Nicholas Brownlee Receives the 2025 Richard Tucker Award

Bass-baritone Nicholas Brownlee has been described as “charismatic and charming” (New York Times) with a “commanding presence” and “rich tone” (Musical America). He is a first prize winner of the Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition, winner of the Zarzuela prize at Operalia, and a grand prize winner of The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Nicholas begins the 24/25 season with a return to the Bayerische Staatsoper for a new Tobias Kratzer production of Das Rheingold (Wotan) followed by a return to Oper Frankfurt for new productions of Macbeth (title role), Parsifal (Amfortas), and a revival of Aida (Amonasro). Additional performances include debuts with Opéra national de Paris for the new Calixto Bieito production of Das Rheingold (Wotan), Palau de les Arts Reina Sofía for Der fliegende Holländer (Title Role), Oper Leipzig for Das Rheingold (Wotan), and a return to the Bayreuther Festspiele for Das Rheingold (Donner). On the concert stage, he debuts with the Cēsis Art Festival in a concert performance of Parsifal (Amfortas) and Prague Philharmonia Orchestra for a mixed program with Emmanuel Villaume.

“The Tucker Foundation, and namely Richard Tucker, helped turn opera into a real, homegrown American thing. It makes me proud as an American how he helped change the way that American schooling became the best schooling for voice.

Going through the Sara Tucker Study Grant, the Richard Tucker Career Grant, and now the big Richard Tucker Award, it’s hard to put into words how much each one of those stages has progressed my career. To be added to the list of previous award winners who have championed American opera singers is incredibly overwhelming, but it’s the biggest ‘attaboy’ that you could ever have — as an artist, you never really know the effect you’re making. You go out on stage every night, you give everything that you have, but you wonder, ‘Am I doing the right thing?’ And when you get an award like this, it says you’re on the right path and to keep going, that what you’re doing matters as it’s affecting and touching people. It makes me proud to carry the Tucker name.

I also stand on the shoulders of every single educator and supporter of mine who saw talent in me when I didn’t see it in myself. Also, my wife, Jennifer, is my biggest supporter in the world. I am incredibly grateful.” — Nicholas Brownlee

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