Wagner
Mit Gewitter und Sturm aus fernem Meer
"Der fliegende Holländer
Britten
Prologue
The Turn of the Screw
Mozart
Frisch zum kampfe
Die Entführung aus dem Serail
Kalman
When I start Dreaming
Countess Maritza
BIOGRAPHY
Acadian tenor Jacques Arsenault began his musical career studying accordion while growing up on Prince Edward Island, before discovering his vocal talents. Since receiving his Master of Music from the University of Alberta, Jacques has performed throughout Canada in a wide range of repertoire from classical and contemporary opera to musical theatre. In 2015, Jacques made his operatic debut in Edmonton Opera’s The Merry Widow and is delighted to return this season as Remendado in Carmen.
In 2023, Jacques sang Don Curzio in Le nozze di Figaro and Third Jew in Salome with the Canadian Opera Company and joined the band as accordionist and keyboardist in the klezmer/folk, music theatre hybrid “Old Stock: A Refugee Love Story” on tour to Saskatoon, New Brunswick, Winnipeg, Vancouver and Victoria.
Jacques brought his comedic skills as the Italian opera singer Piangi to Opera on the Avalon’s Phantom of the Opera, and as Basilio in Against the Grain Theatre’s Figaro’s Wedding. Jacques also sang the role of Ambroise Lépine in Louis Riel (Somers) with the Canadian Opera Company at the National Arts Centre.
Jacques created the role of Zahed in the 2021 world premiere of L’Orangeraie with Chants Libres in Montreal and Quebec City. He starred as Freddy in Tapestry Opera’s Bandits in the Valley, earning nominations for two Broadway World/Toronto Awards for his “standout performance... impressive combination of powerful singing, solid accordion chops... and heartfelt acting”.
Jacques and mezzo-soprano Marjorie Maltais perform together as French Squeeze, presenting his original accordion arrangements of their favourite French songs from Canada and France, captivating audiences with recent performances in Toronto and Prince Edward Island’s Under the Spire Festival. In 2023, French Squeeze joins Cantabile Choirs of Kingston in “La Vie en Rose”.
As Lui in La Voix Humaine with Against the Grain Theatre –
"Arsenault is blessed with a warm, rich, multi-hued tenor that he uses carefully to shade every phrase that Lui utters from rage at party line eavesdroppers to the tenderness of fond memories of his past with Monsieur to desperation and self-abasement. Because of Arsenault’s fine acting and extraordinarily sensitive singing, this is the first time I felt caught up in the main character’s agony and felt along with him every change of emotion he expressed."
Christopher Hoile, Stage Door
SELECTED ROLES
Don Curzio | Le Nozze di Figaro
Remendado | Carmen
Third Jew | Salome
SELECTED REPERTOIRE
Poulenc | La Voix Humaine
Beethoven | Ninth Symphony
Roark/Tepperman
The Accordian Song
Bandits In The Valley
REVIEWS
As Lui in La Voix Humaine with Against the Grain Theatre –
"Arsenault is blessed with a warm, rich, multi-hued tenor that he uses carefully to shade every phrase that Lui utters from rage at party line eavesdroppers to the tenderness of fond memories of his past with Monsieur to desperation and self-abasement. Because of Arsenault’s fine acting and extraordinarily sensitive singing, this is the first time I felt caught up in the main character’s agony and felt along with him every change of emotion he expressed."
Christopher Hoile, Stage Door
In José Evangelista’s Le Manuscrit trouvé à Saragosse with Société de Musique Contemporaine de Québec –
“L[a] brillant[e] interpréta[tion]… de Jacques Arsenault dans le génial numéro du géomètre mérit[e] d’être soulign[é]”
Judy-Ann Desrosiers, L’Opéra
As Freddy in Bandits in the Valley with Tapestry Opera –
"Jacques Arsenault’s Freddy is a standout performance in itself, an impressive combination of powerful singing, solid accordion chops... and heartfelt acting."
Jenna Simeonov, Schmopera.com
As The Young Man in The Last Romance with Miracle Theatre, Prince George, BC –
"It was a pleasure to share such a rare opportunity with [Jacques] Arsenault who has the voice to project to the back corners of La Scala but the sensitivity to sing against opera's type and bring that enormity down to our ArtSpace level."
Frank Peebles, The Prince George Citizen
As Archie in Cowtown Opera’s Archibaldo –
“Jacques Arsenault plays Archie with a resonant tenor and genial good humour. "
Kenneth deLong, Calgary Herald
"A gifted, natural performer, a fine musician and an excellent colleague; Jacques has all the makings of a terrific character tenor at the professional level."
Michael Cavanagh, Director
