Dominick Valdés Chenes

Described by The Huffington Post asa “breakout star” and “powerhouse lyric tenor,” Dominick Valdés Chenes continues to garnercritical acclaim for his commanding performances across some of the world’s mostprestigious opera houses. A lyrico-spinto tenor with a passionate stagepresence and a voice hailed for its richness and agility, Chenes has become asought-after artist for the dramatic Italian and French repertoire.

Valdés-Chenes’ 2024–25season brought much success in his Metropolitan Opera house debut as Greenhornin Jake Heggie’s masterpiece, Moby Dick. Dominick made in his house debut asPollione in Norma with Oper Leipzig, performed Cavaradossi in Tosca with New Orleans Opera, Turiddu inCavalleria Rusticana with Opera Orlando, He also looks ahead to a featuredappearance at the Oper im Steinbruch festival as Erik in Wagern’s Der FliegendeHolländer.

Looking ahead to the 2025-26season, Dominick is thrilled to make his Wexford Festival Opera debut as Solano in Delius’The MagicFountain, followed by a very exciting concert appearance with the Lyric Operaof Chicago; this concert is a collaboration with Billy Corgan of The SmashingPumpkins in a 30th anniversary celebration of their album in A Night of MellonCollie and Infinite Saddness. Valdés Chenes starts 2026 strong with his roleand company debut as Calaf in Puccini’s Turandot with Florida Grand Opera.

The 2023–24 season saw Chenes makea series of celebrated debuts and returns: Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly withBoston Lyric Opera, Pollione in Norma with the Boston Youth Symphony, Hoffmannin Les Contes d’Hoffmann with Palm Beach Opera, and Nicias in Thaïs with Utah Opera. Additionalhighlights included Alfredo in La Traviata at Seattle Opera, Canio in Pagliacciwith the Sacramento Philharmonic, Don José in Carmen at Palm Beach Opera, and Cavaradossi (cover)at the Metropolitan Opera.

Valdés-Chenes has performed on thestages of The Metropolitan Opera, Palau de Les arts Reina Sofia, San FranciscoOpera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Seattle Opera, Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège, NewNational Theatre Tokyo, Welsh National Opera, Austin Opera, Grand Théâtre de Genève, and many others. Signatureroles include Cavaradossi, Don José, Alfredo, Pinkerton, Rodolfo, Canio, and Riccardo,among others. He made his debut at the Grand Théâtre de Genève as Iopas in Les Troyens underMaestro Charles Dutoit, and joined Palau de les Arts in Valencia as Carlo in IMasnadieri conducted by Roberto Abbado.

Noteworthy past performancesinclude Mario Cavaradossi with Minnesota Opera and Reading Symphony; Rodolfowith Opera Colorado, Welsh National Opera, and Hong Kong Opera; Alfredo withthe New National Theatre Tokyo and Opera på Skäret in Sweden; Don José with Utah Opera and Palm BeachOpera; and Pinkerton with Seattle Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, and multiple otherhouses. He also appeared in Seattle Opera’s acclaimedfilm adaptation of Tosca.

In concert, Valdés Chenes made his CarnegieHall debut in Beethoven’s Mass in C at the Isaac Stern Auditorium, sang Verdi’sRequiem with the Reading Symphony, and has appeared at Alice Tully Hall withthe Licia Albanese Puccini Foundation and at Zankel Hall for the Gerda LissnerFoundation.

A graduate of the Academy of VocalArts in Philadelphia, Chenes performed numerous leading roles there includingRodolfo (La Bohème), Alfredo (La Traviata), Gherman (Pique Dame), and Riccardo(Un Ballo in Maschera), under the baton of Maestro Christofer Macatsoris. Heholds both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas,where his repertoire included Don José, Tamino, Ferrando, and Rodolfo.

Valdés Chenes also trained at theRussian Opera Workshop, singing Paolo in Francesca da Rimini, and was anapprentice with the Utah Symphony Opera Program. He studied at the AmericanInstitute of Musical Studies (AIMS) in Graz, Austria, where he was selected toperform under Maestro Eduardo Müller and later continued private studies withhim for several years. He currently studies with acclaimed voice teacher, Bill Schuman.

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