After a triumphant San Francisco Opera debut as Tamino Die Zauberflöte in June, American tenor Norman Reinhardt is enjoying a busy 2012/13 season, with engagements including Chevalier des Grieux Manon (Theater Basel), Belmonte Die Entführung aus dem Serail (Garsington Opera), concert performances of Riccardo in Verdi’s Oberto with Michael Hofstetter, Kudryas Katya Kabanova (Theater Basel) and Tamino in David Pountney’s new production of Die Zauberflöte (Bregenz Festival).
Praised for his clarity of tone and dashing stage presence, Reinhardt is a graduate of the prestigious Houston Grand Opera Studio, where he performed various roles including Arbace Idomeneo, Ernesto Don Pasquale, and Lucano Poppea. He has subsequently returned to the company to sing roles including Lysander in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Bénédict Béatrice et Bénédict and, most recently, Jaquino Fidelio which also starred Karita Mattila.
Other engagements include Brighella Ariadne auf Naxos and Jaquino Fidelio at the Teatro Real, Madrid; Tamino Die Zauberflöte, Ferrando Così fan tutte and Ernesto Don Pasquale at Opera Colorado; Alfredo La traviata for Opéra National de Lille; Ferrando at the Israeli Opera in Tel Aviv; Belmonte Die Entführung aus dem Serail for Boston Lyric Opera; and Fenton Falstaff, Mercure in Rameau’s Platée and Ferrando for the Santa Fe Opera Festival.
From 2009-2012 Reinhardt had a Fest contract at Oper Leipzig, where his roles included Tamino, Don Ottavio, Ferrando, Conte Almaviva, Lensky, Alfredo La traviata, Alfred Die Fledermaus, and Jack O’Brien Aufstief und fall der stadt Mahagonny, while singing various guest engagements including Fritz in La Grande Duchesse de Gérolstein at the Theater Basel opposite Anne Sofie von Otter, Rinuccio Gianni Schicchi and First Tenor in Weill Die Sieben Todsünden at Central City Opera, and an acclaimed Essex in Britten’s rarely performed Gloriana at the Narodni Divalo in Prague.
Reinhardt has worked with conductors including Patrick Summers, Paolo Arrivabeni, Harry Bickett, Stephen Lord, Ulf Schirmer, Jesus Lopez Cobos, William Lacey, Anthony Bramall and Matthias Foremny. He has also worked with some of the world’s leading opera directors including Peter Konwitschny, Christoph Marthaler, Jurgen Flimm, Laurent Pelly, Neil Armfield, David Gately, Irina Brook and James Robinson.
Norman Reinhardt is represented by Intermusica.
March 2013 / 348 words. Not to be altered without permission. Please destroy all previous biographical material.
Riccardo in Verdi Oberto
Norman Reinhardt, who plays Oberto's adversary Riccardo, sings with a sleek, supple tenor with effortlessly brilliant high notes, as well as a timbre and tone that constantly reminded one of the most important Verdi tenor since the 1950's: Carlo Bergonzi.
Michael Arndt, Oberhessische Presse Marburg, December 2012
Benedict in Berlioz Beatrice et Benedict
Houston Grand Opera
“Reinhardt, dashing and witty, handled the role of Benedict with just the right amount of swagger and vulnerability."
Nancy Wozny, www.culturevulture.net, October 2008
“Reinhardt's Benedict and Joyce DiDonato's Beatrice are often laugh-out-loud funny. And their singing is swoon-worthy.”
D.L Groover and Lee Williams, Houston Press, November 2008
"And Reinhardt, tall, handsome and virile of voice, is a perfect partner for her."
Wes Blomster, Opera Today, November 2008
"Reinhardt brought not only a smooth, agile tenor but a gifted comedian's mugging and timing to the witty cool of Benedict."
Gregory Barnett, Opera News, October 2008