Sean Panikkar Tenor

A recent graduate of the San Francisco Opera Adler Fellowship, Sean Panikkar quickly is becoming known for his “surpassing musicality and passion, commanding self-confidence and gorgeous expression.” The American tenor of Sri Lankan heritage made his Metropolitan Opera debut in the 2007-2008 season as Edmondo in Manon Lescaut, conducted by James Levine, and his European operatic debut as Gomatz in Mozart’s Zaïde at the Aix-en-Provence Festival in a production directed by Peter Sellars and conducted by Louis Langrée.

During the present season, the tenor debuts as Narraboth in Salome both at Washington National Opera in the company’s new Francesca Zambello production under the direction of Philippe Auguin and at the Saito Kinen Festival in performances conducted by Omer Meir Wellber. He brings his acclaimed portrayal of Prince Tamino in Die Zauberflöte both to New Orleans Opera for his company debut and to the Minnesota Orchestra for a debut there in performances under the baton of Music Director OsmoVänskä. Mr. Panikkar debuts at Santa Fe Opera as Kodanda in a new production of Menotti’s rarely produced The Last Savage directed by Ned Canty and conducted by George Manahan. He returns both to Pittsburgh Opera as Chevalier de la Force in Dialogues of the Carmelites and to the Metropolitan Opera as Tybalt in Roméo et Juliette sharing the stage with Angela Gheorghiu and Piotr Beczala. His concert work includes performances of Mendelssohn’s Elijah with Michael Christie and the Phoenix Symphony, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with Raymond Leppard and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, as well as a solo recital presented by Pro Musica Detroit.

This is for information only and should not be reproduced. Please see full biography for further details.