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The American counter-tenor, Jeffrey Mandelbaum, received a Bachelor of Arts degree with Honors in Interdisciplinary Performance from Oberlin College, and a Master of Music degree in Historical Performance-Voice from the Mannes College of Music. He coached in Baroque style with Drew Minter and Julianne Baird, and studies vocal technique and artistry with Linda Monssen. He is a winner of the 2003 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, New York Districts, and has sung numerous recitals in venues throughout NYC and Tuscany.
Jeffrey Mandelbaum made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera in The Enchanted Island singing the role of Ferdinand in a series of performances alongside Joyce DiDonato and Plácido Domingo, under the baton of William Christie. He has been hailed as a "first-class countertenor" by the Washington Post, and is fast becoming known for his powerful, elegant voice, and dynamic stage presence. He returned to the Metropolitan Opera for Thomas Ades’ The Tempest, starring Simon Keenlyside and Isabel Leonard, led by the composer, and directed by Robert Lepage, and is back for this season’s revival of The Enchanted Island. He made a double Alice Tully Hall debut, singing J.S. Bach's Magnificat (BWV 243) with the American Classical Orchestra, as well as J.S. Bach's Christmas Oratorio (BWV 248) with the Riverside Choral Society, and returns with ACO this fall. He will also be soloist in Leonard Bernstein's Chichester Psalms and Missa Brevis with Amor Artis, J.S. Bach's St. John Passion (BWV 245) with the Canterbury Choral Society, and J.S. Bach's St. Matthew Passion (BWV 244) with the Canticum Novum Singers (Director: Harold Rosenbaum).
Regarding his debut at Virginia Opera in Agrippina, Tim Smith states in Opera News, “Jeffrey Mandelbaum, with a sweet sound, was highly satisfying… [and] brought considerable flair to his singing and characterization.” He was engaged by New York City Opera for Flavio, Ulisse, and Engelbert Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel, and performed George Frideric Handel's Giulio Cesare in two productions with Opera Theater of Connecticut, singing Tolomeo, as well as with One World Symphony, in the title role. He triumphed as Farnace in the New York premiere of Mitridate with Little Opera Theater of New York. Allan Kozinn states in the New York Times, “Jeffrey Mandelbaum gave an appealingly sensitive portrayal of Ottone,” in Opera Omnia’s Poppea. He reprised Ottone this summer with Dell’Arte Opera, earning further praise in the Times and other media.
A sought after concert performer, Jeffrey Mandelbaum has sung with Orchestra of St. Luke's, American Classical Orchestra, Riverside Choral Society, Amor Artis, Westchester Oratorio Society, Norwalk Symphony, Greater Bridgeport Symphony, Connecticut Master Chorale, Mendelssohn Choir of Connecticut, Vermont Mozart Festival, Canterbury Choral Society, and others. He is in demand as a soloist for the oratorios of George Frideric Handel and the choral works of J.S. Bach. He has made calling cards of the “tenor” solo in Orff’s Carmina Burana and the “boy” solo in L. Bernstein's Chichester Psalms.
In addition to performing Baroque repertoire, Jeffrey Mandelbaum is also an experienced interpreter of contemporary opera, including DeChiera’s Cyrano De Bergerac with Opera Pacific; Monk’s Quarry with Spoleto Festival USA, Glass’s Galileo Galilei at Brooklyn Academy of Music, Hause’s Man: Biology Of A Fall at Kumble Theater [NYC], and two productions of Quincey’s Home And The River with Encompass New Opera Theatre, with whom he also premiered Quincey's Tale Of A Tell-Tale Heart, the leading role of which was written specifically for him. He currently lives in New York City. |
