David Portillo

In the 2024-25 season, Mr. Drone appears as Amonasro in Dayton Opera’s Aida, the title role in Falstaff at Portland Opera, and Germont in La Traviata at the Berkshire Opera Festival.  Other engagements include Pagliacci (Tonio) with Utah Opera, Jubilee (Edmund Watkins) at Seattle Opera, Cendrillon (Pandolfe) with Orlando Opera, and Amahl and the Night Visitors (Melchior) with Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle. Next season, he returns to the Metropolitan Opera for Porgy & Bess (Undertaker) and Seattle Opera for Carmen (Zuniga). 

Mr. Drone is a natural fit for the signature roles of Falstaff, Gianni Schicchi, Rigoletto, Amonasro and Germont. His performance as the title character in Verdi’s Falstaff with Opera San José showcased his ability to balance boisterous humor with vocal finesse, while his turn as Gianni Schicchi with Michigan Opera Theater was praised for its energy and theatrical flair.

In the 2023-24 season, Mr. Drone was engaged with the Metropolitan Opera, singing Foreman/Adult James and covering Chester in Fire Shut Up in My Bones, as well as covering Moralès in Carmen. He also joined the Florentine Opera Company for L’elisir d’amore (Belcore) and was a featured soloist in Brahms’ Requiem with the Dayton Philharmonic. The previous season included several notable debuts, including Seattle Opera as Baron Douphol (La traviata), Portland Opera as Zuniga (Carmen) and Opera San José in Falstaff. He also appeared in concert with the Santa Fe Symphony and joined the Lyric Opera of Chicago roster, covering Preacher Man and Bilal in the world premiere of The Walkers by Daniel Roumain and Anna Deavere Smith.

Learn more at www.darrenlekeithdrone.com.