American tenor Matthew Polenzani is highly lauded as one of the most gifted and distinguished lyric tenors of his generation. His elegant musicianship, innate sense of style, dramatic commitment, and timeless artistry have established his continued presence at leading operatic, concert, and recital venues worldwide.
Mr. Polenzani opens his exciting 2025/26 season with a return to the Lyric Opera of Chicago, reprising his portrayal of Giasone in Sir David McVicar’s lush production of Cherubini’s Medea. He returns to The Metropolitan Opera for two productions this season, in the role of Pinkerton in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly and he bows as Don José in Bizet’s Carmen, a role he reprises later this season at Teatro alla Scala. Mr. Polenzani begins the new year in Budapest, with performances of Verdi’s Requiem at MUPA, followed by his role debut as Riccardo in Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera at the Opéra Bastille. He brings his “spectacular” (Houston Chronicle) interpretation of Massenet’s Werther to Barcelona’s Gran Teatro del Liceu, before appearing as Florestan in Beethoven’s only opera, Fidelio. Mr. Polenzani will also perform in recital at Philadelphia’s Perelman Center, where he will sing selections by Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert, accompanied by pianist Ken Noda.
He made his debut at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in the 2015/16 season with La bohème and has returned with Madama Butterfly (2024/25).