the Metropolitan Opera every season after that having sung more than 60 shows so far.<ref name="opera"/><ref name="metopera">Metropolitan Opera Archives. [https://archives.metopera.org/MetOperaSearch/search.jsp?q=%22David%20Bizic%22&&sort=PDATE "David Bizic performances at the Metropolitan Opera"]. Accessed 30 December 2025.</ref>
===Opera===
As an interpreter of Mozart roles—most notably Don Giovanni, Leporello, and Masetto in ''Don Giovanni'', Almaviva and Figaro in ''The Marriage of Figaro'', and Guglielmo and Don Alfonso in ''Così fan tutte''—Bižić has performed at the Paris Opera,<ref name="paris"/> Wiener Staatsoper,<ref>[https://archiv.wiener-staatsoper.at/search/person/9962/role/316 "David Bizic als Leporello in ''Don Giovanni / Don Juan''"], Spielplanarchiv der Wiener Staatsoper. Accessed 30 December 2025.</ref> Los Angeles Opera,<ref name="laopera"/> Teatro Real, Bolshoi Theatre,<ref>David Bizic Электронный архив Большого театра. Электронный архив. (n.d.). https://archive.bolshoi.ru/entity/PERSON/3804534</ref> Bordeaux, Monte Carlo,<ref name="avantscene">Barilier, Étienne. "''Les noces de Figaro'' – Mozart". ''L'avant-Scène opéra'', vol. 314, Premières Loges, 2020, http://www.asopera.fr/produit/28/9782843853555/les-noces-de-figaro.{{dead link|date=December 2025}}</ref> Geneve,<ref name="avantscene"/> Ravinia Festival, Valencia, Toulouse, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Maribor, Vlaamse Opera<ref>Andrieu, E. (2015). Compte-rendu. Opéra. Gand, Opéra, le 18 juin 2015. Wolgang Amadeus Mozart : Le Nozze di Figaro. David Bizic, Levenet Molnar, Julia Kleiter, Julia Westendorp, Renata Pokupic, Kathleen Wilkinson, Peter Kalman, Piet Vasichen, Adam Smith, Aylin Sezer. Guy Joosten, mise en scène. Paul McCreesh, direction. | ClassiqueNews. [online] Classiquenews.com. Available at: https://www.classiquenews.com/compte-rendu-opera-gand-opera-le-18-juin-2015-wolgang-amadeus-mozart-le-nozze-di-figaro-david-bizic-levenet-molnar-julia-kleiter-julia-westendorp-renata-pokupic-kathleen-wilkinson-peter/ [Accessed 23 Jan. 2026].</ref>, Montpellier, Rennes, Saint Etienne, Rouen, Aix en Provence, Dijon, Nantes and Strasbourg.
Other career highlights include his Metropolitan Opera debut as Albert in ''Werther'',<ref name="metopera"/> Albert and Schaunard in the Royal Opera House, London, his debut at the Teatro Liceo as Manon's brother in Puccini's ''Manon Lescaut'',<ref>Naxos.com. (2018). PUCCINI, G.: Manon Lescaut [Opera] (Liceu, 2018) (.. - 766308 | Discover more releases from C Major. [online] Available at: https://www.naxos.com/CatalogueDetail/?id=766308 [Accessed 23 Jan. 2026].</ref> Marcello and Sharpless in the Metropolitan Opera,<ref name="metopera"/> title role of ''Eugene Onegin'' in Limoges, Metz and Tel Aviv, ''Lucia di Lammermoor'''s Enrico in Toulon Opera, Zurga in Bizet's ''Les pêcheurs de perles'' in Bordeaux and Dortmund, Escamillo (''Carmen'') in Tel Aviv, Belgrade, Stockholm, Dijon and Macerata Opera, High Priest of Dagon (''Samson et Dalila'') at the Royal Swedish Opera and the title role of ''Don Pasquale'' in Toulon.<ref>{{cite web|last=Metina-Bouchour|first=Leïla|date=2026|title=Opéra de Toulon : Donizetti fait pétiller le Zénith. L'Empire Pasquale à l'épreuve de la modernité. 31/12/25 & 2/1/26|language=fr|website=arts-spectacles.com|url=https://www.arts-spectacles.com/Opera-de-Toulon-Donizetti-fait-petiller-le-Zenith-L-Empire-Pasquale-a-l-epreuve-de-la-modernite-31-12-25-2-1-26_a19255.html|access-date=15 January 2026}}</ref>
In 2023, Bižić debuted at the San Francisco Opera portraying Belcore in Daniel Slater's production of Donizetti's ''L'elisir d'amore, '' conducted by Ramón Tebar.<ref>Milenski, Michael. [https://operatoday.com/2023/11/the-elixir-of-love-in-san-francisco/ "''The Elixir of Love'' in San Francisco"]. ''Opera Today'', 20 November 2023</ref><ref>"David Bizic Bio." http://www.sfopera.com/about/bios/artists/david-bizic/. Accessed 2 March 2024.{{dead link|date=December 2025}}</ref>
===Concerts===
In opera concert performances Bizic has sung Sharples in Puccini's ''Madama Butterfly'' with the Hallé Orchestra conducted by Sir Mark Elder.<ref>{{cite news |last=Hewett |first=Ivan |date=2022-05-29 |title=Hallé Orchestra: Madama Butterfly, review: emotional intensity that stings like a bee |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/classical-music/halle-orchestra-madama-butterfly-review-emotional-intensity/ |work=The Telegraph |access-date=2022-06-16}}</ref>
He has also performed Leporello in Mozart's ''Don Giovanni'' in Ravinia Festival<ref name="opera1"/> with Chicago Symphony Orchestra conducted by James Conlon, La Vida Breve with the Orchestre de Paris conducted by Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, and Zurga from Bizet's ''Les pêcheurs de perles'' with WDR Rundfunkorchester Köln conducted by Friedrich Haider. He has additionally sung the role of Christ in César Franck’s Les Béatitudes with the Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège under the direction of Gergely Madaras<ref name="beat">[https://www.classical-music.com/reviews/franck-les-beatitudes-2 "Franck: ''Les Béatitudes''"] by Christopher Dingle, 30 January 2024, BBC Classical Music</ref>.
His other concert appearances include Beethoven's 9th Symphony with the Orchestre de Montpellier and the Orchestre de Bordeaux conducted by Marc Minkowski, Zeisl's Requiem Ebraico with the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Zubin Mehta, Fauré's Requiem with the Ensemble Orchestral de Paris and Accentus Choir for the Saint Denis Festival conducted by Laurence Equilbey<ref>de, J.-B. (2010). Laurence Equilbey et Accentus, sous le signe du recueillement - ResMusica. [online] ResMusica. Available at: https://www.resmusica.com/2010/06/14/sous-le-signe-du-recueillement/ [Accessed 23 Jan. 2026].</ref> and Brahms' ''A German Requiem'' with the Serbian Radio TV Symphony Orchestra.<ref>David Bizic | Zelaya Artists. (n.d.). Zelaya Artists. https://www.zelaya-artists.com/davidbizic</ref>
David Bižić has collaborated with a wide range of conductors, including Yannick Nézet-Séguin,<ref>{{cite web |title=La bohème – The Metropolitan Opera (2024–2025) |url=https://www.opera-online.com/en/items/productions/la-boheme-the-metropolitan-opera-2024-2025-1963 |publisher=Opera Online |access-date=4 February 2026}}</ref> James Conlon,<ref>{{cite news |title=Conlon restores a welcome intimacy to Don Giovanni at Ravinia |url=https://chicagoclassicalreview.com/2014/08/conlon-restores-a-welcome-intimacy-to-don-giovanni-at-ravinia/ |publisher=Chicago Classical Review |date=August 2014 |access-date=4 February 2026}}</ref> Antonio Pappano,<ref>{{cite web |title=Wonderful singing makes The Royal Opera’s revival of Werther worthwhile |url=https://seenandheard-international.com/2016/06/wonderful-singing-makes-the-royal-operas-revival-of-werther-worthwhile/?__cf_chl_tk=fVzO4HJo9DXMuay.rGHkggAu28yThad19xO8jN.vxWU-1770247561-1.0.1.1-C9fZegEPkUUgYDjohnp4PTuJUioA78toAnpFsUI3xkA |publisher=Seen and Heard International |access-date=4 February 2026}}</ref> Marc Minkowski,<ref>{{cite web |title=Beethoven – Symphonie n°9 |url=https://www.opera-bordeaux.com/beethoven-symphonie-ndeg9-18246#distribution |publisher=Opéra National de Bordeaux |access-date=4 February 2026}}</ref> Zubin Mehta,<ref>{{cite web |title=Zubin Mehta – IPO Live Recordings 1963–2006 |url=https://heliconclassics.com/zubin-mehta-ipo-live-recordings-1963-2006/ |publisher=Helicon Classics |access-date=4 February 2026}}</ref> Friedrich Haider,<ref>{{cite web |title=Les pêcheurs de perles – Festspiele 2019 |url=https://www.omm.de/veranstaltungen/festspiele2019/DO-2019-les-pecheurs-de-perles.html |publisher=Online Musik Magazin |access-date=4 February 2026}}</ref> Sir Mark Elder,<ref>{{cite web |title=Madama Butterfly – Hallé, Bridgewater Hall |url=https://theartsdesk.com/opera/madama-butterfly-halle-elder-bridgewater-hall-manchester-review-opera-masterclass |publisher=The Arts Desk |access-date=4 February 2026}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Opera review: La Bohème, Royal Opera House |url=https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/theatre/367482/Opera-review-La-Boheme-Royal-Opera-House |publisher=Daily Express |access-date=4 February 2026}}</ref> Louis Langrée,<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Mozart: Don Giovanni |url=https://www.gramophone.co.uk/reviews/mozart-don-giovanni-2 |magazine=Gramophone |access-date=4 February 2026}}</ref> Alain Altinoglu,<ref>{{cite news |title=A Play-It-Safe Werther With Touches of Modernity |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/20/arts/music/a-play-it-safe-werther-with-touches-of-modernity.html |publisher=The New York Times |date=20 February 2014 |access-date=4 February 2026}}</ref> Gianandrea Noseda,<ref>{{cite web |title=Afternoon on 3 – Gianandrea Noseda |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/afternoonon3/pip/nt0dg/ |publisher=BBC Radio 3 |access-date=4 February 2026}}</ref> Emmanuel Villaume,<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Puccini: Manon Lescaut |url=https://www.gramophone.co.uk/reviews/puccini-manon-lescaut-villaume |magazine=Gramophone |access-date=4 February 2026}}</ref> Daniele Rustioni,<ref>{{cite web |title=La bohème – Metropolitan Opera |url=https://www.metopera.org/globalassets/season/2025-26/la-boheme/programs/121225-la-boheme.pdf |publisher=Metropolitan Opera |access-date=4 February 2026}}</ref>, and Marco Armiliato.<ref>{{cite web |title=Opera on 3 — From the Met in New York Puccini's La bohème |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0814x4c/p0814wr9 |publisher=BBC Radio 3 |access-date=4 February 2026}}</ref>
==Personal life==
Bižić lives in Bordeaux, France. He is married and has two children.<ref name="opera1"/> Bižić can also play piano and didjeridoo.<ref name="opera"/> He is a brother of Dr. Mina Bizic
==Awards== Bižić is a winner of the second prize from Operalia<ref name="operalia"/> in 2007 and Paris Opera AROP Prix Lyriques in 2005.<ref>[https://arop.operadeparis.fr/laureats-prix-arop-22-23 "Lauréats des Prix de l'Arop de la Saison 22/23"]. AROP. (n.d.)</ref>
==Recordings== {{col-begin}} {{col-break}} ; La bohème – Puccini (Marcello)<ref>Altman. "''La bohème''", ''American Record Guide'', September 2022, pp. 66–67. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f6h&AN=158685916&lang=en-gb&site=eds-live&scope=site. {{subscription}}</ref> * Sergio Alapont, Irish National Opera * [https://signumrecords.com/product/la-boheme/SIGCD702/ Signum Classics] SKU: SIGCD702 – CD * Released 2022
; Requiem Ebraico – Zeisl<ref>[http://www.zeisl.com/books-and-recordings/recordings.htm "Recordings of Eric Zeisl's Music"], accessed 5 February 2024. </ref> * Zubin Mehta, Israel Philharmonic Orchestra * [https://www.heliconclassics.com/zubin-mehta-ipo-live-recordings-1963-2006/ Helicon Classics] 02-9625 – CD * Released 2006
; L'Amour des trois oranges – Prokofiev * Sylvain Cambreling, Paris National Opera * [https://www.forumopera.com/v1/critiques/prokofiev_oranges_deflo.html TDK] – DVD * Released 2006
; Don Giovanni – Mozart (Leporello)<ref>[https://www.telmondis.com/opera/202__Don-Giovanni-2009.htm "''Don Giovanni'' 2009"]. Telmondis. Accessed 30 December 2025.</ref> * Antony Hermus, Rennes Opera * Culturebox streaming<ref>"''Don Giovanni'' Rennes 2009 Gadd Bizic Pagesy Ruzzafante Moreno". [https://www.operaonvideo.com/don-giovanni-rennes-2009-gadd-pagesy-ruzzafante-moreno/ "''Don Giovanni'' Opera on Video"], 14 December 2020.</ref> * Released 2010
; La bohème – Puccini (Schaunard)<ref>Clark, Andrew. "''La bohème'', Royal Opera House, London". 18 December 2012, http://www.ft.com/content/903b5b82-4906-11e2-b94d-00144feab49a. </ref> * Sir Mark Elder, Royal Opera House * ROH Live Cinema Season * Released 2012
; Les Béatitudes – Franck (Christ)<ref name="beat"></ref> * Gergely Madaras, Orchestre Philharmonique de Liège * [https://outhere-music.com/en/albums/franck-les-beatitudes/ Fuga Libera] SKU: FUG817 – CD * Released 2024 {{col-break}}
; Werther – Massenet (Albert) * Alain Altinoglu, Metropolitan Opera * Met Opera on Demand * Released 2014
; Don Giovanni – Mozart (Masetto) * Louis Langrée, Festival d'Aix-en-Provence * [https://belairclassiques.com/film/mozart-don-giovanni-tcherniakov-langree-aix-dvd-blu-ray BelAir Classiques] – BAC611, BAC480 – DVD, BLU-RAY * Released 2013
; Werther – Massenet (Albert) * Antonio Pappano, Royal Opera House * ROH Live Cinema Season * Released 2016
; Manon Lescaut – Puccini (Lescaut) * Emmanuel Villaume, Gran Teatre del Liceu * [https://www.mezzo.tv/en/Opera/Puccini%27s-Manon-Lescaut-at-the-Liceu-4259 Mezzo TV], [https://www.naxos.com/CatalogueDetail/?id=766308 Naxos] * Released 2018
; Hipishizik Metafizik – Rambo Amadeus * [https://www.discogs.com/fr/release/3129145-Rambo-Amadeus-Hipishizik-Metafizik PGP RTS] – 416934 CD * Released 2008
; Carmen – Bizet (Escamillo) * Francesco Lanzillotta, Orchestra Filarmonica Marchigiana * [http://www.euro-opera.de/TBizet.html Euro Opera] – Euro Opera 3998 * Recorded 2019, with Irene Roberts (Carmen), Matthew Ryan Vickers (Don José).
; Les pêcheurs de perles – Bizet (Zurga) * Friedrich Haider, WDR Funkhausorchester * [http://www.euro-opera.de/TBizet.html Euro Opera] – Euro Opera 3784 * Recorded 2019
{{col-end}}
== References == '''Notes''' {{reflist}}
'''Sources'''
* {{cite book |last1=Cieutat |first1=Michel |last2=Rouyer |first2=Philippe |date=2017-09-06 |title=Haneke par Haneke |publisher=Stock |language=fr|isbn=9782234084063}} * {{cite book |last=Will |first=Richard |date=2022-06-13 |title="Don Giovanni" Captured |publisher=University of Chicago Press |language=English |isbn=9780226815428}}
==Further reading== * ''L'Opéra vu par Alain Duault & Colette Masson'', Hugo & Cie, 2010 {{ISBN|978-2755606386}} * ''La bohème, Puccini : livret bilingue, guide d'écoute, genèse et création, sources littéraires, profil des rôles, discographie, vidéographie'', Premières loges, 2014 {{ISBN|978-2-84385-306-7}} * ''Così fan tutte, Mozart, Da Ponte : livret bilingue, guide d'écoute, genèse et création, sources littéraires, profil des rôles, discographie, vidéographie'', Les Éditions Premières Loges, 2016 {{ISBN|978-2-84385-327-2}}
==External links== *{{official|https://davidbizic.com/}} *[https://www.operabase.com/a/David_Bizic/3874/en David Bizic] at Operabase *{{Instagram|davidbizic}} *{{IMDb name|6361155}} *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v51Ig3JcwY4 David Bizic in an excerpt from Don Giovanni] *[https://www.facebook.com/davidbizic Official Facebook fan page]
{{Portal bar|Biography|Opera}} {{Authority control|state=collapsed}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bizic, David}} Category:1975 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century Serbian male opera singers Category:Serbian baritones Category:Operalia prize-winners Category:French operatic baritones Category:Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance alumni Category:21st-century French male opera singers Category:Naturalized citizens of France Category:Musicians from Belgrade