Quebec Scene

Jonathan Crow

Philippe Castagner

“Clearly a major discovery… one of the most promising singers in the country.” (Toronto Star).

Montreal-born tenor Philippe Castagner is recognized for his beautiful and natural sound, as well as for a fresh and appealing presence on symphonic, operatic, and recital stages. His many awards include the 2005 Young Concert Artists International Auditions, the Rhoda Walker Teagle Prize, the Chamber Orchestra of the Triangle Prize, and the Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival Prize.

During the 2006–07 season he made his New York Philharmonic debut with Loren Maazel in Ravel's L'Enfant et les sortilèges; performed Mozart's concert arias (directed by the NAC Orchestra’s music director, Pinchas Zukerman) at the 92nd Street Y in New York; appeared with the Pittsburgh and Dallas Symphony Orchestras; and sang Tamino in Vancouver Opera's new production of The Magic Flute.

Last season Philippe Castagner made his New York City Opera debut in the title role of Handel's Acis and Galatea, and bowed as his first Nemorino in L'Elisir d'Amore. Young Concert Artists presented him in recitals of Die Schöne Mullerin for debuts in New York, Washington and Boston with pianist Ken Noda.

In the summer of 2006 Mr. Castagner appeared as Golo in the American debut of Robert Schumann's Genoveva at the Bard Festival in addition to singing recitals for their Franz Liszt and His World series.

At his Lincoln Center debut in February 2005, he joined Leon Botstein and the American Symphony Orchestra in the first professional American performance of Emmanuel Chabrier's comic opera Le Roi malgré lui. He sang with the CBC Radio Orchestra in the spring of 2005 as part of its national broadcast series and joined the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra for the Berlioz Requiem. In the summer of 2005 Mr. Castagner sang Remendado in Carmen for Portland Opera, a recital for Spoleto Festival USA, and additional recitals at the Bard Festival.

Born in Canada and raised in New Jersey, Mr. Castagner studied at the University of British Columbia and made his professional concert debut in 2001 with the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra performing Verdi's Requiem. He joined The Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Development Program in 2002 and made his Metropolitan Opera debut that season as the First Prisoner in Fidelio and, later, as Beppe in I Pagliacci.

Philippe Castagner and his wife reside in Brooklyn, New York.

Source: Kirshbaum Demler & Associates, www.kirshdem.com