This past year was rewarding on so many levels. From getting the opportunity to perform the role of Aeneas (in the epic Les Troyens) twice in one season, at two of the preeminent opera houses in the world (Vienna and Paris), to a new production of La Fanciulla del West in Munich, revisiting the Prince in Rusalka on two occasions, once in Vienna and again in San Francisco, revisiting one of my favorites roles Florestan in Fidelio and finally making my long awaited debut as the title role in Parsifal in Berlin. I was able to reconnect with the magnificent David McVicar (twice), rethink my take take on Aeneas with Dimitri Tcherniakov, work with the fantastic Andreas Dressen in Munich and perform in Otto Schenk’s timeless vision of Fidelio. All while making music with some of the finest orchestras and under the direction of Maestros Jordan, Altinoglou, Runnicles, Jensens, Kim, Fischer and Gaffigan. It was humbling. It was an honor. It will be one of the “highlight” seasons of my career.
The 2019/2020 season is no less thrilling on many levels. I will add two more new roles to the 54 that I have currently under my belt, with two house debuts that I have been eagerly anticipating. I start the season with the Dutch National Opera in a new Robert Carsen production of Pagliacci as Canio. It will be conducted by Leonardo Viotti. Carsen is a director with whom I have wanted to work in person (I’ve done two of his remounted shows) and I am thoroughly looking forward to plumbing the depths of this troubled character with him. My next venture is another house debut at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden in Berlin with one of my idols, Maestro Barenboim! It too will be a new production of Samson et Dalila directed by Damian Szifron (film director of the upcoming 6 Billion Dollar Man) and will see me reunited with Elina Garancia, it should be one heck of a show! Then, after many, many months of working away from home, I return to my “home theater” the Lyric Opera of Chicago for a long stint (YAHOO!). I am thrilled to be revisit Ghermann in Pique Dame with Maestro Davis conducting in a Richard Jones production. I stay on to sing a couple performances of Madama Butterfly conducted by Maestro Nanasi in a Grandage production, before singing in my third complete Ring Cycle. This too will be conducted by Maestro Davis and will be the first time all of the myriad of elements come together in David Poutney’s realization of this epic masterpiece. In it I will sing both Froh (Rheingold) and Siegmund (Die Walkure). I return to Munich for another run of La Fanciulla del West with Maestro Carignani in May before singing in a special Carmen in Wiesbaden for their May Festival! There are a few concerts tucked away in the summer months too, but more on that later. Whew.
This profession requires a huge time commitment, a tremendous amount of mental, physical and vocal stamina and sacrifices. I would be lying if I were to say that these past 18 months haven’t been rough for my family and I. My wife, three teenagers, a couple of dogs, a bunch of chickens and ducks, my cat and even our guinea pig (the last four probably haven’t been too put out) have all sacrificed time, holidays, birthdays and the like. So I can’t begin to express how thrilled I am to be working in Chicago where I can travel to and from work and sleep under my own roof. I’ve been waiting for this season for a few years now!
This upcoming season will see me surrounded by incredible musicians, technicians and colleagues. Some of the most passionate, glorious and transformative music in all of the operatic cannon awaits...I hope you’ll be able to join me!
Brandon Jovanovich photographed by Kristen Hoebermann
NYC, 2014
Brandon Jovanovich featured in Opera News
Photo by Anthony Tahlier, May 2018 Issue
Brandon Jovanovich in Lady Macbeth von Mtzensk
Photo by Monika Rittershaus | Opernhaus Zürich, 2013
Brandon Jovanovich performing at the Verbier Festival
Switzerland, 2014
In the 2018/19 season, Brandon Jovanovich sings the roles of Enée in Sir David McVicar’s new production of Les Troyens, Florestan in Fidelio, and the Prince in Rusalka at the Wiener Staatsoper. He will also sing Dick Johnson in Andreas Dresen’s new production of La Fanciulla del West at the Bayerische Staatsoper, and will make his role debut in the title role of Parsifal at the Deutsche Oper Berlin. He concludes the season as the Prince in Rusalka at San Francisco Opera.
In this current season, Brandon Jovanovich sang the title role of Lohengrin at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Siegmund in David Pountney’s new production of Die Walküre at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Don José in Carmen at Los Angeles Opera. He made his role debut as Dick Johnson in La Fanciulla del West at the Opernhaus Zürich, Sergei in Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk in his debut at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden debut, and both Froh and Siegmund in The Ring Cycle with San Francisco Opera. Closing out the 2017/18 season Jovanovich will sing Hermann in Pique Dame at the Salzburger Festspiele under the baton of Mariss Jansons.
The 2016/17 performance season saw Brandon make his house debut at the Wiener Staatsoper as Don Jose in Carmen, and return to the Lyric Opera of Chicago (Les troyens and Carmen) and The Metropolitan Opera (Rusalka). On the concert platform Mr. Jovanovich made his debut with the Hallé Orchestra, singing Schoenberg's Gurre-lieder under the baton of Sir Mark Elder. In July 2017 Brandon returned to Opernhaus Zürich in the title role of Wagner's Lohengrin. In August 2017 Brandon closed the 2016/17 season with an exciting house debut with The Salzburg Festival as Sergei in Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk.
Schedule highlights in Brandon Jovanovich's 2015/16 season included two roles debuts -- Tambourmajor in Wozzeck at Opernhaus Zürich and Walther in Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg at San Francisco Opera under the baton of Sir Mark Elder, plus a much-anticipated house debut with L'Opéra National de Paris in the same role under the baton of Philippe Jordan. The singer also returned to the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich as the Chevalier des Grieux in Puccini’s Manon Lescaut conducted by Asher Fisch, and as Don José in Bizet’s Carmen under the baton of Dan Ettinger. Mr. Jovanovich concluded the season with his house debut at Opera Australia as Don José in a new production of Carmen.
Mr. Jovanovich opened the 2014/15 season at San Francisco Opera as Sam in Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah in a new production by Michael Cavanagh, followed by his return to the Metropolitan Opera as Sergei in Shostakovich’s Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk under the baton of James Conlon. Other operatic highlights of Mr. Jovanovich’s season included Walter in Lyric Opera of Chicago’s highly-anticipated production of Mieczyslaw Weinberg’s The Passenger and a reprise of his acclaimed Florestan in Beethoven’s Fidelio at Opernhaus Zürich under the baton of Fabio Luisi. Orchestral engagements included Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and San Francisco Symphony, both under the baton of Michael Tilson Thomas, and in his Vienna debut performing Janacek’s Glagolitic Mass with the Czech Philarmonic Orchestra. Additionally he appear in concert performances of Fidelio with Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony and made his New York Philharmonic debut in Verdi’s Requiem under the baton of Alan Gilbert.
Additional highlights of Mr. Jovanovich’s other recent seasons include the Prince in Sir David McVicar’s new production of Rusalka at Lyric Opera of Chicago; Don José in Carmen at LA Opera conducted by Plácido Domingo, The Dallas Opera conducted by Emmanuel Villaume, Opernhaus Zürich conducted by Vasily Petrenko, and in a new production at Houston Grand Opera; the title role of Lohengrin at San Francisco Opera conducted by Nicola Luisotti; Florestan in a new production of Fidelio by Andreas Homoki at Opernhaus Zürich, conducted by Fabio Luisi, and at the Verbier Festival under the baton of Marc Minkowski; Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly at LA Opera; the Chevalier des Grieux in Manon Lescaut at La Monnaie in Brussels; and Sergei in a new production of Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk with Opernhaus Zürich.
Recent concert work includes appearances with the Gürzenich-Orchester Köln under the baton of Markus Stenz, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Millennium Park series, and the title role in a concert production of Lohengrin at Festival International de Lanaudière conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin. Mr. Jovanovich made role debuts in Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen as Froh (Rheingold) and Siegmund (Die Walküre) with the San Francisco Opera in 2011 in the highly acclaimed production by Francesca Zambello, under the baton of Donald Runnicles, and his U.K. debut at the Glyndebourne Festival as Don José in David McVicar’s production of Carmen, conducted by Stéphane Denève. He later returned to Glyndebourne to sing the Prince in Dvořák’s Rusalka which was released as a live recording on Glyndebourne’s independent label.
Other career highlights include Les Contes d’Hoffmann at Teatro alla Scala; Bacchus in Ariadne auf Naxos with the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Boston Lyric Opera; Don José in Carmen with Deutsche Oper Berlin, Gran Teatre del Liceu, Barcelona, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Bayerische Staatsoper, and the Metropolitan Opera; the title role in Don Carlos with Houston Grand Opera; the title role in Peter Grimes at Teatro di San Carlo in Naples; and Cavaradossi in Tosca with the Canadian Opera Company, Oper Köln, Seattle Opera, l’Opéra National de Bordeaux, de Vlaamse Opera, and the Bregenz Festival, which was featured in the James Bond film Quantum of Solace. Mr. Jovanovich’s Pinkerton has been seen at Santa Fe Opera, The Dallas Opera, New York City Opera, LA Opera, and San Francisco Opera, where it was broadcast in high-definition in movie theatres across the United States.
A native of Billings, MT, Brandon Jovanovich received his training at Northern Arizona University and Manhattan School of Music. He was the recipient of the 2007 Richard Tucker Award and was twice a New York City district winner in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. He was a founding member of the Seattle Young Artists program and was a member of the Santa Fe Opera Apprentice program, where he was given the Anna Case Mackay award Award. He won the Crawley Award from the Young Patronesses of the Opera/Florida Grand Opera Voice Competition and in 2004 he was given the prestigious ARIA Award.
UPDATED JULY 2018
"Brandon Jovanovich was the star of the show,
a high heroic tenor
clearly destined for greatness."
-The Wall Street Journal
"His singing was thrillingly pure and tireless,
his stage presence simultaneously tender and aloof."
-The San Francisco Chronicle
"The fine tenor Brandon Jovanovich brings
an aptly brawny voice and physique..."
-The New York Times
Dutch National Opera
Leoncavallo's Pagliacci
TIX & INFO
Berlin Staatsoper
Saint-Saëns's Samson et Delilah
TIX & INFO
2011 Hollywood Bowl
2010 Metropolitan Opera debut
2007 Richard Tucker Award
2007 Featured in Quantum of Solace
2007 San Francisco Opera debut
2005 ARIA Award
2004 Teatro alla Scala debut
1998 & 1999 Metropolitan Opera National Council, NYC District
1998 Crawley Award,
Young Patronesses of
Florida Grand Opera
1996 Anna Case Mackay Award,
Santa Fe Opera
1998 Seattle Opera Young Artist
1997 New York City Opera Debut
1997/8 Manhattan School of Music
1996/7 Santa Fe Opera Apprentice
1994 Northern Arizona University
B.S. Theater Performance
Opera News
MARCH 16
2017
Published: March 16, 2017 BRANDON RETURNS to LYRIC OPERA of CHICAGO in CARMEN, RECEIVES RAVES
FEB 25
2017
Published: February 25, 2017 BRANDON STARS in Rusalka at The MET, appears in Cinemas LIVE in HD
DEC 11
2016
Published: December 11, 2016 BRANDON PERFORMS Beethoven 9 with ORCHESTRA SINFONICA NAZIONALE DELLA RAI
AUG 1
2016
Published: August 1, 2016 BRANDON's RECORDING Gurrelieder WINS GRAMOPHONE AWARD
JAN 3
2016
Published: January 3, 2016 BRANDON TO MAKE PARISIAN DEBUT WINTER 2016
DEC 1
2015
Published: December 1, 2015: ACCLAIM FOR BRANDON'S MEISTERSINGER ROLE DEBUT
OCT 23
2015
Published: October 23, 2015 BRANDON STARS IN WOZZECK in ZURICH and LONDON
SEPT. 1
2015
Published: September 1, 2015: BRANDON JOVANOVICH ANNOUNCES 2015/16 SEASON
JAN 23
2015
Published: January 23, 2015 BRANDON GIVES 'Opera Lively' INTERVIEW
NOV 13
2014
Published: November 13, 2014 JOVANOVICH FINDS HUMANITY in LADY MACBETH's BAD BOY
NOV. 1
2014
Published: November 1, 2014 ANNOUNCING THE NEW BRANDONJOVANOVICH.COM
OCT. 13
2014
Published: October 13, 2014 BRANDON STEPS IN AS DON JOSE IN CARMEN AT THE MET
SEPT. 6
2014
Published: September 6, 2014 BRANDON RETURNS TO SAN FRANCISCO OPERA IN SUSANNAH
AUG. 1
2014
Published: August 1, 2014 BRANDON ANNOUNCES 2014/15 SEASON
Markus Stenz conducts the Gürzenich Orchestra
"Brandon Jovanovich brings a rugged vocal handsomeness to Waldemar, and there is a touching sensitivity and slight vulnerability in the timbre – a Heldentenor with a ringing top who retains some lyrical colour. ...He has all the notes under his belt."
-Hugo Shirley, Gramophone
Available on
AMAZON
Walter Braunfels (Composer)
From LA Opera's Recovered Voices series. Opernwelt's Matthew Gurewitsch hailed, “tenor Brandon Jovanovich, engaging throughout, soared to new heights here, combining lyricism and romantic timbre with unforced power.”
Available on
AMAZON
David Carlson (Composer)
Colin Graham (Librettist)
Live performance Recording of Stewart Robertson conducting the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra and Chorus at the Opera Theatre Saint Louis
Available on
PRESTO CLASSICAL
Puccini's Tosca
A pivotal scene from this installement in the James Bond franchise was filmed at the Bregenz Festival during a performance of Tosca starring Brandon Jovanovich as Cavaradossi
Available on
AMAZON
Richard Rodney Bennett (Composer)
Chandos presents this Grammy-nominated Recording taken from the 2004 live performances at Glimmerglass Opera starring Brandon Jovanovich and Beth Clayton
Available on
AMAZON
Sigmund Rohmberg (Composer)
A 2003 Encores! off-Broadway Cast Recording including Brandon Jovanovich, Rod Gilfry and Christiane Noll singing classic tunes
Available on
AMAZON
Jules Massenet (Composer)
The National Philharmonic Orchestra of Belarus conducted by Jean-Luc Tingaud and Lubomir Matl. A Recording of live performances at the Wexford Festival, 2001
Available on
AMAZON
Daniel Cátan (Composer)
The Manhattan School of Music Opera Theater conducted by Eduardo Diazmuñoz. This is the only complete recording of Daniel Catan's La hija de Rappaccini. It features the young voices of Brandon Jovanovich and Olivia Gorra
Available on
AMAZON
General Management
European Management
Contact Brandon Personally
General Management
European Management
Contact Brandon Personally