Blake Friedman Tenor Classical Singer from New York City, NY

With his “climactic high notes” (Q on Stage) and "powerful vocals", (Eye on Dance) Blake Friedman is quickly becoming known as a "world-class" (Theatre is Easy) “fresh lyric tenor” (OperaNews Online) and "object of attraction" (Critical Dance). Mr. Friedman's "silken and strong” (Tampa Bay Times) voice is featured on the Albany Records commercial recording of John Musto's Later the Same Evening (available on iTunes and Amazon) for his critically acclaimed portrayal of Jimmy O'Keefe. He has performed on the stages of Avery Fisher Hall and The Walter Bruno Auditorium at Lincoln Center, Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall and BAM's Fisher Fishman Space. Companies Mr. Friedman has worked with include St. Petersburg Opera, Ash Lawn Opera, Ensemble for the Romantic Century, Bel Canto at Caramoor, Bronx Opera, Long Island Opera, Ensemble ACWJ, Mid America Productions, The Little Opera Theatre of New York, Delaware Valley Opera, Astoria Symphony, North Duchess Symphony, Gregory Kunde Chorale, The Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, The Eastman School of Music and The Castleton Artist Training Seminar. A "skilled" performer (Theater Pizzazz) “who shines brightest in his comedy chops”, (Tampa Bay Times) Mr. Friedman's repertoire spans the gamut from classical to contemporary. Roles he has performed include: Conte Almaviva in Barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini), Rodolfo in La Boheme, Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi (Puccini), Alfredo in La Traviata (Verdi), Nemorino in L'Elisir D'Amore (Donizetti), Werther in Werther (Massenet), Il Duca in Rigoletto (Verdi), Jimmy O'Keefe in Later the Same Evening (Musto), Don Anchise in La Finta Giardiniera (Mozart), Paolino in The Secret Marriage (Cimarosa), Pang in Turandot (Puccini), First Armored Guard and First Priest in Die Zauberflöte (Mozart), Basilio in Le Nozze di Figaro (Mozart), Marzio in Mitridate (Mozart), and Buchanan in Street Scene (Weill). Also at home on the concert stage, Mr. Friedman is most known for his acclaimed interpretation of Tchaikovsky songs interwoven throughout Eve Wolf's operatic drama Tchaikovsky: None but the Lonely Heart. Other repertoire includes Uriel in The Creation (Haydn), Tenor Soloist in Requiem (Mozart), The Lord Nelson Mass (Haydn), Messiah (Handel), Magnificat (Bach), Ode on St. Cecilia's Day (Handel), Chandos Anthem no. 9 (Handel) and Cantata No. 4, “Christ lag in todes banden” (Bach). He also notably performed the North American Premiere of a new adaptation of The St. Matthew's Passion written by Eastern Orthodox Arch Bishop Metropolitan Hilarion Alfeyev with the Salome Chamber Ensemble at St. Paul the Apostle Church in New York City. The Arch Bishop himself was also in attendance. Mr. Friedman's competition credits and awards include: A 2014 Schuyler Foundation for Career Bridges Award, a 2013 Career Bridges Encouragement Grant from The Schuyler Foundation, finalist in The Fritz and Lavinia Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition of 2013, Top 10 Finalist in The Arkadi Foundation Classical Idol Competition of 2013, Semi-Finalist in The Mary S. Jacobs Singer of the Year Competition of 2012 presented by Shreveport Opera, Winner of The American Prize: Friederich and Virginia Schorr Memorial Art Song Competition of 2011, Honorable Mention in The Rochester Oratorio Society Classical Idol V Competition of 2011, recipient of a Palm Beach Opera Guild Encouragement Award in The Palm Beach Opera Vocal Competition of 2011, Honorable Mention in the 2010 Eisenberg-Fried Concerto Competition, and finalist in The New York Lyric Opera Theatre Vocal Competition of 2010. Mr. Friedman holds both a Master of Music and Professional Studies Degree from the Manhattan School of Music where he was a recipient of the Rodgers and Hammerstein Scholarship Award/Richard Rodgers Scholar and received his Bachelor of Music degree from The Eastman School of Music where he was the recipient of a Howard Hanson Scholarship. He also attended The Castleton Artist Training Seminar as the recipient of a full scholarship and is a proud alumnus of OperaWorks.