Brian Jagde

Heralded internationally as a “thrillingly emotive” artist (The New York Times), American tenor Brian Jagde brings his dynamic vocalism and captivating dramatic presence to international stages in the 2025/26 season. For the second year in a row, Mr. Jagde opens the Teatro Real’s season, this year for his greatly anticipated debut in the title role of Verdi’s Otello. He then travels to Germany to sing Cavaradossi in Puccini’s Tosca at the Deutsche Oper Berlin and Pinkerton in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly. The season continues with his debut at the Teatro Maggio Musicale Fiorentino singing Canio in Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci, and his first Wagnerian title role debut, as Lohengrin at Teatro La Fenice. Later in the spring he returns to The Metropolitan Opera to star as Calaf in Puccini’s Turandot, and two roles with the Teatro di San Carlo in the summer - Calaf and Maurizio in Cilea’s Adriana Lecouvreur.

In 2024 Jagde made his house debut at Teatro alla Scala as Turiddu in Mascagni’s Cavalleria rusticana, followed by two new productions there when he starred in Turandot and later in Forza to open the 24/25 season with international broadcasts, where he was lauded as a “thrillingly virile Don Alvaro armed with a powerful middle
range and ringing top notes” (Financial Times). Recent seasons have also included the role of Don Alvaro in Verdi’s La forza del Destino at London’s Royal Opera House, The Metropolitan Opera, and the Gran Teatre del Liceu, and his debuts in Japan on tour with the Royal Opera and later in South Korea, all as Calaf. Additional highlights from past years include Canio for his Teatro dell’Opera di Roma debut where he “established himself as an extremely compelling link between the great legends of the past and also in a more modern characterization of the role” (Connessi all’Opera); Samson in Saint-Saëns’ Samson et Dalila at the Teatro di San Carlo (later revisited for his debut at the Staatsoper Berlin); the title role in Verdi’s Don Carlo at London’s Royal Opera House; Cavaradossi at Opéra national de Paris, Opernhaus Zürich, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Santa Fe Opera; Turiddu at the Wiener Staatsoper; Maurizio in Madrid, Vienna, and London; Des Grieux in Puccini’s Manon Lescaut at San Francisco Opera, Wiener Staatsoper, and Deutsche Oper Berlin; and Pinkerton at The Metropolitan Opera and Lyric Opera of Chicago. He starred as Calaf at the Bayerische Staatsoper, San Francisco Opera, Opéra national de Paris, and the Caracalla Festival; Don José in Bizet’s Carmen at San Francisco Opera, the Bayerische Staatsoper, and the Royal Opera House; and Houston Grand Opera and Staatsoper Berlin as the Prince (Dvořák’s Rusalka). He was also seen as Bacchus (Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos) with Minnesota Opera and Palm Beach Opera.

Mr. Jagde made his principal role debut at The Metropolitan Opera in 2021, singing Cavaradossi in critically acclaimed performances of Tosca: “… his enormous, vibrant
voice was capped by exciting top notes ... ” (New York Times). New productions of note have included Tosca and Aida at San Francisco Opera, Carmen at the Teatro di San Carlo and Arena di Verona, Madama Butterfly and Turandot at the Teatro Massimo, and Aida at the Bayerische Staatsoper. Role debuts in recent seasons include Enzo Grimaldi in Ponchielli's La Gioconda in his debut at the Liceu, followed by an acclaimed debut with Opéra national de Paris as Don Alvaro in Verdi's epic La forza del Destino, where he was lauded as “a revelation” (Ôlyrix). Concert appearances have featured performances at the Teatro La Fenice in their annual Capodanno concerts with an international television broadcast, the Het Concertgebouw in Amsterdam as the tenor soloist for a radio broadcast of Verdi's Requiem, and as Froh (Wagner’s Das Rheingold) in his debut with the New York Philharmonic. He also gave a "radiant" and "glorious" (San Francisco Classical Voice) solo recital debut at the Mondavi Center in Davis, CA, with pianist Craig Terry. Jagde’s discography includes a Deutsche Grammophon release of Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde, Luigi in Puccini’s Il tabarro and Turiddu in Cavalleria rusticana on Pentatone, and a future solo recording (TBA). DVD / Blu-ray releases include his debut as Der Fremde in a new production of Korngold's Das Wunder der Heliane at Deutsche Oper Berlin, and Turiddu in a new production of Cavalleria rusticana at Dutch National Opera.

In addition to his stage career, Mr. Jagde advocates for arts education worldwide. He is an Ambassador for Opera for Peace, an international non-profit organization promoting equity and social justice through artistic collaboration, mentorship, and cultural exchanges. He also serves on the vocal faculty of Vincerò Academy. Jagde’s accolades include top prize at the Loren L. Zachary Competition (2014), as well as second prize and the Birgit Nilsson Prize from the Operalia Competition (2012). He is a
graduate of San Francisco Opera’s Adler and Merola Programs.