The Artist of the Week is Canadian tenor John Tessier. He will be playing Ernesto in Calgary Opera‘s production of Don Pasquale on February 1st, 5th and 7th (tickets and info here).
John is a Juno award-winning singer and in-demand music educator. This season you can find him at Edmonton Opera, Calgary Opera and the Calgary Philharmonic. Other career highlights include engagements with Wiener Staatsoper, Teatro alla Scala, Seiji Ozawa Music Academy and Théâtre des Champs-Élysées. John is also an associate professor and head of the voice and opera at The University of Alberta.
This week, John shares his first operatic experience at age 12, a risky performance involving rubber boots and the role that continues to have the greatest impact on him. Read on to find out more.
What/who inspired you to sing?
Singing in the Edmonton Boys Choir.
Heels or flats?
Heels if in an Opera Atelier production, flats everywhere else.
Which opera role do you want to be singing right now?
Tom Rakewell from The Rake’s Progress.
Who is a singer you admire that is currently working?
Spanish Baritone Carlos Álvarez and Canadian music theatre tenor Timothy Howar.
What’s the strangest/funniest thing that has happened to you on stage?
A bird dive bombing the stage while I was singing.
What’s your favourite thing about singing with an orchestra?
You get the best seat in the house, and the sound washes over you like a beautiful rain.
Which role do you wish you could sing, but is not in your voice type?
The Commendatore from Don Giovanni, a bass role.
What was the first opera you ever saw?
Carmen. I was a street boy in an Edmonton Opera Production when I was 12.
Where did you go to school?
University of Colorado Boulder and Western University.
What’s the downside of being an opera artist?
Not being able to yell at football games. Go Broncos!
What’s a big investment for an opera artist, but totally worth it?
A good piano and lots of coaching. You really can’t coach enough.
Do you have a funny joke for us?
No, I’m a Dad, so all my jokes are “Dad jokes” or bathroom related.
What nickname do your friends call you and why?
JT. When I played water polo my nickname was OREO, I’ll tell you the story sometime over a Corona!!
Are you superstitious? If yes, can you share what it’s about?
Only about ladders and putting new shoes on a table. Those were big things in my house growing up.
What’s the biggest risk you’ve taken for a production?
Climbing a 50-foot ladder while singing at Covent Garden wearing full rain/fishing gear and rubber boots.
The music industry is tough, and filled with rejection. How do you cope? Does it get easier?
It never gets easier, but not everyone likes you and that is part of the gig.
Do you think singers and performers have a more powerful inner life?
Yes! We get to make music and play different characters. Imagination and creativity feed the soul.
What is the ultimate goal of opera?
Well, for me it is to create art that entertains people.
Does performing in different locations impact your performance?
Yes for sure. If I know people in the audience, I am more nervous.
Which of your roles has had the greatest impact on your perspective?
Count Almaviva in The Barber of Seville. I have seen these characters played in so many different ways. It’s like taking an acting class every time I do this show.
LEARN MORE ABOUT JOHN TESSIER
VISIT HIS WEBSITE
© HarderLee Photography
With Brett Polegato in The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs at Calgary Opera
© Rozarii Lynch
© Nanc Price
With Andrea Núñez and Jonelle Sills in Don Giovanni at Edmonton Opera
Don Pasquale
Calgary Opera
CONDUCTOR: Jacques Lacombe
DIRECTOR: Stefania Panighini
DON PASQUALE: John Fanning
NORINA: Lucia Cesaroni
ERNESTO: John Tessier
DOCTOR MALATESTA: Phillip Addis
NOTARY: Ryan Nauta
THE CALGARY OPERA CHORUS
THE CALGARY PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA
LIGHTS. CAMERA. ACTION!
Beat the winter blues with a trip to 1950s Italy! This timeless battle of wits is staged in the style of old Hollywood cinematic classics like La Dolce Vita and Roman Holiday. A lively comedy featuring an all-Canadian cast of superstars and Calgary favourites.
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Máiri Demings is Opera Canada’s digital content specialist. She’s also a mezzo-soprano who has sung with Tapestry Opera, performs regularly with VOICEBOX: Opera in Concert and Toronto Operetta Theatre, and is one half of duo mezzopiano with pianist Zain Solinski.
