Jon-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.  During the summer of 2008, he was in Italy preparing the role of Schaunard in LA BOHEME in anticipation of his performances of this role with the Canadian Opera Company in April and May of 2009.  Also on his recent schedule were performances of 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, MESSIAH with the Guelph Chamber Choir, Sam in TROUBLE IN TAHITI in the Richard Bradshaw Amphitheatre and Colline in BOHEME in Hamilton, which he will reprise for Edmonton 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).
 

                                                                                    August 2010

OPERA

CONCERT

“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

"Particularly notable at last night's opening performance (was) ... baritone Jon-Paul Décosse's comedic gifts as servant Pasquariello"

John Terauds – The Toronto Star