JOSHUA DENNIS
TENOR
BIOGRAPHY
Known for his “voluptuous elegant tone,” and a “robust tenor with baritonal heft,” American lyric tenor Joshua Dennis is a star on the rise. Mr. Dennis, a champion of new works, had the honor of originating two roles: “Shoeless” Joe Jackson in Minnesota Opera’s world premiere production of The Fix, and Prince Frederic in Poul Ruders’ The Thirteenth Child with the Santa Fe Opera. Additionally, he was heard in Huang Rou’s Paradise Interrupted at the MGM Grand in Macau, and was the host of Santa Fe Opera’s virtual event Songs from the Santa Fe Opera. Additionally, he performed as Leonard in the world premiere of Nadia Boulanger’s La ville morte with Catapult Opera.
In the 2021-2022 season, Mr. Dennis created two roles: Marc in the world premiere of Huang Ruo and David Henry Huang’s M. Butterfly with the Santa Fe Opera, and Dean Clarkson in the world premiere of Stinney: An American Execution with Opera Grand Rapids. He also made his role debut as Don José in Carmen with Opera Idaho, performed as Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni with Opera San Antonio, and performed as a soloist in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with Oregon Symphony. This season’s engagements include the Duke of Mantua in Opera Colorado’s Rigoletto, and as the tenor soloist in Handel’s Messiah with both the Santa Fe Symphony and Pacific Symphony. [read more...]
CRITICAL ACCLAIM
"...voluptuous, elegant tone ..." – Opera News
Die Zauberflöte – “Dennis sang with voluptuous, elegant tone in the tradition of Fritz Wunderlich, negotiating Tamino’s occasionally perilous tessitura without any loss of warmth or grace.”
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"...finest singing of the evening ..." – Star Tribune
Rigoletto – “The finest singing of the evening was that of the American tenor Joshua Dennis, who brought a ripe, supple tonal quality and a sappy brio to “Questa o quella” and the famous ‘La donna è mobile…’”
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"...singing ardently in the soaringly lyrical music ..." – Star Tribune
The Fix – “Tenor Joshua Dennis looked the part as the conflicted slugger, singing ardently in the soaringly lyrical music Puckett gave him for moments of introspection.”
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"...singing with a tender, dulcet tenor with an apt touch of steel..." – Opera News
La Fanciulla del West – “Another stand out moment is the duet for Julia and Theodore—the john-turned-lover who regretfully leaves Julia for his pregnant wife—which resembles the famous, extended Act II duet from Puccini’s La Fanciulla del West in its sweeping melodies and emotional and dramatic range. As Theodore, Joshua Dennis matches Becerra’s vocal commitment, singing with a tender, dulcet tenor with an apt touch of steel.”
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"...the finest singing of the evening... ripe, supple tone..." – Star Tribune
Rigoletto – “The finest singing of the evening was that of the American tenor Joshua Dennis, who brought a ripe, supple tonal quality and sappy brio to ‘Questo o quella’ and the famous ‘La donna è mobile…“
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"...ideal...voluptuous, elegant tone..." – Opera News
Die Zauberflöte – “Joshua Dennis, in his first Tamino, was ideal. Dennis sang with voluptuous, elegant tone in the tradition of Fritz Wunderlich, negotiating Tamino’s occasionally perilous tessitura without any loss of warmth or grace.”