Canadian bass-baritone Joel Allison has garnered praise for his “rich, ringing tone” (Ludwig Van Toronto), “expressive voice… and excellent interpretation” (Pro Opera). Upcoming season highlights include performances as Angelotti in Puccini’s Tosca, Escamillo in Bizet’s Carmen, the Father/Peter in Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel, Sharpless in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, and Colline in Puccini’s La bohème, all with Deutsche Oper Berlin as part of their ensemble.

Last season, Joel made his house debuts with Oper Frankfurt as Bijou-Alcindor in Adam’s Le Postillion de Longuemeau, and with Palermo Classica Festival as Leporello in Mozart’s Don Giovanni. With Deutsche Oper Berlin, Joel debuted the roles of Don Pizzaro in Fidelio, Sacrestano in Tosca, and Fritz Kothner in Die Meistersinger, alongside reprising roles in productions of Wagner’s Tannhäuser, Verdi’s Don Carlo, Verdi’s Les vespres Sisilienne, and Verdi’s Rigoletto, among others. Additionally, he also stepped into Oper Leipzig’s production of Rossini’s Il Viaggio a Reims as Lord Sydney.

In the 2023/2024 season, Joel returned to the Canadian Opera Company for the roles of Masetto in Don Giovanni, in the acclaimed Kaspar Holten production, and the Forester in Janáček’s Přyhody Lyšky Bystroušky. He also made debuts with Opéra National de Bordeaux (Alberti in Meyerbeer’s Robert le diable), Tiroler Festspiele Erl (Bijou-Alcindor in Adam’s Le Postillion de Lonjumeau), and at the Royal Opera House Muscat (Father/Peter in Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel).

Joel has curated a wide range of repertoire, including Der Sprecher in Die Zauberflöte, Biterolf in Tannhäuser, Ping in Turandot, Schaunard in La bohème, and Donner in Das Rheingold. Additional operatic credits include the world premieres of Lange’s Der Gesang der Zauberinsel with Salzburger Festspiele, and Wainwright’s Hadrian with the Canadian Opera Company.

Dedicated to concert repertoire, and with extensive experience in the works of Handel, Mozart and Bach, Joel has performed across Canada with orchestras and ensembles such as the National Arts Centre Orchestra, Theatre of Early Music, Tafelmusik Chamber Orchestra, Toronto Bach Festival, Festival international de musique baroque de Lamèque, and Newfoundland Symphony Orchestra. In Berlin, Joel joined Deutsche Oper in a staged version of Bach’s St. Matthew Passion, conducted by Alessandro De Marchi.

Joel’s discography includes a live recording of Meyerbeer’s Robert le Diable with Opera National Bordeaux (CD), as well as Schreker’s Der Schatzgräber, Strauss’ Intermezzo, Langgaard’s Antikrist, and Wagner’s Das Rheingold, all on DVD with Deutsche Oper Berlin (NAXOS).

Joel has had the pleasure to perform under the batons of Sir Donald Runnicles, Marc Minkowski, Marc Albrecht, Speranza Scappucci, Stephan Zilias, Enrique Mazzola, and Johannes Debus, and appear in celebrated productions by Christoph Loy, Benedic von Peter, Hans Walter Richter, Oliver Py, and Amy Lane.

Joel is a graduate of the Canadian Opera Company’s prestigious Ensemble Studio, and was a 2020 Metropolitan Opera Competition National Semi Finalist.

June 2025
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