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The Canadian tenor, David H. Menzies, obtained his Bachelor of Music Education degree in Vocal Performance/Choral Education from University of Manitoba (1998-2003); his Master of Music degre in Early Music Performance from McGill University (2005-2007); and his Doctorate in Music from McGill University (2007-2010), where he performed in its prestigious opera studio as Male Chorus in Benjamin Britten's Rape of Lucretia, Anatol in Vanessa, Governor of Buenos Aires in Leonard Bernstein's Candide, Mayor in B. Britten's Albert Herring, Gherardo in Gianni Schicchi, Tigrane in Radamisto and Oronte in George Frideric Handel's Alcina, and gave Doctoral Lecture-Recital: "Aspects of Exclusion"- Song cycles for tenor voice. He also studied Opera as Theatre at Banff Centre (2007; Performed in solo and chamber music recitals as part of the Banff Festival of the Arts, including repertoire by Monteverdi, Schubert, Bellini, Quilter and Brahms. 2008: Performed the role of Filmfestival Man in Estacio's Frobisher; and in scenes from B. Britten's Gloriana (Essex)); was Resident Artist at Green Mountain Opera Festival (2008; Performed the role of Gastone in La Traviata. Conducted by Francis Graffeo and Stage Directed by Ron Luchsinger. Performed scenes with music from W.A. Mozart's Die Zauberflöte, Georges Bizet's Carmen, B. Britten's Albert Herring, Der Rosenkavalier and Street Scene); studied Handel Oratorio at Britten-Pears School (2008; Master-classes with Richard Egarr (Academy of Ancient music conductor), Michael Chance. Coachings with Rita Dams and Christopher Bucknel); attended Canadian Vocal Arts Institute (2011; Master-classes and coachings with Joan Dornemann, Gerald Martin Moore, Hemdi Kfir); studied Voice Bach Passions at Britten-Pears School (2011; Master-classes with Mark Padmore and Rita Dams; Performed Ach mein Sinn in performances of J.S. Bach's St. John Passion (BWV 245)); studied Rameau Operas at Britten-Pears School (2012; Master-class and Performance with Christophe Rousset; Coachings with Rita Dams and James Halliday; Role of Neptune, in Rameau’s Naïs); attended Atelier Lyrique de l'Opéra de Montréal (2012-2013); was Vocal Fellow at Tanglewood Music Centre (2013).
David Menzies is active as tenor singer (Baroque & Classical) since January 2005. He has been praised as a “powerhouse performer” (Ontario Arts Review) in repertoire ranging from the baroque to the contemporary. Greatly appreciated for his musicality and spirit of collaboration, he has been sought after in the creation of new works and Canadian premieres with the Banff Arts Festival, Winnipeg New Music Festival, McGill Contemporary Music Ensemble, Societé musique contemporaine de Québec, Ensemble Viva Voce, Voces Boreales, Tanglewood Festival and Pax Christi Chorale. Prized as a chamber musician, he has recorded for Decca, Naxos, Analekta and ATMA labels and has been heard on Radio-Canada, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) and American Catholic Television Network.
Recent highlights include Basilio/Curzio in W.A. Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro (Manitoba Opera, November 2015); German Sentry in Silent Night (Montreal Opera); Tamino in W.A. Mozart's Die Zauberflöte, Actéon in Charpentier’s Actéon, and Jupiter in G.F. Handel's Semele (CBMR); Brégent’s Atlantide (Societé musique contemporaine de Québec, February 2015); Don Ottavio in W.A. Mozart's Don Giovanni (Opéra Qu’on Sert, September 2014); Haydn’s Missa in Tempore Belli (Thunder Bay Symphony); Recitals of lute song of Le Camus, Serate Musicali, Robert Schumann's Dichterliebe and Die Schöne Mullerin; J.S. Bach's Cantatas BWV 16 & BWV 65 with La Chapelle des Minimes, Brussels; G.F. Handel's Messiah (Aradia Ensemble); Camille Saint-Saëns' Oratorio De Noël (Thirteen Strings); Acis in Acis And Galatea (Fondation Arte Musica); Jupiter in Rameau’s Naïs with Christophe Rousset (Britten-Pears Baroque Orchestra); and Giuseppe and Gastone in La Traviata (Opéra de Montréal and Green Mountain Opera Festival).
During the 2016-2017 season, David Menzies performed Almaviva in Barber of Seville (Brott Opera); Testis J.S. Bach's in St. Matthew Passion (BWV 244) (Montreal Symphony Orchestra); François Cournoyer in Timothy Brady’s Six Revolutions (Atelier lyrique / Opéra de Montréal); Ferrando in W.A. Mozart's Così Fan Tutte (Opera da Camera, December 2015-February 2016); Belmonte in W.A. Mozart's Die Entführung Aus Dem Serail, Hyllus in G.F. Handel's Hercules, and Tacmas in Les Indes Galantes (Compagnie Baroque Mont-Royal); Recitals of Songs and Arias by Massenet, Canticles I to V by B. Britten and the Lieder of Schubert and L.v. Beethoven in the UK and Spain; Manasseh in the North American premiere of Parry’s Judith (Pax Christi Chorale); Dietrich Buxtehude's Magnificat and J.S. Bach's Cantata BWV 1 (Serenata at St. John); J.S. Bach's B Minor Mass (BWV 232) (Ensemble Caprice); and P. Leroux’s Quid Sit Musicus (McGill Contemporary Music Ensemble).
David Menzies is also in demand as a voice pedagogue and coach with institutions such as Schulich School of Music of McGill University (Program Coordinator, Communications and Production, November 2014-May 2016; Administrative Coordinator, since February 2017) and Sherbrooke University (Vocal Lecturer and Tenor Soloist, June-July 2015). He is also Voice Teacher in his Menzies Voice Studio (since Sepember 2005). He is also Program Coordinator of Assemble Ensemble in Montreal (since September 2014), and Artistic/Managing Director of La Compagnie Baroque Mont-Royal (since January 2011). He lives in Montréal, Canada. |
