Roméo in Roméo et Juliette: Opera North
“The tall, secure-voiced Fennell had done his homework linguistically and made an impression with a wide dynamic palette, from well-sustained pianos to a ringing high C in “O jour de deuil.” …Fennell shows much promise for Werther and (eventually) the Berlioz heroes.”

– Opera News

Gerald in Lakmé: Sarasota Opera
“The tenor, Eric Fennell (Gerald) was another of this evening’s surprises. Singing with more flexibility and projection than other tenors in this role. He had an absolute freshness to his phrasing. His aria, Fantaisie aux divins mensonges, was rewarded with a strong ovation. Tall and good looking, he is an artist whose development should be followed closely.” (translated from Spanish)

– Opera Actual, Barcelona

Rodolfo in La Bohème: Lake George Opera
“Eric Fennell’s lyric tenor is freely produced, and he creates an endearing Rodolfo. The voice has genuine “ping” and a high “C” to die for, but he never stoops to tenorial strutting.”

– The Troy Record

********************************************************************************

International Lyric tenor, Eric Fennell has firmly established himself as a professional in the world of opera and classical music. Born into a musical family, his father, a conductor, and mother, a pianist instilled in him a strong sense of musicality at an early age. At 6’ 3” (190 cm), he is known for his dominant stage presence and sympathetic acting which the Boston Globe has described as “touchingly vulnerable” and “his sweet lyric tenor is not only capable of great nuance but ready and able to trumpet out thrilling high notes.”

A Metropolitan Opera National Counsel regional finalist and prize winner in the Licia Albanese Competition, Mr. Fennell’s professional debut came when he stepped in for an indisposed colleague as Rodolfo in Puccini’s La Bohème at the Glimmerglass Opera Festival. This opportunity led to a contract with The New York City Opera where he sang six seasons and 13 roles. Mr. Fennell’s operatic highlights include Rodolfo in La Bohème with New York City Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, Lake George Opera Festival, National Theater Mannheim, Edmonton Opera, Manitoba Opera, and Baz Luhrman’s La Bohème on Broadway; The Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto for Deutsche Oper Berlin, The Slovak National Theater, Chattanooga Opera, and the Spokane Symphony; Alfredo in La Traviata with New York City Opera, The Slovak National Theater, Green Mountain Opera Festival, and Annapolis Opera; Tamino in Die Zauberflöte for Sarasota Opera, Wichita Opera, and Des Moines Metro Opera; Roberto in Roberto Devereux for Dallas Opera; Roméo in Roméo et Juliette for Slovenian National Theater, Mecklenburgisches Staatstheater Schwerin, Toledo Opera, and Opera North (USA); Don José in Carmen for Arizona Opera, Theater Lübeck, Pacific Opera Victoria, and St. Margarethen Festspiele; Camille in Die Lustige Witwe for Deutsche Oper am Rhein (European debut); Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly for Utah Opera, Austin Lyric Opera, and Lake George Opera; Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor for Des Moines Metro Opera and Granite State Opera; Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi for the Macau International Music Festival (China); Des Grieux in Manon for The Maria Biesu International Opera Festival; Nadir in The Pearl Fishers for Madison Opera; and Gerald in Lakmé for Sarasota Opera and Teatro Principal de Palma de Mallorca. Mr. Fennell has also appeared with San Francisco Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, Seattle Opera, Washington Concert Opera, Tulsa Opera, Chautauqua Opera, Central City Opera, Deutsches National Theater Weimar, Salzburg Landestheater, Festival de Opera de Tenerife, Arena di Verona, Teatro Petruzzelli di Bari, and the Spoleto Festival USA.

A distinguished concert performer, Eric Fennell has performed the tenor solos in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony for National Chorale at Avery Fisher Hall, Tokyo City Orchestra (Japan), Cairo Symphony, Buffalo Philharmonic Symphony, Virginia Symphony, and Allentown Symphony; Verdi’s Requiem for The Latvian National Symphony, The Paul Hill Chorale in Washington, D.C. and in concert and recording with the Smith College Orchestra; Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis for Konzertchor Darmstadt; Händel’s Messiah for National Chorale at Avery Fisher Hall, Virginia Symphony, Allentown Symphony, and Tucson Symphony; Mozart’s Requiem for Arena di Verona, The New Haven Symphony, and National Chorale at Avery Fisher Hall; Puccini’s Messa di Gloria with the Eugene Concert Choir; and William Maselli’s JFK Requiem at Carnegie Hall.

The 2013-2014 for Mr. Fennell began with a successful debut singing Riccardo in Un ballo in maschera for Theater Pforzheim (September 2013), followed by the world premiere of Dorian Gray directed by Nicola Raab for The Slovak National Theater Bratislava (November 2013). Mr. Fennell sang further performances in Bratislava of Rigoletto and La Traviata (December 2013). In March 2014, he had another role debut as Hoffmann in Les Contes d’Hoffmann for Theater Pforzheim. Ludwig Steinbach of Der Opern Freund writes, “Eric Fennell in the title role gave reason for particular enthusiasm. This tenor, who can claim Hoffmann as his best role to date…does not only cope extremely well with the requirements of French diction, but the language has a downright positive impact on his voice, which sounded particularly full-bodied on opening night.” Mr. Fennell continued his successful spring singing Rodolfo in La Bohème for Manitoba Opera (April 2014) before returning to Europe for more performances of Hoffmann and Ballo which concluded in July 2014.

In 2014-2015, Mr. Fennell returned to the USA for Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly for Utah Opera with Yunah Lee as Cio Cio San, Robert Tweten conducting, and Garnett Bruce directing (October 2014). In November, he sang Beethoven’s 9th Symphony in Palma de Mallorca and Rossini’s Stabat Mater in Brandenburg, Germany. Mr. Fennell joined GöteborgsOperan (Sweden) in December to sing The Prince John Adams’ A Flowering Tree conducted by Joana Carneiro which reunited him with director Nicola Raab and premiered 7 February 2015. His season culminated with a return to Riga for Roberto in Le Villi for the Latvian National Opera (May-June 2015).

To begin the 2015-2016 season, Mr. Fennell sings Pinkerton for The NederlandseReisopera in Holland (September 2015) directed by Laurence Dale and starring Annemarie Kremer as Cio Cio San. In January 2016, rehearsals begin for another milestone in Eric Fennell’s career: the title role in Verdi’s Don Carlos (4 act Italian) for the Lithuanian National Opera. Mr. Fennell has also recently been contracted to sing Hoffmann in Les Contes d’Hoffmann for Hawaii Opera Theater in the spring of 2017.

Originally from Allentown, Pennsylvania, Eric Fennell now lives in Berlin, Germany. He received a BA in music from Gettysburg College and a Masters in Voice and Artist Diploma from Boston University where he was a member of the Opera Institute. Mr. Fennell is a student of Arthur Levy and is mentored by internationally acclaimed tenor Gregory Kunde.

VIDEO CLIPS / EXTRAITS VIDÉO

• Carmen - Aria  'La Fleur que tu m'avais jetée'

Critical Acclaim