Tenor, Asitha Tennekoon
Asitha Tennekoon (he/him)
Sri Lankan tenor Asitha Tennekoon has quickly established himself as one of Canada’s most versatile singing artists. He drew critical acclaim as Paul in Tapestry Opera/Scottish Opera’s Rocking Horse Winner, receiving the 2016 Dora Award for Best Male Performance. Of his performance, Richard Harris of the Globe and Mail wrote, “The surprise of the night was Asitha Tennekoon... his silky, emotional presence on stage – both vocally and dramatically – gave the show a powerful focus.” For his performance in the 2019 world premiere of Shanawdithit (Nolan/Burry) with Tapestry Opera, Ian Ritchie of Opera Going Toronto wrote: “Tennekoon’s savage depiction of vicious racist magistrate and merchant John Peyton is nothing less than harrowing.”
Asitha’s operatic highlights include performances with Opéra de Montréal, Tapestry Opera, Against the Grain Theatre, Vancouver Opera, Soundstreams Canada, Opera on the Avalon, Opera 5, and Opera Lafayette (USA).
On the concert stage Asitha is known for performing a wide variety of repertoire, from the Evangelist in Bach’s Passions to premiering new works. Concert highlights include engagements with Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra and Chamber Choir, Toronto Mendelssohn Choir, Regina Symphony Orchestra, Ottawa Choral Society, Toronto Bach Festival, and Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.
In the fall of 2021, Asitha was a featured soloist for IndiFest presented by re:Naissance Opera. He also sang the title role in Vancouver Bach Choir's performance of Britten's St. Nicholas. Most recently he was featured as The Knave of Hearts in the cinematic adaptation of Elizabeth Raum’s The Garden of Alice with Pacific Opera Victoria.
In the coming months Asitha's engagements include his debut with Edmonton Opera performing the role of Ferrando in Cosi fan Tutte, his debut with the Canadian Opera Company performing the role of First Priest in Die Zabuerflöte, and performing the role of Bénédict in Béatrice et Bénédict with Opera Kelowna. In the fall of 2022 he will perform the role of Boy Angel in the Canadian premiere of the 2017 Pulitzer Prize winning opera Angel's Bone, co-produced by re:Naissance Opera, Sound the Alarm: Music/Theatre, Loose Tea Music Theatre, Array Music, and Turning Point Ensemble.
In addition to his work as a performer, Asitha is also a co-founder of Amplified Opera (AO), an Indie opera company that seeks to place artists at the centre of public discourse. In addition to presenting performances AO continues to participate in residencies, lead webinars and mentorship sessions, and advocate for meaningful change in the opera industry. They are currently Disruptor-In-Residence at the Canadian Opera Company.