Commended by the Globe and Mail for his “rock-solid technique, excellent diction and a virile tone” and by the Toronto Star for a “magnetic stage presence that was the ideal embodiment of a romantic lead”, Canadian tenor Colin Ainsworth has distinguished himself by his exceptional singing, impeccable diction and a diverse range of repertoire. Having performed with opera companies and symphonies across the world, this youthful tenor has also been praised for his dramatic intensity and the palette of vocal colours at his disposal.
Born in Toronto, to deaf parents, Colin was introduced to classical music in late high school but quickly fell in love with the art form and began studies at the University of Western Ontario and University of Toronto in the Opera School under Dr. Darryl Edwards. Since then, he has been engaged around the world with such opera companies as the Royal Opera House, Greek National Opera, Vancouver Opera, Edmonton Opera, Opera Atelier, the Edinburgh Festival, Opera Hamilton, Opera Français de New York, Pacific Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, Calgary Opera, and such orchestras as the Vancouver Symphony, Edmonton Symphony, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, Winnipeg Symphony, and Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra. He has also been featured on seven CD recordings, one live opera DVD and been twice nominated for a Dora Award and a Juno.
This season, Mr. Ainsworth returns to the Vancouver Opera for the world premiere of John Estacio’s Lillian Alling, Calgary Opera as Arturo in Lucia di Lammermoor, Edmonton Opera as Belmonte in Die Entführung aus dem Serail, and the Chicago Opera Theater as Jason in Charpentier’s Medée. His many roles include the title roles in Orphée et Euridice, Pygmalion, Castor et Pollux, Roberto Devereux and Albert Herring; Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, Almaviva in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Ernesto in Don Pasquale, Rinnucio in Gianni Schicchi, Fenton in Falstaff, Tonio in La Fille du Régiment, Nadir in Les Pêcheurs de Perles, Pylades in Iphigénie en Tauride, Renaud in Lully’s Armide, Tom Rakewell in The Rake’s Progress, and Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He also appeared in the world premieres of the Stuart MacRae’s The Assassin Tree at the Edinburgh International Festival, Victor Davies’ The Transit of Venus with the Manitoba Opera, and Rufus Wainwright’s Prima Donna at Sadler’s Wells in London and at the Luminato Festival. Other past opera engagements have included appearances at the Glimmerglass Opera, Lake George Opera, L’Opéra de Français, Opera Atelier, Pacific Opera Victoria, and the Greek National Opera.
Also prolific concert singer, Mr. Ainworth appears this season in performances of Messiah with the Edmonton Symphony, Vancouver Bach Choir, and New Mexico Symphony; Bach’s Mass in B Minor with the Vancouver Symphony, Carmina Burana with the Calgary Symphony, Bach’s St. John’s Passion with the Elora Festival Singers, and Janácek’s Diary of One Who Vanished at the Off Centre Music Salon. He has recently appeared with the Toronto Symphony, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra of San Francisco, Music of the Baroque in Chicago, and the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra in Toronto, Montreal Baroque Festival, the Elora Festival, the Alderburgh Connection, and went on tour in Germany.
Mr. Ainsworth’s growing discography includes Vivaldi’s La Griselda (Naxos), Castor et Pollux (Naxos), Schubert Among Friends (Marquis Classics), Gloria in Excelsis Deo with the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra (CBC Records), the collected masses of Vanhal, Haydn, and Cherbuini with Nicholas McGegan (Naxos), and the premiere recording of Derek Holman’s The Heart Mislaid which was included on the Alderburgh Connection’s Our Songs (Marquis Classics). He also appears in a live DVD recording of Lully’s Persée with the Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra (Euroarts).