Brian Cheney, tenor

Brian Cheney is emerging as one of opera’s most versatile, and exciting tenors. The protégé of legendary tenor, Jerry Hadley, Mr. Cheney is quickly gaining national acclaim for his portrayal of characters such as Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore, Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor, Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, Rodolfo in La Boheme, the Duke in Rigoletto, Candide in Candide and Tom Rakewell in The Rake’s Progress. “Tenor Brian Cheney’s portrayal of Don José was the most effective dramatic and vocal realization of character in the production…this excellent singer revealed a voice of amazing power and great beauty. Cheney’s booming tenor voice and effective dramatic realization of the passionate Don José soon made him the audience’s favorite character.” Classical Voice of North Carolina – 2010

Following Mr. Cheney’s debut at Carnegie Hall in 2008, he has been performing concert works and oratorio throughout the country. The Daily Gazette in Albany, NY had this to say about his recent performance of the Messiah, “Tenor Brian Cheney was a revelation. Cheney’s voice was like spun gold. He seemed to dwell on his notes, basking in their loveliness. Each phrase was sculpted, each word was cleanly enunciated. Not just a gorgeous voice, Cheney showed imagination as he altered his colors or use of vibrato.” Mr. Cheney has performed numerous times as a soloist at Carnegie Hall with his most recent performance in 2011 performing a world premiere entitled Festival Te Deum composed by David Childs.  In 2011, Mr. Cheney also made his Lincoln Center debut as tenor soloist for the 10th Anniversary of 9/11 at Avery Fisher Hall appearing with acclaimed soprano, Jessye Norman. He has served as tenor soloist in pieces ranging from Verdi’s Requiem and Beethoven’s 9th Symphony to Puccini’s Messa di Gloria, Mozart’s Requiem, and Mendelssohn’s Elijah.  

Mr. Cheney is also an accomplished recitalist performing recitals and concerts throughout the country. Performances in cities like San Francisco, Tulsa and Key Largo to his New York City recital debut at Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall. The New York Sun hailed Mr. Cheney’s Weill Hall performance by saying, “Cheney exhibited such control, expressiveness and pure vocal beauty that he certainly had the full house at Weill Recital Hall in the palm of his hand all evening.”