Heralded internationally as an artist with “a remarkable future” (Opera World), American tenor Brian Jagde brings his dynamic vocalism and captivating dramatic presence to international stages in the 2023/24 season.
He returns to the role of Don Alvaro in Verdi’s La forza del Destino twice this season, first at London’s Royal Opera House in the autumn, and later at The Metropolitan Opera, which will receive a Live in HD international broadcast. He stars as Calaf in Puccini’s Turandot with Opéra national de Paris and for his debut in Japan (TBA). In the spring, he makes his long-awaited house debut at Teatro alla Scala as Turiddu in Cavalleria rusticana, and he then sings his first performances at Teatro Regio di Parma as Cavaradossi in Puccini’s Tosca.
Jagde made three acclaimed role debuts during the 22/23 season, beginning with Samson in Saint-Saëns’ Samson et Dalila at the Teatro di San Carlo (later revisited for his debut at the Staatsoper Berlin): “Jagde’s tenor was powerful and dramatically convincing, exhibiting a heroic tone even in the love duet” (Bachtrack). He later sang his first Canio in Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci for his debut at Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, where he “established himself as an extremely compelling link between the great legends of the past and also in a more modern characterization of the role” (Connessi all’Opera). His final debut was as Verdi’s Don Carlo at London’s Royal Opera House, “a sterling effort, singing with strength and ringing top notes” (Financial Times). Additionally, he sang Cavaradossi in Puccini’s Tosca at Opéra national de Paris, where “Jagde’s compelling performance was so magnificent that the entire opera house erupted in applause at its end” (Seen and Heard International). He also starred as Radamés in Verdi’s Aida in his return to The Met and in a new production directed by Damiano Michieletto at the Bayerische Staatsoper.
Recent engagements have included Turiddu at the Wiener Staatsoper, Maurizio in Cilea’s Adriana Lecouvreur in both Vienna and London, Des Grieux in Puccini’s Manon Lescaut at San Francisco Opera, Wiener Staatsoper, Deutsche Oper Berlin, and Staatsoper Hamburg, and Pinkerton in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly at The Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Deutsche Oper Berlin. He starred as Calaf in Puccini’s Turandot at the Bayerische Staatsoper and San Francisco Opera, where ”Jagde has clearly arrived as a world-class heroic tenor in this role debut …” (Parterre).
Mr. Jagde made his principal role debut at The Metropolitan Opera in 2021, singing Cavaradossi in critically acclaimed performances of Tosca: “In Jagde she (Radvanovsky) had a tenor who could match her soaring power … his enormous, vibrant voice was capped by exciting top notes … ” (New York Times). He debuted at the Teatro La Fenice in their annual Capodanno concerts with an international television broadcast, and he later returned to the Arena di Verona to open their 2022 season as Don José in Carmen, as he did previously in 2018 for his debut.
New productions of note have included Tosca and Aida at San Francisco Opera, Carmen at the Teatro di San Carlo, and Madama Butterfly and Turandot at the Teatro Massimo. Role debuts in recent seasons include Enzo Grimaldi in Ponchielli’s La Gioconda for his debut at the Gran Teatre del Liceu, followed by an acclaimed debut with Opéra national de Paris as Don Alvaro in Verdi’s epic La forza del Destino, where he was lauded as “a revelation” (Ôlyrix). Other highlights from previous engagements include performances as Don José at San Francisco Opera, Bayerische Staatsoper, and the Royal Opera House; Cavaradossi at Opernhaus Zürich, Santa Fe Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Deutsche Oper Berlin; Houston Grand Opera as the Prince (Rusalka); Macduff (Verdi’s Macbeth) at the Teatro Real; and Rodolfo (Puccini’s La bohéme) with the Ópera de Bellas Artes, Münchner Philharmoniker, and the Castleton Festival. He was also seen as Bacchus (Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos) with Minnesota Opera and Palm Beach Opera. Jagde made his European debut in the title role of Massenet’s Werther and as Macduff at the Teatr Wielki Opera Poznan.
Concert appearances have included performances at the Het Concertgebouw in Amsterdam as the tenor soloist for a radio broadcast of Verdi’s Requiem and Froh (Wagner’s Das Rheingold) in his debut with the New York Philharmonic. He also gave a “radiant” and “glorious” (San Francisco Classical Voice) solo recital debut at the Mondavi Center in Davis, CA, with pianist Craig Terry, and later returned to the venue for a concert with soprano Joyce El-Khoury and pianist Robert Mollicone.
Jagde’s discography includes a Deutsche Grammophon release of Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde with the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and Maestro Long Yu, Luigi in Puccini’s Il tabarro and Turiddu in Cavalleria rusticana on Pentatone, and a future solo recording (TBA). Naxos DVD / Blu-ray releases include his debut as Der Fremde in a new production of Korngold’s Das Wunder der Heliane at Deutsche Oper Berlin, and Turiddu in a new production of Cavalleria rusticana at Dutch National Opera.
In addition to his stage career, Mr. Jagde advocates for arts education worldwide. He is an Ambassador for Opera for Peace, an international non-profit organization promoting equity and social justice through artistic collaboration, mentorship, and cultural exchanges. He also serves on the vocal faculty of Vincerò Academy. Jagde’s accolades include top prize at the Loren L. Zachary Competition (2014), as well as second prize and the Birgit Nilsson Prize from the Operalia Competition (2012). He is a graduate of San Francisco Opera’s Adler and Merola Programs.
Brian Jagde was born and raised in New York, where he currently resides.