James Valenti

James Valenti (born September 2, 1977) is an American operatic tenor with an active international career specializing in leading roles in the Italian and French repertoire. Born and raised in New Jersey, in the United States, he attended St. Helena School and North Hunterdon High School before becoming a graduate of West Virginia University and the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Valenti made his professional debut in 2003 as Rodolfo in La bohème at the Rome Opera, and was the 2010 winner of the Richard Tucker Award.

Valenti in front of the Plaza Hotel in New York City on April 13, 2014

Life and career

Born in Summit, New Jersey, he was raised in Clinton. He developed an interest in performing as a student at North Hunterdon High School.[1] Valenti is a graduate of West Virginia University and the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia.[2] In the course of his studies he received grants from the Singer's Development Foundation, the Sullivan Foundation, and the Sergio Franchi Music Foundation.

He made his professional debut at age 25 as Rodolfo in the Franco Zeffirelli production La bohème at the Rome Opera. He went on to perform in many of the world's major opera houses, including La Scala, Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera House, Paris Opera, Sydney Opera House, Opernhaus Zürich and Teatro Colón. He made his Metropolitan Opera debut in March 2010 as Alfredo in Verdi's La traviata in a cast that included Angela Gheorghiu and Thomas Hampson, and at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden in the same role in June 2010.[3][4] His roles include Cavaradossi in Tosca,[5] Don José in Carmen, Don Carlo in Don Carlo, the Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto, Lt. Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Maurizio in Adriana Lecouvreur, Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor, Werther in Werther and Doctor Faust in Faust.

Valenti is an ambassador for Children International and resides in West Palm Beach, Florida.[6]

New York City Opera Renaissance mounted Puccini’s “Tosca” in January 2015, at the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center, in the Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle, with Valenti performing.[7]

Awards

Opera roles

References
  1. Reich, Ronni. "NJ tenor James Valenti sings at the Richard Tucker Gala", The Star-Ledger, November 15, 2010. Accessed June 29, 2018. "He sang pop songs in high school — he's a Billy Joel fan, and he still often pays tribute to his Jersey roots by making Bon Jovi's "Living on a Prayer" his karaoke anthem — but it was his choir teacher at North Hunterdon High School, David Lockart, who convinced him to try out the role of Lt. Cable in South Pacific."
  2. Reich, Ronni. "NJ tenor James Valenti sings at the Richard Tucker Gala", The Star-Ledger, November 15, 2010. Accessed February 18, 2011. "Originally from Summit, Valenti grew up primarily in Clinton. (He now lives in Palm Beach, Fla.)"
  3. Tommasini, Anthony: "In Revival of Verdi, a New Note of Drama ", The New York Times, March 30, 2010
  4. Kellaway, Kate: "The Duchess of Malfi; La traviata", The Observer, July 18, 2010
  5. "Emotional performances and orchestral energy in Lyric Opera’s ‘Tosca’ ", The Kansas City Star, April 18, 2015
  6. Children International (11 September 2013). Don Carlos in the D.R."
  7. Cooper, Michael (11 November 2015). "Effort to Revive City Opera Includes a 'Tosca' Staging". Retrieved 5 November 2017 – via www.nytimes.com.
  8. Met Concert/Gala April 21, 2002, Metropolitan Opera Archives
  9. Opera Index Vocal Competition. Previous winners
  10. Tommasini, Anthony: "When Opera Stars Show Their Frisky Side", The New York Times, November 15, 2010
  11. West Virginia University College of Creative Arts (9 April 2014). "Acclaimed tenor James Valenti to return to CAC as visiting artist" Archived 2014-04-26 at the Wayback Machine.
  12. West Virginia University College of Creative Arts. "Music alumnus James Valenti named to WVU Academy of Distinguished Alumni" Archived 2015-05-18 at the Wayback Machine, February 2, 2015.
  13. "Staatsoper Hamburg". www.hamburgische-staatsoper.de. Retrieved 5 November 2017.
  14. Birge, John: "'Romeo and Juliet' come home", MPR News, January 31, 2008
  15. Midgette, Anne: "'Il Giuramento': No Rust on This Missing Link", The Washington Post, June 2, 2009
  16. Smith, Janet: "'A Madama Butterfly like this wings its way into town once in a lifetime'", Straight.com, May 30, 2010
  17. Schweirzer, Vivien: "'On a Minimal Set, Maximizing Puccini'", The New York Times, May 30, 2010
  18. Fonseca-Wollheim, Corinna da (21 July 2013). "'Don Carlos,' in Its Original Tongue, Reveals Intricacies". Retrieved 5 November 2017 – via www.nytimes.com.
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