Bass-baritone Thomas Hammons has been acclaimed throughout the United States, Canada, and across Europe, for the depth and richness of his portrayals and the strength and beauty of his singing. A versatile singing actor, Mr. Hammons has an active repertoire of over 40 roles and is equally at home in the classic basso buffo repertoire and in the world of modern music theater.

Over the past two seasons, Mr. Hammons made his Lyric Opera of Chicago debut as Schigolch in Lulu, reprised the role of Henry Kissinger in Nixon in China with the Vancouver Opera, Opera Colorado, and in concert with the Phoenix Symphony; performed Bartolo in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Opera Colorado; performed Bartolo in Le Nozze di Figaro and in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Opera Cleveland, returned to the Santa Fe Opera as Dansker in Billy Budd and Dulcamara in L’Elisir d’Amore; performed Dulcamara in L’Elisir d’Amore with Dayton Opera; presented a recital with the Artist Series of Sarasota, and returned to the Metropolitan Opera for Lulu, Le Nozze di Figaro and La Bohème.

In the 2010-2011 season, he performs Henry Kissinger in Nixon in China with the Canadian Opera Company, Benoit/Alcindoro in La Bohème with Opera Colorado and the Santa Fe Opera, Bartolo in Le Nozze di Figaro with Lyric Opera of Kansas City, and Benoit/Alcindoro in La Bohème and Hermann Ortel in Der Meistersinger with the Cincinnati Opera during the summer 2010.

Mr. Hammons created the role of Henry Kissinger in the world premiere of Nixon in China by John Adams for the Houston Grand Opera in 1987. His iconic portrayal of Kissinger was subsequently seen in Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt and Los Angeles, along with more recent revivals at the Cincinnati Opera, Opera Colorado, and the Vancouver Opera. His association with John Adams has continued with his participation in the inaugural performances of The Death of Klinghoffer at the Opera de la Monnaie, Brussels. Mr. Hammons' chilling portrayal of the terrorist Rambo has since been seen and heard in Lyons, Vienna, San Francisco and at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. His creations of these two seminal works can be heard on the Nonesuch recordings of Nixon in China and The Death of Klinghoffer.

Mr. Hammons made his debut at The Metropolitan Opera as the Sacristan in Tosca during the 1996-97 Season, and took part in the premiere of Jonathan Miller's acclaimed production of Le Nozze di Figaro. He has returned to the MET every season thereafter for numerous productions. Additional recent noted performances include L’Elisir d’Amore with L’Opera de Montreal; a concert version of La Bohème at The Hollywood Bowl under the baton of John Mauceri; a tour of Die Fledermaus with Seiji Ozawa in Japan; Manon, Le Nozze di Figaro, Regina and La Bohème with The Atlanta Opera; Tosca and Il Barbiere di Siviglia with The Cincinnati Opera; Le Nozze di Figaro and L’Elisir d’Amore with Michigan Opera; La Bohème and Il Barbiere di Siviglia with the former Opera Pacific; as well as the role of Dr. Bartolo in Il Barbiere di Siviglia at Chautauqua Opera and L’Opera de Montreal. He has sung Dr. Bartolo in Le Nozze di Figaro at Barcelona's famed Teatro Liceu, and Sulpice in La Fille du Régiment and Tosca with L'Opera de Montreal.

Mr. Hammons is a graduate of the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music where he studied with famed bass Italo Tajo. He began his career as an Apprentice Artist at Santa Fe Opera in The Duchess of Malfi.