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Nicholas Tamagna
Countertenor
Nicholas Tamagna is a countertenor of rare quality who is quickly establishing himself on
the world’s opera stages. Specializing in Händelian repertoire, he has conquered such roles
as Giulio Cesare, Orlando and Polinesso. His exquisite technique, seamlessly calibrated
registration, clarity of diction, and dramatic versatility have won him critical acclaim and
given him opportunities in a wide range of repertoire.
In 2014/15, Mr. Tamagna returned to the Händel-Festspiele in Karlsruhe, Germany as
Oronte in Händel’s Riccardo Primo, where he made his European debut the previous year.
At Theater Münster he performed Polinesso in Ariodante, and débuted at Royal Opera
House at Covent Garden as Hassan in Zaid Jabri’s Cities of Salt. With early music
ensemble Le Poème Harmonique, he reprised the role of the Spirit in Dido and Aeneas at
the Bozar in Bruxelles. Having performed this role with the company previously at Opéra
de Haute-Normandie Rouen and Opéra Royal de Versailles, he will join them in a touring
revival production in 2016/17 at both companies again, in addition to Opéra de Vichy.
During the 2012/13 season, Nicholas Tamagna triumphed as the title character in Philip
Glass’ rarely performed opera Akhnaten with Indianapolis Opera, from which a filmed
version was broadcast. In New York, he performed the role of Ottone in L’incoronazione di
Poppea at Symphony Space, the title role in the North American premiere of Händel’s
Rodrigo with OPERAMISSION, and Pisandro in Monteverdi’s Il Ritorno d’Ulisse in Patria
with Opera Omnia.
In recent seasons, Mr. Tamagna has performed the title role in Händel’s Serse, Pane in
Cavalli’s La Calisto, Cesare and Tolomeo in Giulio Cesare, the Witch in Hansel and Gretel,
Farnace in Mozart’s Mitridate, the Duchess in The Gondoliers, Prince Orlofsky in Die
Fledermaus, Gluck’s Orpheus, the Sorceress in Dido and Aeneas, and Ruggiero in Alcina.
Nicholas Tamagna is featured on DVD recordings in the title role of Akhnaten
(forthcoming, Orange Mountain Music), the Spirit in Dido and Aeneas (2015, Outhère
Music), and with Canadian early music ensemble ¡Sacabuche! in performances of
unpublished works of the Italian Baroque (forthcoming, ATMA Classique).
An active concert soloist, Mr. Tamagna has sung in renowned venues including Carnegie
Hall, Merkin Hall, Avery Fischer Hall, and the Bozar in Bruxelles. At Lincoln Center he
performed his house debut as a soloist in Goossens’ Edition of Händel’s Messiah and
returned again in a production of Babes in Toyland with Little Orchestra Society.
Nicholas Tamagna was the 1st Prize winner of the inaugural Nico Castel International
Mastersinger Competition. In 2011 he won 2nd Judges Prize in the Arkadi Foundation
Opera Competition, and was a semi-finalist in the Gianni Bergamo Award Competition for
Countertenors in Lugano, Switzerland.
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Nicholas Tamagna
Countertenor
Opera Repertoire
Benjamin
Written on skin …… First Angel/Boy
Britten
Oberon …... A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Händel (cont’d)
Oronte, Riccardo Primo.......Riccardo I
Bertarido, Unulfo ............… Rodelinda
Serse, Arsamene ......................… Serse
Silla ……………………………….… Silla
Cavalli
Endimione ……....…………. La Calisto
Monteverdi
Ottone ..…………… L’incoronazione di Poppea
Glass
Akhnaten ………….………… Akhnaten
Mozart
Farnace ………. Mitridate, Re di Ponto
Glück
Orfeo ………….……. Orfeo ed Euridice
Purcell
The Sorceress ……… Dido and Aeneas
Händel
Narciso ……………………… Agrippina
Ruggiero …….....................….… Alcina
Polinesso..........……………….Polinesso
Cesare, Tolomeo ……….. Giulio Cesare
Orlando ……………………….. Orlando
Goffredo..............……………… Rinaldo
Stravinsky
Baba the Turk ...... The Rake’s Progress
J. Strauss
Prinz Orlofsky …...…. Die Fledermaus
Concert Repertoire
Bach ……St. John’s and Matthew’s Passions
Händel ……...…………………. Messiah
Pergolesi …...…..…..…… Stabat Mater
Vivaldi … Nisi Dominus, Stabat Mater
This list represents recommended roles in the artist's operatic repertoire. For a list of performed repertoire, please refer to the
artist's resume and biography.
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Nicholas Tamagna
Countertenor
Opera
Purcell
Goffredo
Spirit
Spirit
Spirit
Hassan
Oronte
Polinesso
Spirit
Spirit
Oronte
Peisander
Akhnaten
Rodrigo
The Dutchess
Peisander
Third Lady
The MC
The Witch
Pane
Farnace
Ruggiero
The Witch
Prinz Orlofsky
Tolomeo (c)
Milos
Orpheus
Ulrica
Cesare
Orpheus
To be or not to be (pastiche)
Rinaldo
Dido & Aeneas
Dido & Aeneas
Dido & Aeneas
Cities of Salt
Riccardo Primo
Ariodante
Dido & Aeneas
Dido & Aeneas
Riccardo Primo
Il ritorno d’Ulisse
Akhnaten
Rodrigo
The Gondoliers
Il Ballo delle Ingrate
Magic Flute
Man in the Black Coat
Hansel and Gretel
La Calisto
Mitridate, Re di Ponto
Alcina
Hansel and Gretel
Die Fledermaus
Giulio Cesare in Egitto
The Hunger Art
Orpheus and Eurydice
Un Ballo in Maschera
Giulio Cesare in Egitto
Orpheus and Eurydice
Opéra de Haute-Normandie
operamission
Opéra Royal de Versailles
Opéra de Vichy
Opéra de Haute-Normandie
Royal Opera
Händel-Festspiele, Karlsruhe
Theater Münster
Opéra de Haute-Normandie
Opéra Royal de Versailles
Händel-Festspiele, Karlsruhe
Opera Omnia
Indianapolis Opera
operamission
Utopia Unlimited Opera Co.
Musica Nuova
Morningside Opera
Little Opera Theatre of New York
Opera Manhattan
Vertical Players Repertory
Little Opera Theatre of New York
Pocket Opera of New York
Amore Opera
Amore Opera
Opera London (Ontario)
Burning Bayreuth, Bard College
Opera Memphis
Brooklyn Repertory Opera
Bel Cantanti Opera
Brooklyn Repertory Opera
2016
2016
2016
2016
2016
2015
2015
2015
2014
2014
2014
2013
2013
2013
2012
2012
2012
2012
2011
2011
2011
2011
2010
2010
2010
2010
2010
2010
2009
2009
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Nicholas Tamagna
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Countertenor
Concert & Oratorio
Purcell
Zipoli
Various
Various
Hahn/Ravel
Various
Various
Händel
Britten
Händel
Händel
Soloist
Soloist
Coupérin
Soloist
Vivaldi
Monteverdi/Händel
Poulenc
Händel
Händel
Händel
Soloist
Melissa Dunphy
Händel
Adams
Mahler
Melissa Dunphy
Händel
Brotherly Ayres
The Music of Domenico Zipoli
Schurken und Narren
Ayres and Prayers
Afternoon of French Chansons
17th Century Motets
The Tyranny of Love
Messiah
Canticle II Op. 51
Messiah
Messiah
La Lombardesca
Demons of the Baroque Ballroom
Troisième Leçon de Ténèbres
Madness in Baroque Opera
Stabat Mater
Madrigals/Apollo e Dafne
A Poulenc Cabaret
Messiah
Messiah
Rodelinda Lecture
An Evening of Baroque Opera
Gonzales Cantata
Messiah
El Niño
Rückert Lieder
Gonzales Cantata
Utrecht Jubilate
Les Inégales
St. Bart’s Music
Theater Münster
2015
2015
2015
Philippe Maillard Productions (Paris) 2015
National Opera Center (NY) 2015
¡Sacabuche! – Nova Scotia 2015
Music Mountain
2015
St. Bart’s Music
2011
Little Opera Theatre of New York
2015
Ars Musica (NJ)
2012
Princeton Pro Musica (NJ) 2012
Crescendo
2012
American Virtuosi
2012
American Virtuosi
2012
Richard Tucker Foundation 2012
St. Jerome (NY)
2012
Pocket Opera of New York 2012
Operamission
2012
Princeton Pro Musica
2011
DCINY, Avery Fischer Hall 2011
Metropolitan Opera Guild 2011
Pocket Opera of New York 2011
Burning Bayreuth, Bard College 2010
Fairfield Chorale
2010
Christ Church and St. Stephens 2010
One World Symphony
2009
Philly Fringe Festival
2009
Hunter Symphony
2008
Competitions & Awards
Finalist
Semi-Finalist
1st Prize Winner
3rd Prize
McCammon Voice Competition
Gianni Bergamo Countertenor Competition
Nico Castel Mastersinger Competition
Arkadi Foundation
2012
2011
2011
2011
Education & Training
B.A./M.A. Voice
City University of New York at Hunter College
B.M. Vocal Performance Manhattan School of Music
B.Mus.Ed.
University of North Carolina at Greensboro
2007
2004
2002
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