John McVeigh makes his Cincinnati Opera debut in 2008 as Arturo Bucklaw in Lucia di Lammermoor (Lucie de Lammermoor).
Acclaimed for his “fresh-toned and touching portrayal” by Opera News and lauded by the New Orleans Times-Picayune for his “rich lyrical tenor, fabulous top notes, and striking good looks,” John McVeigh sings Azor in Zemire et Azor with Arizona Opera in the 2006-07 season. He also returns to the Metropolitan Opera as Pang in Turandot, joins the Phoenix Symphony for performances of Messiah and Bach’s Cantata No. 151, sings an all-Bernstein concert with the Portland Symphony, and sings repeat performances of Phillip Glass’ Symphony No. 5 in Leipzig.
His 2005-06 season included debuts at the Teatro Real as Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the Gran Teatre del Liceu as Lurcanio in Ariodante with Harry Bicket conducting. He also returned to New York City Opera for Feeny in The Mines of Sulphur, and the Metropolitan Opera for Bardolfo in Falstaff in addition to singing Marzio in Mitridate, Rè di ponto at Grenada’s Festival Internacional de Música y Danza and Handel’s L’allegro with the Mark Morris Dance Group at the Ravinia Festival.
Frequently performing works of the classical and baroque repertoire, Mr. McVeigh has sung Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni with Glimmerglass Opera and Austin Lyric Opera, Tamino in Die Zauberflöte with New York City Opera and Houston Grand Opera’ Ferrando in Così fan tutte in a return to Austin Lyric Opera, and Arbace in Idomeneo with Santa Fe Opera. In addition, he joined Christophe Rousset and Les Talen Lyriques for Ozia in Mozart’s rarely performed Betulia Liberata.
Following his European debut as Teseo in Traetta’s Ippolito ed Aricia with Opéra de Montepellier, the tenor returned to the company for Adrastro in Antigona by the same composer and sang subsequent performances of the work at the Théâtre du Châtelet. He has sung Emilio in Partenope at the Göttingen Handel Festpiele with Nicolas McGeegan and both Glimmerglass Opera and New York City Opera with Harry Bicket. Also with Glimmerglass Opera, the tenor sang the title role in Acis and Galatea and repeated performances of the opera under the auspices of the Detroit Oratorio Society. He has sung previous performances of Lurcanio in Ariodante at New York City Opera with Jane Glover, Houston Grand Opera with Christopher Hogwood, and de Vlaamse Opera; and joined the Mark Morris Dance Group for performances of Rameu’s Platée.
John McVeigh has become renowned for his performances of the Novice in Benjamin Britten’s Billy Budd, having sung the role in his debuts with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Los Angeles Opera, Washington National Opera, Genoa’s Teatro Carlo Felice, as well as in a return to Houston Grand Opera. He has previously sung Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Central City Opera and Utah Opera as well as Johnny Inkslinger in Paul Bunyan, also with Central City Opera and Hot Biscuit Slim in the same opera in performances at New York City Opera that were broadcast on Live from Lincoln Center on PBS. He joined the Metropolitan Opera for Little Bat in the company’s first production of Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah conducted by James Conlon. He created the role of Will Tweedy in the world premiere of Cold Sassy Tree at Houston Grand Opera, a recording of which is available on the Albany label. He repeated his performances of the role with Austin Lyric Opera, Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Opera Omaha, San Diego Opera, and Opera Carolina. In addition, he sang the world premiere of the composer’s Soul of Heaven for tenor and piano.
Mr. McVeigh ‘s other recent performances include returns to Austin Lyric Opera for the title role in Candide, Central City Opera for the tile role in Romberg’s The Student Prince, de Vlaamse Opera for Bill in Jonathan Dove’s Flight, San Diego Opera for Anatol in Vanessa, Fenton in Falstaff with Santa Fe Opera, as well as his Ravinia Festival debut as Henrick in A Little Night Music alongside Patti LuPone. An alumnus of the prestigious Houston Grand Opera Studio, his numerous other performances with that company include Tybalt in Roméo et Juliette and St. Stephen in Four Saints in Three Acts which he also sang at the Edinburgh Festival. He is also featured on the world premiere of Michael Daughtery’s Jackie O, available on the Argo recording label.
An accomplished presence on the concert stage, the tenor has sung Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis with the Minnesota Orchestra and Houston Symphony with Harry Bicket; Mozart’s Requiem with the Colorado Symphony and Marin Alsop; and performances of the Messiah with the symphonies of Phoenix, Milwaukee, Austin, Minnesota Orchestra, at Carnegie Hall with the Masterworks Chorus, and at the Washington National Cathedral with the Cathedral Choral Society. He has joined the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra for programs of Bach cantatas and Handel arias, Mozart’s Mass in C minor, and Handel’s Israel in Egypt. In addition, he has sung Philip Glass’ Symphony No. 5 with the Brooklyn Philharmonic, Pacific Symphony, and the Danish National Radio Orchestra under the baton of Dennis Russell Davies.
View the complete biography.
View a Q&A with John McVeigh.
