JOSÉ LEMOS José Lemos is noted worldwide for his unique artistry in opera and concert. Of a performance as Giulio Cesare with Boston Baroque, the Boston Globe said, “…Lemos sang with a big, colorful, sexy tone and almost recklessly brilliant coloratura.” Of a performance of Stefano Landi’s “Il Sant’Alessio” at the Barbican Hall in London with the renowned Les Arts Florissant’s conducted by William Christie, The London Times says, “José Lemos, as Alessio’s father’s page, chewed up the stage with 17th-century ‘Comedy’.” As well, The Seattle times exclaimed, “José Lemos is stellar as the idealistic Ottone” in Monteverdi’s “L’Incoronazione di Poppea” conducted by Stephen Stubbs.

José Lemos was awarded both a 2003 and 2004 Tanglewood Music Fellowship where he made his USA operatic debut in Zuidam’s “Rage D’Amours” and in Britten’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” as Oberon. The following season he made his European debut at the Zürich Opernhaus as Nireno in “Giulio Cesare in Egitto” under the baton of Marc Minkowski. That was followed by appearances such as the prestigious Aldeburgh Festival in England, in a production of Purcell’s “Faery Queen” under the baton of Harry Bicket, receiving raving reviews by the London Times. Mr. Lemos is the First Prize Winner and the Audience Prize Winner of the 2003 International Baroque Singing Competition of Chimay, Belgium.

Some highlights of previous seasons includes an extensive tour of Stefano Landi’s “Il Sant’Alessio” with Les Arts Florissant’s conducted by William Christie with performances at Thèatre de Caen, Opera National de Lorraine, Grand Thèatre de Luxemburg, Rose Theater in NYC, Barbican Hall in London, and the Thèatre des Champs Elysèe in Paris. In 2010 Mr. Lemos joined Maestro Christie along a stellar cast directed by Pier Luigi Pizzi as Nutrice in a production of Monteverdi’s “L’Incoronazione di Poppea” at the Teatro Real in Madrid, Spain, and at the Salle Pleyel in Paris. Both “Il Sant’Alessio” and “L’Incoronazione di Poppea” are released as DVDs on Virgin/EMI Classics. He has also returned to the Zürich Opernhaus as Narciso in Handel’s “Agrippina” conducted by Marc Minkowski, and subsequently his debut at the Royal Festival Hall in London with critical acclaim in the same role. Also the roles of Ottone in Monteverdi’s “L’incoronazione di Poppea” with the Seattle Early Music Guild directed by Stephen Stubbs, the role of Tolomeo in Handel’s “Giulio Cesare in Egitto” conducted by Nicolas McGegan at the Göttingen Handel Festspiele in Germany. With the Boston Early Music Festival José Lemos has portrayed Nerea in the 2011 production of “Niobe”, the Spirit in Purcell’s “Dido & Aeneas” in 2010, and Silène in the 2007 production of Lully’s “Psyche” which was released on the German label CPO and nominated for a 2009 Grammy Award. Both the 2009 and 2010 seasons featured Mr. Lemos debut as soloist at Carnegie Hall in New York City in Mozart’s “Coronation Mass”, as well as the prestigious Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center in Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana”.

José Lemos has toured extensively and is a guest member with the renowned Baltimore Consort performing in both concert and educational outreach. And he has been a regular guest with several American and European early music ensembles such as Christina Pluhar’s L’Arpeggiata, Brandywine Baroque, Boston Baroque, Magnificat (San Francisco), NY State Baroque, Chatham Baroque, Quartetto Brio among others. A versatile performer, he charms audiences in recitals with his exuberant renditions of native Brazilian and Sephardic songs in a duo with Uruguayan guitarist Marco Sartor. Both the Baltimore Consort and Quartetto Brio have recorded on the Dorian Label. Brio has released “Romance” and “Sol y Luna”, featuring the exotic music of the Sephardic Jews of Spain. The Baltimore Consort released “Adio España”, featuring the beautiful music of Spain’s Age of Discovery.

Upcoming projects for the 2012/2013 season include Mr. Lemos debut at the Opera de Nice in the French Riviera on the role of Policare in Scarlatti’s “Tigrane”. October and November 2012 will see Mr. Lemos revive his role of Narciso in Handel’s “Agrippina” at Vlaamse Opera in Ghent, Belgium under the baton of the renowned English conductor Paul McCreesh. And in early 2013 Mr. Lemos will be portraying his acclaimed role of King Darius in the medieval “Play of Daniel” directed by Mary Anne Ballard and Drew Minter as part of the 75th Anniversary of the Cloisters of the New York City Metropolitan Museum of Art.

José Lemos holds a Master Degree in Opera Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Music from the College of Charleston in South Carolina.

↩ Artists