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Reviews

Sean Christensen, appearing in no fewer than three roles, is an excellent example. As the student Edmondo in Act 1, he sang with a lovely lyric sound and moved well, as the Dancing Master in Act 2 he was appropriately haughty and bemused, and in his brief appearance as a Lamplighter in Act 3, he showed us that every character, no matter how small his role, can be impressive."

Richard Storm, The Sarasota Herald-Tribune

"Of the large supporting case [in Manon Lescaut], Studio Artist Sean Christensen was solid in several roles, often required to include humorous attitudes in his characterizations and strong vocalism."

June LeBell, Your Observer

"Blanche’s brother, the Chevalier, can’t let go of his little sister and never sees her as anything but a fragile, frightened “Little Bunny Rabbit,” never to grow into adulthood. Played by studio artist Sean Christensen, his ringing tenor led the music but never got in the way of his characterization."

OperaChaser

"With aristocratic stiffness mixed with impassioned impetuousness as Des Grieux, tenor Sean Christensen gushes with charismatic vocal warmth. As a young artist who you can see stepping out successfully onto a larger stage, [...] Christensen's Des Grieux was sensitive, confident and mature."

Voce di Meche

"As the foolish Des Grieux, Sean Christensen handed in a stellar performance. The tessitura is high but he rose to the challenge, singing with pure tone, lovely phrasing, and impeccable French diction."

Paul J. Pelkonen, Superconductor

"First among those on the road to stardom is tenor Sean Christensen, cast in the challenging role of the Chevalier Des Grieux. His stage presence and supple tenor lent an air of resignation to this hapless hero."

Patrick Clement James, Parterre

"As the Chevalier des Grieux, Sean Christensen was the evening’s anchor, sturdy and polished. His vocal technique served him well, delivering a solid, easy tenor throughout the long evening."

Voce di Meche

"The four leads came across rather well with the standout being tenor Sean Christensen who sang with a full-throated tenor, much enlarged since we last heard him sing."

John Sheldon, The Virginia Gazette

"As Don Ottavio, Sean Christensen’s tenor was fluid and focused. The nearly full house rewarded the efforts of this “Don Giovanni” with a sustained and standing ovation."

Fred Cohn, Opera News

"Tenor Sean Christensen’s spirited reading turned the Sailor’s brief chanty into a true high point, embodying the spry high spirits that pervaded this Dido."

Sean Christensen has been recognized as a tenor with a full, warm, and lyrical timbre, steadily establishing himself professionally in New York City. He has recently appeared as Edmondo in Sarasota Opera's production of Manon Lescaut (as well as the Dancemaster and Lamplighter), as Itulbo in Caramoor's Il Pirate, as the Chevalier de la Force in Sarasota's Dialogues of the Carmélites, and as Des Grieux in Dell'Arte Opera Ensemble's production of Manon. Other recent performances include Fernando in Bare Opera's production of Granados' Goyescas, Don Ottavio in Opera in Williamsburg's production of Don Giovanni, as well as Tamino in The Magic Flute with the Metropolitan Guild. He was a young artist at Caramoor Opera in 2016 and 2017, where he performed as Oraspe in Aureliano in Palmira. He has performed with Sarasota Opera for three seasons, having won both the prestigious Helen Jepsen Dellera Award for a Deserving Studio Artist, as well as the the Leo M. Rodgers for Outstanding Apprentice Artist. He was also a studio artist at Chautauqua Opera in 2015, and an Opera North Young Artist in 2014, where he played Daniel Buchanan in Street Scene and covered Freddie Eynsford-Hill in My Fair Lady.

He has performed excerpts as Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, Jenik in The Bartered Bride, Don Jose in Carmen, Romeo in Romeo et Juliette, Ruggiero in La rondine, Alfredo in La traviata, Nemorino in L'elisir d'amore, Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor, Lysander in A Midsummer Night's Dream, and as Faust in Gounod's opera. He has performed as a soloist with the American Symphonic Orchestra and with the Mannes Opera.

Mr. Christensen earned a bachelor’s degree in music with a focus on singing at Bard College ('11) and received a master’s degree in music at Mannes College in Manhattan ('14). A Swiss national raised in France and the United States, Mr. Christensen has always been passionate about language. In addition to music, he immersed himself in French and German studies while at Bard. Recently, he traveled to Italy to attend the Classic Lyric Arts program and study with Ubaldo Fabbri, further refining his understanding and performance of Italian repertoire.

Awarded the Margaret Creal Shafer Prize in Performance and the Dr. Richard M. Siegel Memorial prize for Music as recognition of his talent, Mr. Christensen has given several recitals at Bard and Mannes, with repertoire focusing on Strauss, Duparc, Tosti, Poulenc, and many others. He has sung under the baton of Jorge Parodi, Joseph Colaneri, James Bagwell, Leon Botstein, and Louis Burkot. He currently studies with Michael Chioldi.

Sean Christensen

Sean Christensen

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