Alessandro Fisher

Tenor

INTRODUCTION

Holder of a 2022 Borletti-Buitoni Trust Fellowship, Selected by Gramophone as “One To Watch”, Winner of First Prize at the 2016 Kathleen Ferrier Awards and an Associate Artist of The Mozartists, Alessandro Fisher was a member of the BBC New Generation Artist Scheme between 2018 and 2021. He read Modern and Medieval Languages at Cambridge, where he was a Choral Scholar at Clare College, furthering his studies at London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

His operatic engagements have included Delmiro / Alindo Hipermestra at the Glyndebourne Festival, Lucano / First Soldier L’Incoronazione di Poppea at the Salzburg Festival, Don Polidoro La finta semplice and Christian The First Commandment for The Mozartists, First Armed Man / Priest Die Zauberflöte for Garsington Opera at West Green House, Bellecourt Vert Vert for Garsington Opera, the title role Dardanus and the B Minor Mass for English Touring Opera, Law Student in Matthew Rogers’ And London Burned for the Temple Church and Count Bandiera in Salieri’s La scuola de’ gelosi for Bampton Classical Opera. For Glyndebourne Opera’s Jerwood Project, he sang Banquo in Luke Styles’ Macbeth for at Glyndebourne and in the Linbury Studio Theatre of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

He appeared in Jonathan Miller’s production of the St Matthew Passion at the National Theatre and his concert engagements have further included Evangelist St John Passion at Milton Court, Handel Dixit Dominus and Messiah at the Jesuitenkirche, Innsbruck, Testo Il Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda for Andrew Lawrence-King and The Wallace Collection, Roussel Evocations with the BBC Philharmonic, Stravinsky Mass with the London Symphony Orchestra at the Barbican Hall, recitals at the English Song Festival, the Oxford Lieder Festival, the Wigmore Hall and Dublin’s Hugh Lane Gallery and BBC Radio 3’s Big Chamber Day.

Career highlights have further included Fabio Berenice for the Royal Opera, London, Bastien Bastien und Bastienne for The Mozartists, Fenton Falstaff for The Grange Festival, Britten War Requiem in Lincoln Cathedral, Monteverdi Vesperae della beate Vergine with La Nuova Musica, Roussel Evocations with the Radio Filharmonisch Orkest, Saint-Saëns Christmas Oratorio and Schubert Mass in G with the Radio Filharmonisch Orkest, Vaughan Williams On Wenlock Edge with the BBC Philharmonic The Complete Songs of Clara Schumann at St John’s, Smith Square, with JongSun Woo at the Hay Festival, with Sholto Kynoch for the Cheltenham, North Norfolk Music and Oxford Lieder Festivals and with Joseph Middleton at the Wigmore Hall. At the Wigmore Hall, he also appeared with Graham Johnson in Covid’s Metamorphoses to celebrate the 120^th Anniversary of the Hall and with Anna Tilbrook in A Gardener’s World. He made his BBC Proms debut singing Songs by Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha with Stephen Hough.

Recent engagements have included Osvaldo in Mercadante’s Il Proscritto for Opera Rara, for whom he also gave a Salon Series recital, the B Minor Mass with the New London Orchestra, Britten Les Illuminations with the Ulster Orchestra, Elias at the Stadttheater Klagenfurt, Vaughan Williams Symphony No. 3 and On Wenlock Edge with the BBC Philharmonic, First Brother The Seven Deadly Sins on tour with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Simon Rattle (London, Cologne, Essen), Green Spaces: A Celebration in Song for Opera Holland Park and a New Generation Artist Recital at Stoller Hall. At the Wigmore Hall, he also appeared in A Home for All Seasons and, with The Mozartists, The Swinging Sixties.

Current engagements include Ferrando Così fan tutte for The Grange Festival, Berlioz L’Enfance du Christ at the Wimbledon Festival, Donizetti Requiem with Orchestra della Svizerra Italiana OSI, Mendelssohn Die erste Walpurgisnacht with Huddersfield Choral Society, Mozart Mass in C Minor with Royal Northern Sinfonia, Sørensen‘s St Matthew Passion with Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Vaughan Williams On Wenlock Edge and Serenade to Music with the Nash Ensemble, a Donizetti recital with Anna Tilbrook for Opera Rara, a recital with Simon Lepper for the NI Glenarm Festival of Voice and Magic Lantern Tales at the Beverley Chamber Music Festival. For Oxford Lieder, he appears in Friendship in Song: An Intimate Art and for the London Song Festival, he appears in Friends and Lovers: Franz Schubert and Johan Mayrhofer.

His BBC broadcasts have included Britten’s Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo with Joseph Middleton, Finzi’s Dies Natalis with the BBC Symphony Orchestra Strings conducted by Martyn Brabbins and Farewell to Arms with the BBC Concert Orchestra conducted by Anna-Maria Helsing, Songs by Bellini, Donizetti, Tosti and Verdi and Hahn’s Venezia with Garry Matthewman, Michael Head’s Over the rim of the moon with Ashok Gupta, Songs by Lorca and Rodrigo with Thibaut Garcia, Vaughan Williams’ Four Hymns with the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Martyn Brabbins and Nordic Tales (Songs by de Frumerie, Delius, Grieg and Schumann) with Roger Vignoles, the last live broadcast from the Wigmore Hall before the March 2020 lockdown.

His recordings include Theodore in Edward Loder’s Raymond and Agnes with the Royal Ballet Sinfonia conducted by Richard Bonynge and Harlequin in Ethel Smyth’s Fête Galante with Lontano conducted by Odaline de la Martinez for Retrospect Opera, L’Incoronazione di Poppea with Les Arts Florissants directed by William Christie for Harmonia Mundi CD / DVD, Bastien und Bastienne with The Mozartists conducted by Ian Page on Signum CD (Nominated for a 2019 International Classical Music Award) and Roussel’s Evocations with the BBC Philharmonic conducted by Yan-Pascal Tortelier for Chandos.

Please note that this biography is not to be used for programmes. Current information is available on request.

REVIEWS

Vaughan Williams: On Wenlock Edge / Nash Ensemble 2022

“…bright and lovely sound…rightly riveting, in consort with the instruments, for the big drama of “Bredon Hill”.”

The Arts Desk

“This was a performance where Alessandro Fisher’s engaging tenor was fully part of the chamber ensemble rather than being over spotlit. Fisher sang with vibrant, Italianate tone combined with superb diction. He is a fine story teller, easily moving between high drama and comedy, always with expressive phrasing.”

Planet Hugill

Osvaldo: Il proscritto / Opera Rara 2022

“Alessandro Fisher was a characterful leader of the castle guards.”

Opera Today

First Brother: The Seven Deadly Sins / London Symphony Orchestra 2022

“Good to be introduced to tenor Alessandro Fisher as the other Brother, a name I am sure we will encounter again.”

Seen and Heard International

“The accompanying male-voice ensemble – Andrew Staples and Florian Boesch as Anna’s father and mother, with Alessandro Fisher and Ross Ramgobin as the brothers – provided a suitably pungent commentary.”

The Standard

Kathleen Ferrier Awards 2016 / Wigmore Hall, London

“Fisher’s performance was supremely accomplished, delivering songs in French, Russian, German and Italian with equal ease – and his high notes were floated with exceptional grace.”

The Independent

“Fisher was an engaging story-teller, relaxed of voice, singing with sensitive phrasing. Fisher’s voice was sweet and dreamy, but never unfocused, perfectly conveying the mystery and pathos of loss.”

Opera Today

Songs by Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha / BBC Proms 2019

“Alessandro Fisher’s light tenor was ideal for these tender settings, and his admirable diction enhanced the stylish phrasing.”

Classical Source

“…his light tenor mellow and enviably even-toned.”

The Guardian

“Alessandro Fisher’s tenor voice was spot on for delivery of the Lieder, which he did with sensitivity and well-judged technique.”

Music OMH

“…in five sub-Schubertian songs by Prince Albert, mellifluously sung by Alessandro Fisher, you did get a feel for how musical soirées must have sounded in the 1850’s.”

The Times

War Requiem / Lincolnshire Remembers

“Fisher sang with a beautifully elegant sense of line, not being frightened to fine his tone right down.”

Planet Hugill

Theodore: Raymond and Agnes / Retrospect Opera CD

“Alessandro Fisher is first-rate as Raymnd’s Pedrillo-like valet.”

Opera

Fabio: Berenice / Royal Opera, London

“Alessandro Fisher impressed with a strong, flexible tenor as Fabio.”

Bachtrack

“…with a finely nuanced tenor voice and plenty of acting aplomb.”

Music OMH

“I particularly liked Alessandro Fisher, a stylish and meaty tenor…”

Opera Now

“…strong voiced and with bags of presence.”

Seen and Heard International

Fenton: Falstaff / The Grange Festival

“…delightfully partnered by Alessandro Fisher’s Fenton, whose “Dal labbro” is enough to make you curse its brisk interruption by Alice and her fellow masqueraders.“

The Arts Desk

“…gave an ardent performance as Nannetta’s young beau with his supple, lyrical tenor…”

Bachtrack

“Alessandro Fisher is a gratifying Fenton – whose ardent tenor rings out tellingly in the final scene.”

Classical Source

“Alessandro Fisher’s subtly voiced Fenton…”

Financial Times

“As Fenton, Alessandro Fisher sang with real Italianate ardour, his phrases meltingly sweet and his high notes effortlessly floated…”

Music OMH

“Alessandro Fisher’s winning Fenton, his last-act aria a dreamy highlight.”

Opera

“The sweet, puppyish Fenton of Alessandro Fisher…’

Opera Now

“Alessandro Fisher’s Fenton oozes graceful tenor charm…”

The Stage

“Alessandro Fisher’s lyrical Fenton…”

The Sunday Times

Lucano: L’Incoronazione di Poppea / Salzburg Festival

“Alessandro Fisher, as Lucano, did a great job in a very sensuous duet with Kate Lindsey’s Nerone.“

Bachtrack

Bastien: Bastien und Bastienne / Signum CD

”As Bastien, Alessandro Fisher is light-voiced, ardent and convincing…”

MusicWeb International

“…an enchanting performance…the vocal freshness and allure of Anna Lucia Richter’s Bastienne and Alessandro Fisher’s Bastien…”

Opera

Don Polidoro: La finta semplice / Classical Opera

“Given tenor Alessandro Fisher’s honeyed tones, Rosina might have done better to choose him; why she falls for Don Cassandro is a mystery…”

The Arts Desk

”Lukas Jakobski presented his strong bass to excellent effect as Don Cassandro and Alessandro Fisher his equally accomplished tenor as Don Polidoro, with the splendid acting of both helping to stamp out their respective characters.“

Music OMH

“Alessandro Fisher, the possessor of an exceptionally melliflous lyric tenor.”

Opera

“Alessandro Fisher’s gentle tenor beautifully expressed the hapless, hopeless Don Polidoro’s tender but ardent avowal of love, ‘Sposa cara.’”

Opera Today

Bastien: Bastien und Bastienne / Classical Opera

”Alessandro Fisher was if anything still finer than heard in the recording, his eloquence in ‘Meiner Liebsten schöne Wangen’ (‘My beloved’s lovely cheeks’) a delight.“

Seen and Heard International

Christian: Die Schuldigkeit des ersten Gebotes / Classical Opera

“…sung with notable control and a steady, sympathetic tone by the tenor Alessandro Fisher…”

The Arts Desk

“As Christian, Alessandro Fisher, battling bronchitis though you would scarcely have guessed from his warm, lyrical tone, took physical risks (swooning to the ground in a confined space) and had lovely, rakish charm.”

The Guardian

“Alessandro Fisher was touching as the vacillating Christian. Flexible and agile of voice when lured by Worldly Spirit’s seductive charms, his tone took on a darker hue when he recalled the torments of Hell and Judgement…”

Opera

“Alessandro Fisher is a welcome new tenor on the block, smooth and elegant.”

Opera Now

Bellecourt: Vert-Vert / Garsington Opera at Wormsley

“Oxford Lieder Young Artists Winner Alessandro Fisher is the other tenor delight of this mixed evening.”

The Arts Desk

“He has an open, warm and soft-grained tenor: a delight to listen to.”

Musical Criticism

Law Student: And London Burned / Temple Church

“Alessandro Fisher brings his considerable vocal lustre to bear on hios role as the insipid Law Student.”

The Financial Times

Arcas: Dardanus / English Touring Opera

“…Alessandro Fisher, whose lines leapt over the footlights.”

Opera

Dardanus / English Touring Opera

“Vocally the evening belongs to Alessandro Fisher. Originally cast in a supporting role, he stepped up into the title role with enormous confidence and a most wonderfully limpid tone to really make his mark. It is hard to imagine the role being sung better.”

Daily Info

Count Bandiera: La scuola de’ gelosi / Bampton Classical Opera

“As the Count, tenor Alessandro Fisher was every inch the Georgette Heyer hero in a bravura performance, naturally commanding and fabulously insouciant, with lyrical tone and surprising philosophical depth behind his agenda of pleasure…“

Bachtrack

“Alessandro Fisher in the central role convincingly embodies the nature of a confident, charming rake with lyrical and well-projected singing…”

Classical Source

“Fisher displayed an appealing soft-grained tenor, expressive eyes and comic nous.”

Opera

Banquo: Macbeth (Luke Styles) / Linbury Studio Theatre

“…a soft-toned, engagingly naïve portrayal from Alessandro Fisher…”

Bachtrack

“…notable contributions from (ia) Alessandro Fisher’s forthright Banquo.”

The Guardian

DISCOGRAPHY

Loder Raymond and Agnes (role of Theodore)
Majella Cullagh, Carolyn Dobbin, Mark Milhofer, Alexander Robin Baker, Andrew Greenan, Retrospect Opera Chorus
Royal Ballet Sinfonia / Richard Bonynge
Retrospect Opera CD RO 005

Monteverdi L’Incoronazione di Poppea (roles of Lucano / First Soldier)
Sonya Yoncheva, Ana Quintans, Kate Lindsey, Stéphanie d’Oustrac, Dominique Visse, Carlo Vistoli, Marcel Beekman, Renato Dolcini
Les Arts Florissants / William Christie
Harmonia Mundi CD / DVD HAF 890262224

Mozart Bastien und Bastienne (role of Bastien)
Anna Luisa Richter, Darren Jeffrey
Classical Opera & The Mozartists / Ian Page
Signum CD SIGCD 547

Roussel Evocations
Kathryn Rudge, François le Roux
CBSO Chorus, BBC Philharmonic / Yan Pascal Tortelier
Chandos CD CHAN 10957

Smyth Fête Galant (role of Harlequin)
Charmian Bedford, Carolyn Dobbin, Mark Milhofer, Felix Kemp, Simon Wallfisch
Lontano Ensemble / Odaline de la Martinez
Retrospect Opera CD RO 007

Alessandro Fisher

Tenor

INTRODUCTION

REVIEWS

DISCOGRAPHY

GALLERY

AUDIO

Alessandro Fisher sings Aria from Finzi's Farewell to Arms.