BIOGRAPHY

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Born in Belem, Brazilian tenor Atalla Ayan has already performed at the most important opera houses of the world and is one of the most appreciated tenors of his generation. The generosity of his voice and his charism on the stage received ovation of critics. Allan Kozinn, from The New York Times, said of his Met debut: “he is a find; he has a warm, rounded tone with a quality that calls to mind the young Placido Domingo.”

 

After his studies at the Conservatório Carlos Gomes de Belém, he went accepted at the Scuola dell’Opera Italiana del Teatro Comunale di Bologna. Being only 21, he debuted as Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi, at the Theatro da Paz of Belem. He made his European debut as Rodolfo in Puccini’s La Bohème, at the Greek National Opera. Following, he became a member of the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artists Development Program.

 

Rodolfo in La Bohème went an important role in his career. Was performing the young poet that Atalla Ayan made debuts at Opéra National de Paris, Teatro Colón de Buenos Aires, Dutch National Opera, Canadian Opera Company, Hungarian State Opera, Royal Swedish Opera, Baden-Baden, Covent Garden, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Semperoper Dresden, Bayerische Staatsoper, Oper Köln, Greek National Opera and Theatro Municipal de São Paulo. At Teatro alla Scala and Bayerische Staatsoper, the Brazilian tenor made his debut as Nemorino in Donizetti’s L’Elisir d’Amore. He sang this same role at DO Berlin and Covent Garden. As Alfredo in La Traviata, he was invited at the Metropolitan Opera New York, San Francisco Opera, Den Norske Opera, Teatro Carlo Felice di Genova and Glyndebourne Festival. Also at the Metropolitan Opera, he sang the role of Christian in Alfano’s Cyrano de Bergerac. At the Teatro Comunale di Bolgna, he sang for the first time the role of Ruggero in Puccini’s La Rondine, under the baton of José Cura. Later, he sang this role again at the Deutsche Oper Berlin. At Grand Théâtre de Genève and Berlin Staatsoper, Atalla sung Ein italianischer Sänger in Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier. As Duca di Mantova in Verdi’s Rigoletto, he debuted at the Opera Australia. In Rio de Janeiro, he sang the title role in Faust by Gounod, at the Theatro Municipal. As Edgardo in Donizetti’s Lucia di Lamermoor, he performed at the Oper Köln.

 

Since the 2011/2012 season, Atalla Ayan is a member of the ensemble of Staatsoper Stuttgart, where he sang roles such as Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, Fenton in Falstaff, Lensky in Eugene Onegin, Alfred in Die Fledermaus, Ismaele in Nabucco, Il Duca in Rigoletto, and many others. His most recent role debuts in Stuttgart have included the title roles in Faust and Les Contes d’Hoffmann.

 

In the 2021-22 season, Atalla Ayan has performed as Rodolfo at the Semperoper Dresden, making his debut at the German renowned opera house. At the Opéra National de Paris, it was a double debut for Atalla: his first time at the Parisian institution and his first Des Grieux in Massenet’s Manon. As Alfredo, he sang at the Staatsoper Hamburg and as Rodolfo, he debuted at the Gran Teatre del Liceu de Barcelona. In Stuttgart, he debuted in the role of Werther by Massenet. Highlights of Atalla Ayan’s 2022-23 season include a come back to the Theatro Municipal de São Paulo in Der Rosenkavalier, as Pery in Carlos Gomes’ Il Guarany and as Cavaradossi; Afredo at the Prague State Opera; Werther and two important debuts: Cavaradossi in Puccini’s Tosca and Don José in Carmen, in Stuttgart; Rodolfo and Duca di Mantova at the Opera Australia Sidney.

 

The season 2023-24 has started with Carmen in Stuttgart and Rigoletto at the Croatian National Opera Zagreb. Following the season, also in Stuttgart, Atalla will sing Carmen and Tosca, but will make another important debut: Manrico in Verdi’s Il Trovatore. At the Lithuanian National Opera & Ballet, Ayan will make his house debut, singing the role of Chevalier des Grieux in Massenet's Manon.