Brenden Friesen

Bass

Saskatchewan born bass Brenden Friesen has captured audiences with his powerful resonance, exceptional diction, enormous comedic presence, and incredible interpretation of text (Opera Canada). Brenden is a recent graduate of the esteemed L'Atelier lyrique young artist program at l'Opéra de Montréal. His studies include a Bachelor of Arts in Voice Performance from Briercrest College while studying with Dr. Ron de Jager, followed by completing University of Toronto’s MMus Opera degree while studying with Professor Lorna MacDonald. Brenden is now a current student of Ariane Girard in ​Montréal​, ​Québec.

After debuting with Opéra de Montréal in 2018 with Verdi’s ​Rigoletto ​as Count Ceprano under the baton of Maestro Carlo Montanaro, he has since performed notable roles such as Colline in Puccini’s ​La bohème ​with both Saskatoon Opera (2018) and Highlands Opera Studio (2018), Ernest Hemingway in Ricky Ian Gordon’s Canadian debut of ​27 ​(2019), Truffaldino in Strauss’ ​Ariadne auf Naxos ​(HOS2019), and Zaretski in Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece ​Eugene Onegin​ (Opéra de Montréal 2019). Brenden has also undertaken such roles as Sarastro in Mozart’s ​Die Zauberflöte (​ 2018), Leporello and Il Commendatore (UofT Opera), and Masetto (Saskatoon Opera 2017) in Mozart’s ​Don Giovanni​.

Upcoming performances, though pending with COVID-19, include Raimondo in Donizetti’s ​Lucia di Lammermoor​ with Jeunesses Musicales Canada (2020/21), as well as Handel’s ​Messiah a​ nd Brahms’ ​Ein Deutsches Requiem​ with Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra (2020/21). Brenden will be returning to Highlands Opera Studio Summer 2020, and COVID regulations allowing, will reprise his roles of Masetto and Il Commendatore in Mozart’s ​Don Giovanni.