ASITHA TENNEKOON

BIOGRAPHY

Praised by The Globe and Mail for “...his silky, emotional presence on stage – both vocally and dramatically...”, Sri Lankan tenor Asitha Tennekoon has established himself as one of Canada’s most versatile singing artists. In 2017 he drew critical acclaim and received a Dora Award for his portrayal of Paul in Tapestry Opera/Scottish Opera’s Rocking Horse Winner. Asitha is sought after for performances spanning from Baroque to experimental repertoire.

 

This season, Asitha looks forward to his debut with Symphony Nova Scotia (Handel’s Messiah), and to Britten’s War Requiem with Vancouver Bach Choir. Asitha continues to expand his reputation as an impressive interpretor of J.S.Bach’s Evangelist, and will be featured this season with the Grand Philharmonic Choir in St. Matthew’s Passion. Asitha will perform with pianist Steven Philcox in “Belonging”, a solo recital for Women’s Musical Club of Toronto, featuring works by Cusson, Vaughan Williams, Loren, and Muhly.

 

On the operatic stage, Asitha will be featured in re:Naissance Opera’s world premiere of Eurydice Fragments (Kasahara/Hathaway), an immersive re-imagining of the Orphean myth, and sings the role of Bill in Vancouver Opera’s production of Jonathon Dove’s Flight.

 

Recent roles for Asitha include Peter Quint in Turn of the Screw (Opera 5), Tamino in The Magic Flute (The Little Opera Company),  Ferrando in Cosi fan tutte with Edmonton Opera and Flute in A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Vancouver Opera. Asitha has performed principal roles with Pacific Opera Victoria, Canadian Opera Company,  Opera Kelowna, Opera de Montréal, and Opera Lafayette.

 

Asitha is a Co-Founder of Amplified Opera, a Toronto based indie Opera company committed to placing artists at the centre of public discourse. He makes his home in the unceded traditional territories of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (TsleilWaututh) Nations (Vancouver, BC).

REVIEWS

As Tamino in The Magic Flute with The Little Opera Company –

"Asitha Tennekoon infused his role with requisite nobility, with his tenor voice as silky smooth as his princely attire."

Holly Harris, Opera Canada

 

As Peter Quint in Turn of the Screw with Opera 5 –

"His gentle handling of Britten's score was beautifully crafted and his physicalization of Quint's spirit was excellent as well.."

Greg Finney, Schmopera

 

"Asitha Tennekoon gifts us with a chilling rendition... supremely unphased by Britten's wicked tessitura."

lan Ritchie, Opera Going Toronto

 

"In Asitha Tennekoon we have the ideal Canadian successor to interpret the Britten 'Pears' roles."

Gianmarco Segato, La Scena Musicale

 

As Boy Angel in The Angel’s Bone with Loose Tea/Sound the Alarm/Array Music  –

"...Asitha Tennekoon tendered a performance of great power and emotion, superbly gauged, as subtle as it was soaring, his bright, youthful tenor ringing with futility and pain."

Ian Ritchie, Opera Going Toronto

 

As Boy Angel in Angel's Bone with re:Naissance Opera/Indie Opera Fest –

“Asitha Tennekoon as Boy Angel brought a tour-de-force performance, with an incredibly difficult score, plucking stratospheric high notes out of thin air and imparting the desperate rage of his captivity. He was absolutely spectacular and incredibly emotionally compelling throughout.

Melissa Ratcliff, Schmopera.com

 

As Flute in A Midsummer Night's Dream  with Vancouver Opera –

"...rising tenor Asitha Tennekoon, playing Flute, shows he’s as strong with farcical physical comedy as arias."

Janet Smith, Stir Vancouver

 

As Luis Griffith in Champion with Opera de Montréal –

“Tenor Asitha Tennekoon gave a sympathetic, tender portrayal of Griffith’s adopted son Luis, skillfully negotiating his part’s unkind spread.”

Natasha Gauthier, Opera Canada

 

As John Peyton in Shanawdithit with Tapestry Opera –

“Tennekoon’s savage depiction of vicious racist magistrate and merchant John Peyton is nothing less than harrowing.”

Ian Ritchie, Opera Going Toronto

 

As Polidoro in Scarlatti’s Erminia with Opera Lafayette –

“...in what was the most moving scene of the whole evening. Tennekoon has a beautifully expressive voice...”

Susan Galbraith, DC Theatre Scene

 

As Harry Benn in Ethel Smyth’s The Boatswain's Mate –

“Tenor Asitha Tennekoon sings the role of Harry Benn... with his characteristc crystalline tenor. I could listen to him for days. Hot on the heels of his Dora Award nomination for last year's Rocking Horse Winner, Tennekoon is blossoming lately and each facet of his performance keeps getting better and better. We're all lucky to be here at this time of his career.”

Greg Finney, Schmopera

 

“Asitha Tennekoon plays washed up seafarer, Harry Benn, a scandalous rogue somehow rendered enormously likeable in this skilled singer actor’s hands... Tenor ringing, Tennekoon launches into Harry’s rolling aria, When rocked on the billows, that roughest of pillows, splashing the catchy tune over an altogether captivated audience with salty abandon.”

Ian Ritchie, Opera Going Toronto

 

“Asitha Tennekoon as the hapless boatswain once again turned in a fine dramatic and musical performance. His clear bright tenor has become something of a fixture in the Toronto indie scene and it’s easy to see why.”

John Gilks, Opera Ramblings

 

“If I had to pick a dramatic standout among the principals, it would be tenor Asitha Tennekoon who has a gift for

physical comedy rarely found among opera singers. His smooth tenor all the while never wavered. ”

Definitely the Opera

 

As Paul in Rocking Horse Winner with Tapestry Opera –

“Asitha Tennekoon’s fresh and free lyrical tenor voice was a delight to the ears, and perfect for the role earnest, single-minded Paul. As Paul journeyed from hope to despair, darker, weightier colours crept into Tennekoon’s tone, making every note of Paul’s heartbreaking music visceral to the listener. I was actually on the edge of my seat during his

performance of the aria that I am going to name ‘Gets There’, where we learn of his mystical ability.”

Keira Grant, Mooney on Theatre

 

“The surprise of the night was Asitha Tennekoon....his silky, emotional presence on stage – both vocally and dramatically – gave the show a powerful focus.”

Robert Harris, The Globe & Mail

 

 

“Tennekoon is a revelation. His beautiful leggiero tenor was perfect.... [his acting] was endearing, truthful, and raw. Coupled with his flawless singing, you couldn't have asked for any more - on any stage - anywhere.”

Gregory Finney, Schmopera.com

 

“...bright, nicely resonant tenor... with expression and sensitive phrasing”

Joseph So, Musical Toronto

 

As the Evangelist in St. Mark Passion with Toronto Bach Festival –

“His mastery of the drama in the Evangelist’s story-telling matched his vocal clarity and superb musicianship.”

David Richards, TorontoConcertReviews.ca

 

As The Marchese in La Cecchina with the Glenn Gould School  –

“The Marchese, perhaps the role that requires the most varied virtuosity, went to recent graduate (and rising star) Asitha Tennekoon. His rather beautiful lyric tenor was well suited to the music and he was convincing in portraying his character.”

John Gilks, Opera Ramblings

As Gernando in L'isola disabitata with Voicebox: Opera in Concert –

“Possessed of luxurious lyricism and gentle Italianate tone, tenor Asitha Tennekoon contributed a gloriously sung principal turn as Gernando. No stranger to Toronto indie opera stages, this is clearly an artist on the fast track to stardom, a singer gifted with a brilliant, incandescent instrument and appealing stage manners. His was an abundantly plausible hero more fretful than swashbuckling, as anxious a romantic navigator as ever sailed the Seven Seas.”

Ian Ritchie, Opera Going Toronto