Masterclass and Q&A: Life on the Road and Things We Weren't Taught in School
James Valenti
Saturday, July 11 at 4pm ET
From La Scala and the Sydney Opera House — to the Bayerische Staatsoper and the Met — tenor James Valenti has sung leading roles all over the world and experienced all the ups and downs of realities as a world-renowned tenor. In this special masterclass entitled, “Life on the Road and Things We Weren’t Taught in School”, Mr. Valenti will offer insight about what it actually takes survive on the road and the vital components of life as a working singer.
Internationally acclaimed Tenor James Valenti has built a global reputation for his elegant musicianship, commanding stage presence, ardent style and voice of warm Italianate lustre. The 6’5” tenor trained at the prestigious Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia and Westminster Choir College in Princeton. Mr. Valenti made his professional debut at age twenty-five at the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma as Rodolfo in the Franco Zeffirelli production of La Bohème.
He has gone on to perform at the most celebrated theatres, opera houses and concert halls in the world, including Teatro alla Scala Milan, Metropolitan Opera, Teatro Colón Buenos Aires, Royal Opera House London, Opéra National de Paris Bastille, Sydney Opera House, Münich Bayerische Staatsoper, Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco Opera, La Monnaie Brussels, Salzburg Festival, in St. Petersburg Russia, Seoul South Korea, Tokyo Japan and at Opernhaus Zürich opposite stars like Angela Gheorghiu, Thomas Hampson, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Leo Nucci, Simon Keenlyside and collaborated with Maestros Antonio Pappano, Gustavo Dudamel, James Conlon, Carlo Rizzi, Daniel Oren, Steven Mercurio and many more. He has showcased his vocal ability and acting versatility in a variety of roles such as Don José in Carmen , Don Carlo in Don Carlo , Cavaradossi in Tosca , Alfredo Germont in La Traviata , Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto , Lt. Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly , Maurizio in Adriana Lecouvreur , Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor , Werther in Werther , Roméo in Roméo et Juliette, the title role in Faust, and he portrayed Rudolph Valentino in Dominick Argento’s The Dream of Valentino where he also got to flaunt his Tango dancing skills.
In addition, Mr. Valenti is an accomplished recitalist having performed with The Schubert Club Series in Minnesota, The Rosenblatt Series in London, The Downtown Arts Series in NJ, The Jordan Concert Series in Iowa and Candlelight Series in NYC. Mr. Valenti has been a recipient of many accolades and awards including The Richard Tucker Award for operatic excellence in 2010, the Maria Callas Debut Artist Award from Dallas Opera 2009, The New York City Outstanding Debut Award in 2006 and he was the guest soloist at St. Patrick’s Cathedral NYC for Christmas Eve Midnight Mass in 2013. Recent highlights include concerts at Carnegie Hall, in Budapest Hungary, Zimbabwe Africa, St Barth’s, a special Tosca for the rebirth of New York City Opera, Madama Butterfly in Poland and at The Metropolitan Opera with Kristine Opolais, Carmen in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia and Hamburg, Tosca for the Detroit Symphony with Patricia Racette and in Kansas City, a concert at Chicago Millennium Park with Ana María Martínez, a concert with Anna Netrebko at the Baden-Baden Festival in Germany, Rodolfo in La Bohème in Hong Kong and Roméo et Juliette in Birmingham. Mr. Valenti is also a very active humanitarian, giving his time to many organizations, including helping children as a celebrity ambassador with the global organization Children International, The All Hands and Hearts Fund and Sing For Hope. www.jamesvalenti.com
More About the Instructor
Our Instructors in their Own Words
James Valenti: A Life on the Road
Opera singers are often on the road more than they are at home. How have you found to maintain some sense of grounding and stability when you are never in the same place for very long?
It’s important to have hobbies and interests outside of opera and the theatre. This art form is all encompassing and you get the opportunity to study other languages, history, and enrich yourself with other cultures. So I immerse myself. I visit local restaurants, try local cuisine, visit museums, go to local sporting events and make friends totally outside of my business.