Bernard Holcomb

Tenor Bernard Holcomb has “already made a name for himself in the world of opera” with his “delicate and flexible” voice (Opera Wire) and the “appealing sweetness and clarity [of] his tone” (New York Times). Katy Walsh of Chicago Theater Beat said it best: “Although everyone [at Lyric Opera of Chicago] can sing, Holcomb reminds us why we come to the Lyric.” This season, Mr. Holcomb returns to Long Beach Opera in the world prémiere of The Central Park Five, performs in Porgy and Bess in Italy with New York Harlem Productions, performs the role of Borsa in Rigoletto with Seattle Opera, and the role of Sportin Life in Porgy and Bess with Harrisburg Symphony.

New York theatre credits include Thomas (lead) in Whiskey Pants: The Mayor of Williamsburg Off-Broadway and Collins in Rent. He also performed Sportin’ Life in the international tour of Porgy and Bess, and in productions of Company and Sweeny Todd.

Recent débuts include his Alaskan début as Captain Leadbetter in the world prémiere of Emerson Eads’ Princess Sophia with Project Orpheus, his Carnegie Hall début, his title role début in Rossini’s Otello in NYC, and his début at the Dresden Semperoper in Porgy and Bess. Other recent engagements include the role of Lechmere in Owen Wingrave with Little Opera Theater of NY, his return to Seattle Opera to perform the role of Borsa in Rigoletto, his performance as a soloist in Gershwin’s Blue Monday with On Site Opera. Additionally, in recent seasons Mr. Holcomb performed with Sphinx Connect, as a soloist in Christian De Grè’s Twisted Operettas at Joe’s Pub, Poul Ruders’ The Thirteenth Child with Santa Fe Opera at the Guggenheim Museum in New York, and BMP: Next Generation with Beth Morrison Projects. Additionally, Bernard made his return to Chicago Opera Theater as Tristan in Frank Martin’s Le Vin Herbé and was featured as a soloist with Renée Fleming and Sir Patrick Stewart in Second City’s Guide to the Opera.

An alumnus of the Lyric Opera’s Patrick G. and Shirley W. Ryan Opera Center, Bernard performed such roles as Ernesto in Don Pasquale and Rodolfo in La bohéme. During his Lyric tenure, Mr. Holcomb appeared in the main stage performances of Strauss’ Elektra, Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra, Donizetti’s Don Pasquale, Offenbach’s Les Contes d’Hoffmann and covered major roles in Massenet’s Werther, Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, and Verdi’s Rigoletto.