Meteoric Rise and Major House Debuts
Current and Upcoming Seasons
In 2025, Tamagna makes his debut at the Teatro Petruzzelli in Bari, Italy, taking on the title role in Händel's Giulio Cesare—one of the most demanding and iconic roles in the Baroque repertoire. He also performs in Jonathan Dove's contemporary opera Itch at the Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe, demonstrating his versatility across periods and styles. Tamagna is a frequent interpreter of Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice, having sung the title role at Opera Memphis, Israeli National Opera (returning in 2024 to captivate audiences once more), and Opera in Williamsburg, as well as in concert versions throughout Germany and the United States. His deeply moving portrayal of the mythical musician has become a signature role, praised for its emotional intensity and vocal refinement. He is scheduled for two reprisal productions in 2026 with the Theater an der Wien through Parnassus Arts Productions and with Christophe Rousset and Les Talens Lyriques.A Leading Interpreter of Händel and the Baroque Repertoire
Over the course of his career, Nicholas Tamagna has developed a profound affinity with the works of George Frideric Händel, performing an extensive range of the composer's leading and supporting roles across major opera houses and festivals. His repertoire includes Ruggiero in Alcina (Halle Händel Festival), the title roles in Rinaldo, Orlando, and Giulio Cesare, as well as Disinganno in Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno (Staatsoper Hannover, 2020-2022). He has also appeared as Adalberto in Ottone, Bertarido and Unulfo in Rodelinda, Nireno and Tolomeo in Giulio Cesare (Göttingen Händel Festival and Nederlandse Reisopera), Silvio in Il Pastor Fido (Halle), and Narciso in Agrippina (Metropolitan Opera). Known for stylistic precision and expressive clarity, Tamagna's Händel interpretations combine technical control with dramatic conviction, earning him recognition as a versatile and authentic performer within the Baroque repertoire. His approach is informed by deep study of historical performance practice while maintaining an immediate emotional connection with contemporary audiences. Beyond his extensive work in Händel's operas, Nicholas Tamagna has distinguished himself in a wide range of Baroque repertoire. He has appeared in Vivaldi's Orlando furioso (as Ruggiero, touring to Tchaikovsky Hall Moscow, Salle Seine Bilancourt, and Konzerthaus Dortmund from 2019-2022) and Farnace (as Pompeo at the Festival dei Due Mondi in Spoleto), as well as touring with baroque specialist orchestra Armonia Atenea under George Petrou throughout Greece, Russia, France, and Germany in various Vivaldi, Hasse, and Händel productions. He made a notable impression at Bayreuth Baroque 2022 as Timagene in Leonardo Vinci's Alessandro nell'Indie in a highly praised production directed by renowned countertenor Max Emanuel Cenčić, which was broadcast on ARTE and BR Klassik. Tamagna has become a regular collaborator with the prize-winning baroque specialists Orkiestra Historyczna {oh!} in Poland, Germany, and Austria, singing many roles in concert versions of baroque operas by Vinci, Caldara, Hasse, and Händel under the direction of Martyna Pastuszka, including his celebrated performance as Ermano in Vinci's Gismondo, re di Polonia. His performances in Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice—including recent productions in Israel, USA, and Germany—showcase his expressive intensity and musical refinement. Tamagna has also interpreted roles in operas by Antonio Caldara (including the role of Casimiro in Il Venceslao at Warsaw Philharmonic Hall) and Leonardo Vinci, bringing to light lesser-known works from the high Baroque period with stylistic insight and vocal finesse.Early Baroque Roots: Monteverdi and the Seventeenth Century
While best known for his Händel interpretations, Tamagna also draws deeply from earlier 17th-century repertoire. He has performed Ottone in Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea with the Florentine Opera, Amore in Schütz's Dafne with his own Münstermann Festival, and the title role in Legrenzi's Il Giustino with Pinchgut Opera in Sydney (2023), where he triumphed in this rarely performed work. He has also appeared as Pane in Cavalli's La Calisto and the Spirit in Purcell's Dido and Aeneas (available on DVD through Outhère Music, 2015). Tamagna's work with the French baroque ensemble Le Poème Harmonique under Vincent Dumestre has included tours throughout Europe in Purcell repertoire, and he appears on their critically acclaimed recording Son of England (2015). He has also collaborated extensively with the Canadian early music ensemble ¡Sacabuche! in performances of unpublished works of the Italian Baroque, released on ATMA Classique.
Contemporary Opera and Philip Glass
In addition to his extensive experience as a baroque specialist, Nicholas Tamagna enjoys frequently interpreting contemporary music. His acclaimed performance of Philip Glass's Akhnaten in Candace Evans's production at Indianapolis Opera (2013) was broadcast live and garnered significant attention. He reprised the title role in a outdoors semi-staged concert version in Melbourne, Australia (2017). He also made notable debuts in Jonathan Dove's Flight as the Refugee at Opera Omaha (2017) and in a new production at the Oldenburgische Staatstheater (2023/24), and performed in Dove's latest opera Itch at Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe in 2025. His versatility extends to other modern works, demonstrating his commitment to expanding the countertenor repertoire beyond its traditional boundaries.
Concerts and Recital Work
As an active concert soloist, Tamagna has performed at prestigious venues including Carnegie Hall, Merkin Hall, Avery Fisher Hall (now David Geffen Hall), Tchaikovsky Hall in Moscow, The Megaron in Athens, the Bozar in Brussels, the Opéra Royal de Versailles, the Opéra de Vichy, the Warsaw Philharmonic Hall, and Schlosstheater Celle (where he performed his solo program Die Liebe und der Wahnsinn). He has worked under renowned conductors including George Petrou, Harry Bicket, Vincent Dumestre, Jory Vinikour, Christopher Moulds, Erin Helyard, David Bates, Christophe Rousset, Antonius Adamske, and Martyna Pastuszka. His concert repertoire spans from Monteverdi madrigals to Händel cantatas to contemporary song cycles.Recordings & Discography
Tamagna's discography reflects both his breadth and depth as an artist:- Leonardo Vinci: Gismondo, re di Polonia (Parnassus, 2020) – as Ermano, with Orkiestra Historyczna {oh!}, a multi-award winning recording
- Le Poème Harmonique – Son of England (Alpha Classics, 2015) – featuring Purcell and English baroque repertoire
- Pera Ensemble – Sultans of the Opera (2024) – exploring cross-cultural baroque repertoire
- ENEA Barock Orchestra – Donne all'Opera (2024) – celebrating women in baroque opera
- 17th-Century Italian Motets with ¡Sacabuche! (ATMA Classique) – unpublished works of the Italian Baroque
- Philip Glass: Akhnaten (Orange Mountain Music) – title role, filmed production
- Purcell: Dido and Aeneas (Outhère Music, 2015) – as the Spirit
Educator, Director & Cultural Leader
A passionate educator and advocate for vocal arts, Tamagna has taught at the Baroque Vocal Academy, the University of Mainz, Marist College, CUNY Hunter College, and the Manhattan School of Music. His teaching encompasses not only vocal technique but also stylistic interpretation, historical performance practice, and career development for emerging singers. In recent years, Tamagna has expanded his artistic vision to include directing. He made his directorial debut in Germany and has founded the Münstermann Festival, where he serves as artistic director, programming innovative productions that bridge historical performance for contemporary audiences. Through this festival, he has created platforms for emerging artists and presented rarely performed works including Schütz's Dafne in its inaugural year.Training and Artistic Formation
Born and raised in Cortlandt Manor, New York, Tamagna began his musical journey as a pianist at the University of North Carolina Greensboro before transferring to the Manhattan School of Music to study voice. He earned his BA/MA at the City University of New York at Hunter College, graduating in 2007. Notably, Tamagna transitioned from baritone to countertenor in 2007, a change that would define his artistic identity and open the door to the repertoire for which he has become celebrated.A Global Artist with Deep Roots
A native of New York City with dual citizenship in Italy and the United States, Nicholas Tamagna is now based in Germany, working as a freelance artist throughout Europe and internationally. His multicultural background and linguistic abilities (he is fluent in English, Italian, and German) enable him to work seamlessly across borders and traditions. Beyond his stage work, Tamagna maintains deep artistic and cultural ties across continents through collaborations, interdisciplinary projects, and educational initiatives. He has performed throughout North America, Europe, Australia, and the Middle East, and continues to balance a demanding global artistic career with a rooted commitment to innovation, education, and mentorship.Artistic Philosophy
Tamagna approaches each role with meticulous attention to historical style while seeking to create immediate emotional connections with modern audiences. He believes in the transformative power of music to bridge time periods and cultures, and his performances reflect this philosophy—technically informed, emotionally generous, and theatrically compelling. His work in contemporary opera demonstrates his conviction that the countertenor voice has a vital place in the operatic future, not merely in recreating its past.Nicholas Tamagna continues to expand his repertoire and artistic vision, with numerous recordings, productions, and concert tours planned for the coming seasons, cementing his position as one of the most compelling and versatile countertenors performing today.