| James McLennan |
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Introduction "Winnipeg native McLennan summoned up dramatic intensity when needed and with his terrific diction and lyrical delivery was another star of the night." Winnipeg Free Press - Gwenda Nemerofsky “Tenor James McLennan’s boyish good looks and fresh-faced innocence made him an ideal Candide. The richness of his voice and the emotional intensity he gave “It Must Be So” and “Nothing More Than This” lent the character and the opera the depth they require so crucially.” Opera News - Christopher Hoile
BiographyHailed for his “emotional intensity” (Opera News) with "a sweet lyric voice of great promise" (Opera Canada), Canadian tenor James McLennan has won praise for compelling portrayals in repertoire ranging from baroque to contemporary works. A performer who “radiates considerable charm and sings with a strong yet pure tenor” (Toronto Star), he has appeared with opera companies and symphony orchestras from coast to coast. Upcoming in 2010-2011 he will appear with the Grand Philharmonic Choir in Bach’s ST. JOHN PASSION and with the Talisker Players in Walton’s FAÇADE. In 2009-2010 he was featured with the Winnipeg Symphony in Haydn’s DIE SCHÖPFUNG and with the Mississauga Choral Society in MESSIAH. In the 2008-2009 season, McLennan returned to Vancouver Opera for Triquet in EUGENE ONEGIN and the Fourth Jew in SALOME, performed Adam in THE BIRDSELLER with Toronto Operetta Theatre, and created the role of Antoine Tassy in Opera In Concert’s world premiere of KAMOURASKA by Charles Wilson. The year’s concert highlights included the Evangelist in Bach’s ST. JOHN PASSION with Toronto’s Amadeus Choir, Mozart’s Mass in C minor with the Ottawa Choral Society, Britten’s COMPANY OF HEAVEN and Haydn’s ST. NICOLAS MASS with Thirteen Strings in Ottawa, and a chamber recital of Canadian music with the Talisker Players in Toronto. McLennan also made his hometown debut this season with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra in the North American premiere of the Tavener REQUIEM. Previous operatic roles include the Innkeeper in DER ROSENKAVALIER and Gastone in LA TRAVIATA for Vancouver Opera, Remendado in CARMEN for Calgary Opera, Laczi in DER ZIGEUNERPRIMAS and the title role in CANDIDE for Toronto Operetta Theatre, Almaviva in IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA at Saskatoon Opera, Soliman in ZAIDE with Opera in Concert, Tamino in DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE and Stefano in FILUMENA at the Banff Arts Festival, Sesto in GIULIO CESARE for Pacific Opera Victoria, and Ferrando in COSÌ FAN TUTTE and Tonio in LA FILLE DU RÉGIMENT for Montreal Opera’s Atelier Lyrique. Concert credits include the Bach MASS IN B MINOR with the Vancouver Bach Choir, Mendelssohn’s ST. PAUL ORATORIO for Toronto’s Pax Christi Chorale, CARMINA BURANA with the Prince George Symphony, the Bach ST. JOHN PASSION for the Calgary Festival Chorus, the Bach Magnificat with the TORONTO BACH CONSORT, and the Mozart REQUIEM with conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin. He has also appeared on recital stages with pianist Peter Tiefenbach in Toronto and at Brandon University, his alma mater. James McLennan is featured on a Naxos recording of Charpentier's MESSE DE MINUIT and TE DEUM with Toronto’s Aradia Ensemble. Originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, James McLennan has studied French Translation at York University’s Glendon College. August 2010
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Reviews
"Winnipeg native McLennan summoned up dramatic intensity when needed and with his terrific diction and lyrical delivery was another star of the night." “Tenor James McLennan was a youthful Evangelist, a part suitable only for tenors of a special type. McLennan is clearly such a tenor…he managed the challenges of the role admirably and was also able to sing the tenor arias as well…he will undoubtedly be in considerable demand as a Bach singer.”
“Tenor James McLennan’s boyish good looks and fresh-faced innocence made him an ideal Candide. The richness of his voice and the emotional intensity he gave “It Must Be So” and “Nothing More Than This” lent the character and the opera the depth they require so crucially.” “The standout in terms of diction, voice, pitch and character intensity was tenor McLennan, who becomes more impressive with each outing. He possesses a sweet lyric voice of great promise, and he finds the edge when the drama is needed.” Opera Canada, March/April 2007 “At the top of the positive side of the ledger are two smashing performances from James McLennan as Candide and Jean Stilwell as The Old Lady…McLennan offers us an 18th-century Charlie Brown, with a sweetly smiling face no matter how grim the world gets. He also radiates considerable charm and sings with a strong yet pure tenor that does full justice to Bernstein’s arias.” “Tenor James McLennan in the title role displays a pleasing voice and is definitely someone to keep an eye on as his career develops.” “As the Evangelist, James McLennan showed more than potential. Dispassionate when required, expressive when the music called for it.” “Sober dramatization and perfect style.” (St. John Passion) “The two leads, Tracy Smith Bessette and James McLennan, performed amazing vocal feats.” (La Fille du Régiment) “The vocal timbre of James McLennan…proved to be very moving when he sang with admirable sensitivity what is probably the best known aria of this opera: ‘Un aura amorosa’.” (Cosí fan tutte)L’Acadie Nouvelle
“McLennan was solid as Almaviva…he was hilarious as the drunken soldier and as the “music teacher.” Almaviva is really an amalgam of many roles, and McLennan pulled off the changing personalities beautifully.” (Il Barbiere di Siviglia) |