Zachary Stains

Praised for the beauty of his voice and the interpretative power of his characterizations, tenor Zachary Stains is gaining recognition as one of opera’s exciting new singers. For roles ranging from Monteverdi and Handel to Rossini and Britten he is steadily winning the respect of fellow artists and enthusiastic audiences alike.

Following last year’s title role of Vivaldi’s Ercole sul Termodonte in Spoleto, Italy with conductor Alan Curtis and director/designer John Pascoe (DVD released summer 2007 on the Dynamic label) he returned to Spoleto, Italy this July for the 50th anniversary of the festival to sing the role of Lurcanio in Handel’s Ariodante, a new production by the same creative team (DVD release 2008).

Of his role as Tiridate, opposite Joyce DiDonato’s Radamisto on the Virgin Classics/Alan Curtis CD of Handel’s Radamisto released last year, the London Times wrote:
“Superb”
“Bright timbre, sure intonation, secure coloratura!” said Opernglass,
“An outstandingly warm tenor voice” from Emilie De Voght, and
“Sung with considerable panache” in Fanfare Magazine. Recipient of numerous awards, the CD was also an ‘Editor’s Pick’ in Opera News.

“Zachary Stains’ Count Almaviva [Il Barbiere di Siviglia] sang beautifully with his light, lyric tenor” – Opera Canada – Green Mountain Opera Festival, Vermont

“Standout singing and acting…tonal warmth and superb diction” wrote Tim Smith in the Baltimore Sun of his Peter Quint in Opera Vivente’s The Turn of the Screw.

“A commanding tenor with charm to burn” – The New Yorker,
“Young, enthusiastic, committed” – Operanet for his portrayal of Eurimaco in Monteverdi’s Il Ritorno D’Ulisse in Patria with William Christie and Adrian Noble, a European/American tour and Virgin Classics DVD.