Athlone Artists is pleased to welcome to its roster international tenor Eric Fennell, who has been praised by the New York Times for his “seductive vocal lines” and “honeyed tenor voice,” and by Der Opernfreund for his “gorgeous Italianiate tenor voice that he handles with elegance.”
A Metropolitan Opera National Council regional finalist and prize winner in the Licia Albanese Competition, Mr. Fennell’s professional debut came when he jumped in for Rodolfo in Puccini’s La Bohème at the Glimmerglass Opera Festival. This opportunity led him to The New York City Opera where he sang 13 roles over six seasons.
Fennell has played title roles in Werther, Roméo et Juliette and The Tales of Hoffmann; the Duke in Rigoletto, Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly along with other operatic heroes (and anti-heroes). Critics have praised his fearless high register and emotional depths; his concert work in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony and the requiems of Verdi and Mozart alone have taken him to top concert halls across the United States and abroad. This coming weekend (March 13 & 15), audiences can see Fennell performing the role of Leicester in Odyssey Opera’s production of Rossini’s Elisabetta, Regina d’Inghilterra at the Huntington Avenue Theatre in Boston.
“I have known Miguel Rodriguez of Athlone Artists for 25 years,” says Fennell. We were both getting our master’s degrees at Boston University, where we were friends and colleagues and performed in several operas together. After college we went our separate ways. Long story short, we’re old friends, and when you can work with your friends whom you also respect in this business – with Miguel being a singer and also smart, tenacious, and knowing the business side of opera – that’s a great thing.”
“I’ve known Eric Fennell since we were both students of Phyllis Curtin” says Rodriguez. “Over the years, I have seen Eric become a much sought-after leading tenor throughout European houses, and most recently the ‘go-to Hoffmann’ for Offenbach’s Les Contes d’Hoffmann. I’m thrilled to reconnect with Eric, and to welcome him to the Athlone Artists family.”
Originally from Allentown, Pennsylvania, Mr. Fennell now lives in Berlin, Germany. He received a BA in music from Gettysburg College and a Masters in Voice and Artist Diploma from Boston University where he was a member of the Opera Institute. When he is not on stage, Mr. Fennell is on the ice playing hockey, a sport he has played since the age of 7.
