and Des Moines Area Community College
USING HIS VOICE TO SERVE OTHERS
Simon Estes is most widely known in the opera world where he is considered one of the greatest bass baritones to ever grace the stage. Simon’s professional opera debut was in 1965 at the Deutsche Oper, Berlin in the role of Ramfis in Aida. This would be the first performance of 104 different operatic roles for Simon. He became most closely associated with Wagner after he played the lead role in The Flying Dutchman for the first time in 1978 – a title role he would play more than 400 times over the course of his career.
What is not so well known about Simon is his extensive efforts to serve the less fortunate. Simon has quietly and unselfishly leveraged his international acclaim and devout faith to inspire others and give back through humanitarian service and 25-plus years teaching music to young singers. All this in addition to his faith-based giving and fund raising through the Simon Estes Foundation.
His story is coming soon in a docu-drama entitled Simon Estes: A Heart & A Voice.
SIMON ESTES: A HEART & A VOICE
Coming soon to a streaming service
The biographical film Simon Estes: A Heart & A Voice combines the racially charged drama of Greenbook with the powerful parallel story of Jackie Robinson – an opera singer who shattered the color barrier for African-American males in opera with 104 different operatic roles around the world and performing more than 400 times as the lead role in Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman – his signature role over the course of his career. He’s also known for the role of Amonasro in Verdi’s Aida around the world. Drawing on archival footage and stills along with over sixty-five recent interviews, Simon Estes: A Heart & A Voice chronicles the 60-plus years of Simon Estes’ life of operatic, gospel and Broadway music, devout faith, Jim Crow era racism and humanitarian service to others. He also recorded over 30 albums of operatic music, classical music, Broadway songs and traditional gospel and “negro spirituals”.
TESTIMONIALS FROM VIEWERS
“This beautiful documentary about a small-town black child, surrounded by poverty and racism, but who became an international opera star, is a story of love, faith, service, and endurance. Well worth the viewing, its message is an uplifting gift to an unsettled and anxious world. A must-see!” – Barbara Cortesio
“Living in the polarized world we do, everyone needs to take the time to watch the Simon Estes documentary: A Heart & A Voice. While the world promotes division, Simon’s inspiring story of overcoming some of the worst society has to offer with dignity and grace is a reminder to us all that loving our neighbor is a much healthier approach than firing off divisive messages on social media.” – Dave Schwartz
“I had heard of Simon but had not heard him sing or knew his journey. This film opened my eyes to the life of a man whose voice is amazing! He followed his faith and did not sacrifice his beliefs! This documentary showed the hardships and triumphs of a man destined to be great!!! Bravo!” – Julie Armstrong
It was powerful, emotional, and very well done. I’m so glad his story is being told in this way. It’s not just a documentary about a great voice — it’s about resilience, determination, and humanity. Definitely one I’ll be recommending to others.” – Steve Myers
“This documentary tells a powerful story that is a must see. It is about a man who was born in a very modest environment and who overcame every imaginable adversity to become a world class opera singer. There is a lesson in humility in this film for all of us.” – Suku Radia
A LIFE OF SERVICE INSPIRED BY FAITH
Despite his operatic acclaim, Simon’s life is far larger than music – it is a story of devout faith and service to others. Simon has used his God-given voice and international notoriety to make humanitarian service his life’s work. Along with teaching and lecturing, Simon does philanthropic work via the Simon Estes Scholarship Funds, the Simon Estes Educational Foundation, and in partnership with the United Nations Foundation.
Simon credits his mother for cultivating both his faith and interest in music. He began singing in church as a boy soprano at the Second Baptist Church in Centerville, Iowa. Simon ultimately sang in 84 opera houses around the world and gave private performances for six U.S. presidents, two popes and many world leaders, including Archbishop Desmond Tutu and South African President Nelson Mandela. Simon has said many times that one of the high points of his career was singing for Nelson Mandela at the Riverside Baptist Church in New York.
Music
Faith
Color
Love
FIFTY-SEVEN YEARS OF CURTAIN CALLS
Simon’s professional operatic debut was in 1965 at the Deutsche Oper Berlin in the role of Ramfis in Aida. He achieved international acclaim in Europe where he performed at La Scala, Covent Garden, Opéra National de Paris, Vienna Opera, Zurich Opera and many other opera houses through the 1970’s.
After performing in Verdi’s Aida with legendary tenor Luciano Pavarotti and soprano Leontyne Price in San Francisco, Estes finally got his New York Metropolitan Opera debut in 1982 in Wagner’s Tannhäuser. He also starred as Porgy in 1985 in the Met’s first performance of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, then opened the 1986 Met season as Wotan in Wagner’s Die Walküre, under celebrated conductor James Levine. Estes went on to sing in the next six consecutive seasons at the Met.
Simon’s final operatic performance was in 2022 in the role of Lawyer Frasier in the Des Moines Opera Company performance of Porgy & Bess.
Simon as Porgy with Grace Bumbry as Bess
in the Met’s Porgy and Bess, 1985