| Jon-Paul Décosse |
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Introduction
"Ontario baritone Jon-Paul Décosse sang the don's servant Pasqueriello quite beautifully and his catalogue aria was a high point" BiographyJon-Paul Décosse, “a powerful, full-throated bass-baritone” (Opera Canada), has been heralded for both his vocal and dramatic presentations in a variety of operatic and concert repertoire. Born in Ontario, he is an alumnus of the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio, Canada’s premiere training program for young opera professionals. During his final season as an Ensemble member, Mr. Décosse performed the roles of Sciarrone in TOSCA, Don Juan in Janáček’s FROM THE HOUSE OF THE DEAD, and Pasquariello in Gazzaniga’s DON GIOVANNI, in addition to understudying the title roles in EUGENE ONEGIN and LE NOZZE DI FIGARO. Recent seasons have included Schaunard in LA BOHEME for the Canadian Opera Company, Buonafede in Haydn’s IL MONDO DELLA LUNA for Opera in Concert, Papageno in DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE with Opera New Brunswick, Don Alfonso in the COC’s Ensemble production of COSI FAN TUTTE, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 for the Thunder Bay Symphony, MESSIAH with the Guelph Chamber Choir, Sam in TROUBLE IN TAHITI in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre and Colline in BOHEME for both Opera Hamilton and Edmonton Opera. He returned to the COC in the fall of 2011 for their school tour and also looks forward to Schaunard in LA BOHEME for Calgary Opera. Busy across Canada, Mr. Décosse has appeared as Marullo in RIGOLETTO for both Pacific Opera Victoria and Orchestra London Canada, Thierry and the First Officer in Vancouver Opera’s production of Poulenc’s DIALOGUES DES CARMÉLITES, and Charles in Allan Bell’s TURTLE WAKES for Calgary Opera. As a graduate of the University of Toronto Opera Division, he performed the roles of Mr. Peachum in Benjamin Britten’s setting of THE BEGGAR’S OPERA, Melisso in Handel’s ALCINA, Don Alfonso in Mozart’s COSÌ FAN TUTTE, Superintendent Budd in Britten’s ALBERT HERRING, and the title character of Donizetti’s DON PASQUALE. Also no stranger to the concert stage, he has appeared as a guest artist in such works as Haydn’s DIE SCHÖPFUNG (The London Singers), Handel’s MESSIAH (Haliburton Messiah Choir), Duruflé’s REQUIEM (University of Toronto Symphony Orchestra), and a variety of Bach Cantatas (London Choral Guild, International Bach Festival). December 2012
OPERA
CONCERT
Engaged ByBanff Centre
Reviews"Jon-Paul Décosse, as Preacher/Badger, melded his comedic talents with a powerful and mellow bass-baritone to clearly define the complexities of each character." (Cunning Little Vixen) Opera Canada - Tim Christison “Jon-Paul Décosse added a full-bodied, substantial bass-baritone to a big range in the thankless role of the credulous Buonafede, his well-rounded characterization an excellent debut for Opera in Concert.” (Il mondo della luna) Opera Canada - Geoff Chapman “baritone Jon-Paul Décosse sang the don's servant Pasqueriello quite beautifully and his catalogue aria was a high point” Ken Winters – The Globe and Mail
John Terauds – The Toronto Star |