The American tenor Arnold Rawls is celebrated for his "powerful, clear tenor voice", as a "firm, pliant lyric tenor with ringing high notes" and for his "flair for acting". Recently his Radames was rapturously received since he was able to sing the famous romanza Celeste Aida "with a gentle tone and a wonderful sense of Italian lyricism. He sang a dazzling high C which seemed to go on for eternity" (Omaha World Herald). In the 2008/09 season Arnold Rawls sang Canio in Pagliacci at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Pinkerton in Madame Butterfly at the Madison Opera, Manrico in Il trovatore at the Indianapolis Opera, and performed in Verdi's Requiem with the Madison Symphony Orchestra, the Washington Chorus (Kennedy Center), the Oberlin Conservatory and the Cologne Philharmonic. In the current season he will appear as Verdi's Otello with the Opera Company of Philadelphia, as Manrico in Il trovatore at Seattle Opera, as Bacchus in Ariadne auf Naxos at Indianapolis Opera, as Erik in The Flying Dutchman at Madison Opera, and as Macduff in Macbeth with Fresno Grand Opera. Future seasons include leading roles with the Arizona Opera, Pensacola Opera and Seattle Opera. In recent seasons he has been seen as Radames in Aida at Florida Grand Opera, Omaha Opera, and the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, in the leading role of Standing Bear in the world premiere of Anthony Davis's Wakonda’s Dream at Omaha Opera, as Cavaradossi in Tosca at Florida Grand Opera, Gustavo in Un ballo in maschera at Des Moines Metro Opera, Sam in Susannah at Opera Pacific Des Grieux in Manon Lescaut at the Metropolitan Opera and as Manrico in Il trovatore at the Bregenz Festival.