Jonathan Abernethy

Born in New Zealand, Jonathan Abernethy has established himself as a vibrant tenor on the international stage. His recent accolades came as a member of the Zürich International Opera Studio, a finalist in the 55th Tenor Viñas International Singing Contest and being named HSBC Laureate with the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence.

Last season, as a member of the Ensemble of the Oper Frankfurt, he performed in Manon Lescaut and a new production of Dialogues des Carmelites directed by Klaus Guth. He also sang a Mozart program in concert with the Balthasar Neumann Ensemble in Hamburg and Salzburg with conductor Thomas Hengelbrock.

In the 2019/20 season, he made his debut as Nemorino in a new Elisir d’amore, production with Erl Festival and sang in Julietta by Martinu, Drei Kurzopern by Ernst Krener, Salomé and Roméo und Julia by Boris Blacher at the Oper Frankfurt. He also appeared in concert with Thomas Hengelbrock at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.

In the 2018/19 season, Jonathan made his Paris debut performing at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées (Brighella, Ariadne auf Naxos). Other season highlights include performing in concert with Laurence Equilbey and Insula Orchestra (Mozart Requiem and J.-S. Bach St. John Passion) and with West Australian Opera (Don Ottavio, Don Giovanni).

Past opera performances include: with Opernhaus Zürich, Trin (La Fanciulla del West), First Prisoner (Fidelio), 4th Jew (Salome), 4th Knappe (Parsifal), Toby Higgins (Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny); at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, Brighella (Ariadne auf Naxos), Diarte (Erismena); with Opera Australia, Ferrando (Così fan tutte), Tamino (The Magic Flute), Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni), Fenton (Falstaff), Nadir (Les Pêcheurs de Perles), Ruiz (Il Trovatore), Normanno (Lucia di Lammermoor), Count Lerma (Don Carlos), Remendado (Carmen); with West Australian Opera, Nadir (Les Pêcheurs de Perles), Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni); with New Zealand Opera, Nanki-poo (The Mikado).

Presented by 2018 Festival d’Aix-En-Provence, Jonathan gave a solo recital – Chants du Voyageur – performing songs of Schubert and Vaughan-Williams with pianist Hélio Vida. Previously on the concert stage he has appeared alongside Opera Orchestra of Rouen Normandy, Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Opera Australia, Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, Royal Melbourne Philharmonic, Canberra Choral Society, Dunedin Symphony Orchestra.

Jonathan is an alumni of the Opera Australia Young Artist Program, Internationale Meistersinger Akademie, Festival d’Aix-en-Provence Mozart Residency, Solti Accademia and Ravinia’s Steans Music Institute. During this training, he had the opportunity to work with distinguished artists such as Richard Bonynge, James Conlon and Leo Nucci.