The last time Brian Jagde performed with Virginia Opera, he sang the baritone roles of Schlemil and Herman in the company’s 2007 production of Offenbach’s “Tales of Hoffman.” Abracadabra! Like magic, he returns to VO, not as a baritone, but as Lieutenant Pinkerton in one of the roles most coveted by tenors, the love interest of Cio-Cio San in “Madama Butterfly.”
| Onstage |
| ‘Madama Butterfly’ |
| Where: George Mason University Center for the Arts |
| When: 8 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Sunday |
| Info: $44-$98; 888-945-2468; cfa.gmu.edu |
“When I was 20 and developed an interest in singing, I thought I was a tenor, but my teachers told me I was a baritone,” said Jagde (pronounced Jade). “One admitted that I might become a tenor one day, but for the time being I should continue as a baritone.”
As time passed and he found it more natural to sing high notes, he contacted another teacher. This time, the verdict confirmed his suspicion: He is indeed a tenor.
Once the transition was complete, he made his American debut as Rodolfo in “La Boheme” with Syracuse Opera and his European debut six months later with Teatr Wielki Opera Poznan in Poland in the title role of Massenet’s “Werther” and as Macduff in Verdi’s “Macbeth.”
His new voice caught the attention of San Francisco Opera, which invited him to spend the summer of 2009 in its Merola program. He is currently in his second year with the company’s famous Adler program, which turns out some of this country’s finest singers. Already, he has covered several leading tenor roles for them, including Pinkerton. Those coming up include Don Jose in “Carmen,” Froh in “Das Rheingold” and Dan Hill in the world premiere of “Heart of a Soldier” by Christopher Theofanidis.
Jagde returns to Virginia this summer to sing Rodolfo in Puccini’s “La Boheme” at the Castleton Festival under the baton of maestro Lorin Maazel.
“Puccini is a master of beautiful music and vocal pacing,” he said. “I especially love the role of Pinkerton for the music. As for his character, he’s not a great guy for the way he treats Butterfly. I know some in the audience won’t like him because he returns with his wife and takes his child, causing Butterfly’s suicide, but I’ll do my best to show that he is a human being.”
