Don José
Fred C. VanNess Jr. is a Boston Lyric Opera Jane and Steven Akin Emerging Artist. This season, Mr. VanNess will sing the role of Messenger in Aida BLO and will appear in Die Tote Stadt and Carousel with Boston Lyric Opera. Past performances include Meleagros in Lysistrata, Odyssey Opera; Topper, A Christmas Carol, Commonwealth Shakespeare Company; Paris, Romeo and Juliet, Boston Lyric Opera; Amadou and Renty, Omar, Boston Lyric Opera; Russell Davenport, Freedom Ride, MassOpera; Voltaire/Pangloss, Candide, Opera del West; Don Ottavio, Don Giovanni, Toronto Summer Opera; Don José, Carmen, NEMPAC Opera Project; and Rodolfo, La bohëme, Longwood Opera.
An avid concert performer, Mr. VanNess has appeared with numerous symphony and orchestras. Notable performances include tenor soloist in Remember the Sea, Castle of our Skins; and the tenor quartet soloist in Tide Flowers, University of Rhode Island Artist Series; Elijah, Rhode Island Civic Chorale & Orchestra; Ballad of the Brown King, Portsmouth Pro Musica; Schöpfungsmesse, Concord Chorale; Judas Maccabeus, Handel by Candlelight; Messiah, Tremont Baptist Church; and solo recitals at various venues across the US.
Mr. VanNess has developed and performed his one-man shows: When I Think of Home…, McNeese State University, and Beethoven to Broadway at various locations throughout New England and Louisiana. Mr. VanNess is excited to be back with Opera del West in this exciting production of Carmen.