Arts Strong with Annelise and Tyrone
Annelise hosts guest artist Tyrone Chambers, II, an American tenor from New Orleans now singing on the international stage. He shares his story and teaches a mini masterclass on German lieder and Italian art songs.
New Orleans-based American tenor, Tyrone Chambers is heralded by the Allgemeine Zeitung as “a real asset, due to his artfully melting tenor.” His first appearances in Germany were singing Sporting Life in the Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess in such venues as Dresden’s Semperoper and the Hamburg State Opera in the summer of 2016. Mr. Chambers made his Swiss debut the following year, singing the role of Joe, in Gerswhin’s Blue Monday, and more recently, at Opernakademie Schloss Henfenfeld, where he performed Belmonte in Die Entführung aus dem Serail, and the eponymous role in La Clemenza di Tito.
Tyrone can be seen in the winter on tour as moderator and soloist for the Andrew Lloyd Webber Musical Gala and in the spring will return to Chicago Opera Theater as Massa Piebald in the world premiere of Quamino’s Map. He is a native son of one of America’s earliest cities of opera, New Orleans, LA and founding tenor of OperaCréole, a unique opera company making its mark at home and abroad. Mr. Chambers has performed principal roles Diron Hachard in Minette Fontaine in 2015, Jean Torrès in La Flamenca in 2017, of William Grant Still and Lucien Lambert respectively, the role of Basile Barès in Les Lions de la Reconstruction, compiled and written by Givonna Joseph, and a plethora of works integral to OperaCréole’s mission- researching, finding, and performing classical works by Creole composers, les gens de couleur libres, and other composers of African descent.
This language enthusiast holds music degrees from the University of Oklahoma and Morehouse College. Post-graduate work includes Gastone in La traviata (Prelude to Performance), Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus (Opera in the Ozarks), and Laërtes in Mignon (Music Academy of the West). The Süddeutsche Zeitung praises him for having a “splendid voice, fit for both big stages worldwide, and important roles at home. [The voice is] fine in the heights, elegantly gliding on the tempi waves and in forte with powerful emotion.”
The 2019-2020 season was full despite the global pandemic. The Louisiana resident performed Bach’s St. Matthew Passion and Brahms’ Liebeslieder Walzer at Schloss Henfenfeld. In his first Brazilian appearance, Mr. Chambers presented a solo recital called "Seréstas, Spirituals, and Song." He also led yet another successful and acclaimed European/Scandinavian tour of the Andrew Lloyd Webber Musical Gala which led right into the pandemic. Major highlights of last season were singing El Remendado in Carmen with New Orleans Opera Association, Russell Davenport in Dan Shore’s Freedom Ride during its Chicago Opera Theater world premiere, as well as several concerts with Opera et Cetera and Papageno Musiktheater in Frankfurt.
Mr. Chambers will once again tour western Europe and Scandinavia with Trinity 3for1 Concerts this winter followed by a return to Chicago Opera Theater in the spring for a principal role in the world premiere of Quamino’s Map.