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The American tenor and composer, Omar Najmi, obtained his Bachelor of Music degree in Voice and Opera from Ithaca College (2005-2009); and his Master of Music degree in Voice and Opera from Boston University (2009-2011). He is the recipient of the Lorraine Hunt Lieberson Fellowship from Emmanuel Music, the Stephen Shrestinian Award from Boston Lyric Opera, and the Harold Norblom Award from Opera Colorado. He has been a prize-winner from the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions and the Talents of the World International Voice Competition.
Praised for his “clarion, luxuriously Italianate voice", Omar Najmi enjoys a versatile career in opera and concert. A regular favorite at the Boston Lyric Opera, Omar has been featured in over fifteen of their productions including appearances as Nick in The Handmaid’s Tale, Vanya Kudrjas in Katya Kabanova, Beppe in Pagliacci, Goro in the Madama Butterfly process, Reverend Harrington in Lizzie Borden, and more. He recently made his European debut creating the title role in the world-premiere of Joseph Summer’s Hamlet with Bulgaria’s State Opera Ruse (June 2021). Omar’s many other operatic appearances have included: Tito in W.A. Mozart's La Clemenza di Tito (Opera Steamboat), Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor (student matinée), and Joe in La Fanciulla del West (Opera Colorado), Ottavio in W.A. Mozart's Don Giovanni, Arbace in W.A. Mozart's Idomeneo, and Camille de Rossilon in The Merry Widow (Opera NEO), Bill in Flight, and Laurie in Little Women (Opera Fayetteville, January 2012), El Gobernador in La Reina (American Lyric Theatre), Aufidio in W.A. Mozart's Lucio Silla (Odyssey Opera), Sumeida in Sumeida’s Song (Opera Maine) and many more. He has additionally performed with Chautauqua Opera, Opera Saratoga (May-July 2011), Annapolis Opera, Opera North (July-August 2010; July-August), Opera Providence, MassOpera, and Boston Opera Collaborative.
Omar Najmi made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2018 as the tenor soloist in Mark Hayes’ Gloria . He has since returned as the tenor soloist in Dan Forrest’s Requiem for the Living, and as a featured soloist in Talents of the World Inc.’s Caruso Tribute Concert. His additional concert repertoire includes J.S. Bach's Magnificat (BWV 243); L.v. Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, Missa Solemnis, Mass in C, and Choral Fantasy; Benjamin Britten's Serenade for tenor, horn, and strings; George Frideric Handel's Messiah, and Dixit Dominus; Felix Mendelssohn's Lobgesang, and Die Erste Walpurgisnacht; W.A. Mozart's Requiem; Puccini’s Messa di Gloria; Rossini’s Stabat Mater, and Petite Messe Solennelle; and Verdi’s Requiem.
Omar Najmi is also active as a composer - he premiered his first opera En la ardiente oscuridad in 2019, and his newest opera This is not that dawn will be receive a workshop performance in 2022. During the 2020-2021 season, he was brought on as Boston Lyric Opera's first ever Emerging Composer. During his time with BLO, he composed and premiered his song cycle My name is Alondra, settings of poetry by Boston's Youth Poet Laureate, Alondra Bobadilla. He currently lives in Malden, Massachusetts. |
