Erik Geisen
My Background
Much of what I can offer you as a student comes from what I have experienced and learned throughout my own journey. I have been fortunate to have maintained a professional career in the field I love for over fifty years.
My career began in my home town of New York City where I began studying voice as a seventeen year old in the John Mace Studio. Meastro Mace was a kindly teacher who helped me develop both my voice and the confidence to perceive myself as an artist.
At twenty years old I was chosen to replace John Voight as Rodolpho in Arthur Miller’s Pulitzer prize winning drama “A View from the Bridge”, working opposite Robert Duvall and Dustin Hoffman. I continued to hone my acting skills with assistance from Curt Dempster, Ulu Grossbard, and other renowned coaches, and soon became a sought after actor, appearing in “Kicking the Castle Down” with Gale Sondene, and entertaining offers from Hollywood agents.
But my first love was singing. I became a regular feature performer at the Light Opera of Manhattan, where I appeared as a lead tenor in all of the Gilbert and Sullivan pieces. Eventually I graduated into full lyric tenor roles in " La Boheme”, “Madame Butterfyl”, “La Traviatta”, “Tales of Hoffman”, and “Anna Bolena" (with Sam Ramey and Marisa Galvay) to name just a few.
In 1972 I was befriended by Placido Domingo. The renowned Spanish tenor arranged introductions for auditions in the major houses of Europe, and as a result, I was hired by Herbert von Karajan for the Salzburg Festival of 1973 where I performed the lead tenor role in “de TeTemporum Fine Comodedia”. Soon after that appearance I was engaged to sing the role of Prince Karl for the Heidelberg production of “Student Prince” for seven seasons.
I continued my career in Europe until 1987, appearing in operas in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland, and recorded for Deutsche Grammophone and Bary Records for “Student Prince”, as well as Concert Hall’s “Cosi Fan Tutte”. After returning home to America I continued to act in plays and operas.
In addition to my performing career I have had the opportunity to work as a director on muscials and operas including “Showboat”, “Oklahoma”. And “A Night in Venice” presented at the Starlit Water Music Festival in Washington State.
From the earliest days of my career and throughout its duration I have found great fulfillment in sharing my love of the stage with others through teaching. I began teaching voice in my early twenties at the suggestion of my own Maestro and have maintained an active teaching studio throughout my career. I am dedicated to the development of emerging artists and find great joy in sharing the skills and life lessons I’ve learned with those individuals that seek the artists’s journey.