| John Avey |
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Introduction “John Avey was suitably creepy…his baritone is sonorous and his phrasing has the slyness that sets him up…he became more physically repulsive with every gesture…managed to inject grossness as well as volume into his demands.” The Globe and Mail – Hilary McLaughlin BiographyJohn Avey is a versatile baritone whose repertoire encompasses a wide variety of major operatic roles as well as the principal symphonic and oratorio works. Mr. Avey debuted at the Metropolitan Opera as Enrico in Donizetti’s LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras. In addition to performing Enrico, he has appeared at the Met as Germont in LA TRAVIATA and covered the roles of Montano in OTELLO and Renato in UN BALLO IN MASCHERA. Avey made his New York City Opera debut as the Vicar in Janácek's THE CUNNING LITTLE VIXEN, and was also heard there as Peneios in Strauss’ DAPHNE. Recent engagements include Germont in LA TRAVIATA for Opera New Brunswick, W. Jennings Bryan in THE BALLAD OF BABY DOE for Calgary Opera, Ford in FALSTFF for Edmonton Opera and the Old Prince/Gen Bennigsen in WAR & PEACE for the Canadian Opera Company. In concert, he sang Vaughan Williams’ SEA SYMPHONY for the Winnipeg Symphony and MESSIAH for Symphony Nova Scotia. He recently appeared for L’Opéra de Québec as Amonasro in AÏDA and will be heard next season with the Calgary Symphony in Mozart’s REQUIEM and Rimsky-Korsakov’s MOZART AND SALIERI. Highlights from seasons past include Scarpia in TOSCA and the title role in RIGOLETTO for Pacific Opera Victoria, and der Kaiser in Ullmann’s DER KAISER VON ATLANTIS in Edmonton. He was heard with the London Fanshawe Symphonic Chorus as Christus in Bach’s JOHANNES PASSION and in Beethoven’s MISSA SOLEMNIS, with Orchestra London in Verdi’s REQUIEM, and for the Brott Music Festival in MESSIAH. He has sung Rodrigo in DON CARLOS for Arizona Opera, di Luna in IL TROVATORE for Pacific Opera Victoria, Sharpless in MADAMA BUTTERFLY for Opera Ontario and Peter in HÄNSEL UND GRETEL for Manitoba Opera and for Edmonton Opera. Other highlights include Scarpia in TOSCA for Opera Lyra Ottawa, Der Musiklehrer in ARIADNE AUF NAXOS for Pacific Opera Victoria and Frank in DIE FLEDERMAUS for both Lyric Opera of Kansas City and Calgary Opera. For the Vancouver Symphony, he was heard in a rare performance of Rimsky-Korsakov’s MOZART AND SALIERI. He was heard as Germont in LA TRAVIATA for Arizona Opera and Calgary Opera and was also featured in Beethoven’s SYMPHONY NO. 9 with the Calgary Philharmonic. For the COC, Mr. Avey has been featured as Staryk in JENUFA, Krusina in THE BARTERED BRIDE and Schaunard in LA BOHÈME in addition to important assignments in TURANDOT, OEDIPUS REX and Ullmann's DER KAISER VON ATLANTIS. He sang Germont in LA TRAVIATA for Vancouver Opera, Enrico in LUCIA DI LAMERMOOR with Pacific Opera Victoria, Sharpless in MADAMA BUTTERFLY for Edmonton Opera plus performances of the Verdi REQUIEM for both the Vancouver and the Victoria symphonies. Mr. Avey’s career has also included appearances as Ping in TURANDOT and Pooh Bah in MIKADO for Calgary Opera, Staryk in JENUFA for both the Vancouver Opera and L'Opéra de Montréal, Beethoven's SYMPHONY No. 9 with l'Orchestre Symphonique de Québec and the Brott Summer Music Festival, Mozart's REQUIEM with the Charlotte Symphony (N.C.) and MESSIAH with the symphonies of Nova Scotia and Victoria. Avey’s repertoire also includes the requiems of Brahms and Fauré, Orff's DER MOND and CARMINA BURANA, plus the major works of Handel and Haydn. He performed CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS for the Ottawa Symphony and has been heard in evenings devoted to the music of Lerner & Loewe and Rodgers & Hammerstein. He appeared in THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER at the Pantages Theatre in Toronto. August 2010 Full RepertoireOpera
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Engaged By
Reviews“Avey with his booming black baritone wrung every last shred of malevolence from his character and dominated the stage whenever he was present…and he always remained believable.” (Pacific Opera Victoria, RIGOLETTO) Opera Canada – Robert Jordan
“John Avey was suitably creepy…his baritone is sonorous and his phrasing has the slyness that sets him up…he became more physically repulsive with every gesture…managed to inject grossness as well as volume into his demands.” The Globe and Mail – Hilary McLaughlin
“John Avey, a plushly sonorous Mikado” The Toronto Star – William Littler
“John Avey was also top-notch as Capt. Corcoran, with a brawny baritone and a flair for comedy.” Edmonton Sun – John Charles
“John Avey sang a staunch, powerful and engaging Rodrigo.” The Arizona Republic – Kenneth La Fave
“John Avey is brilliant as a menacing Scarpia whose rich baritone easily fills the Royal Theatre and sends sinister chills up and down the spine. He has sung with both New York City and the Metropolitan operas in various roles but in this he sports wild hair and uncontrolled passion as a psychopath, turned on by the pain and fear of others.” Times Colonist – Grania Litwin
“John Avey has grown in stature to become a fine performer, displaying a sonorous voice of considerable character.” The Globe and Mail – Paula Citron
“John Avey…is riveting in the title role of the hunchback jester. His powerful voice and commanding presence merge with poignant characterization to create a complex tragic hero who achieves a bitter self-awareness—too late.” Times Colonist – Grania Litwin |