It’s been a banner week for New Orleans-born tenor Bryan Hymel, who received two significant honors in New York and London, only two days apart. On Monday he was saluted by New York’s Metropolitan Opera, which named him the recipient of the $50,000 Beverly Sills Award, designed “for extraordinarily gifted singers between the ages of 25 and 40 who have already appeared in featured solo roles at the Met.” This is the largest award of its kind in the U.S., and is designed to help further recipients’ careers, including funding for voice lessons, vocal coaching, language lessons, related travel costs, and other professional assistance. Hymel was presented the award by a late soprano’s daughter, Muffy Greenough.
New Orleans - bred tenor, Bryan Hymel
Two days later Hymel was nominated for an Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Opera. He earned the honor for his performances in Les Troyens, Robert Le Diable and Rusalka, all at London’s Royal Opera House. The committee notes that “American tenor Hymel saved the day” when he replaced the ailing German tenor, Jonas Kaufmann in the first opera. The Olivier Awards honor actors, conductors, stage managers and entire companies for excellence in British theater, and Hymel is the only singer represented in this year’s four nominees.
Local audiences will get to see Hymel singing the lead role of Pinkerton in Puccini’s classic Madame Butterfly, at the New Orleans Opera on April 12 and 14. He’ll return to New York to sing that role with the Metropolitan Opera next year.
Madame Butterfly
April 12 – 8:00 p.m.
April 14 – 2:30 p.m
Bryan Hymel, as Pinkerton, kneels in Madame Butterfly - Opera Today
