BRETT SPRAGUE, 
Tenor

Known for his fearless dramatic instinct, crystalline upper register, and emotional depth, American tenor Brett Sprague is emerging as a compelling presence in repertoire that bridges lyrical expression and dramatic vocal power. Now based in Karlsruhe, Germany, he is increasingly recognized for his incisive portrayals of psychologically charged characters in roles that demand both vocal stamina and interpretive nuance. He is forging a natural evolution from lyrical repertoire toward the large-scale Romantic tenor canon.

He begins the 2025/26 season with his house debut at Luzerner Theater as Peter Grimes, as part of the world renowned Lucerne Festival. In Karlsruhe, his productions include role debuts as Chevalier de la Force (Dialogues des Carmélites) and Lysander (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), as well as returns to Lenski and Il Duca (Rigoletto). Concert appearances include Carmina Burana with the Oslo Philharmonic, Faust et Hélène with the Badische Staatskapelle, and On Wenlock Edge with the Philharmonisches Orchester Erfurt.

In the 2024/25 season, Brett joined the ensemble of the Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe, opening with the role of Mark in Ethel Smyth’s The Wreckers in a landmark production by Keith Warner to great critical acclaim. His season also included Lenski (Eugene Onegin), Alfred (Die Fledermaus), Ferrando (Così fan tutte), and the title role in the German premiere of Jonathan Dove’s Itch. As a concert soloist, he returned to the Croatian National Theater in Rijeka for an operatic gala featuring works by Bizet, Janáček, and Britten, and presented a solo recital of 20th-century English song in Karlsruhe.
 

In 2023/24, he debuted at Semperoper Dresden in the title role of Les contes d'Hoffmann and completed his final season as an ensemble member at Theater Erfurt with a season of defining debuts: the title role in Peter Grimes and Loge in Das Rheingold (both in Erfurt and at the Croatian National Theater in Rijeka). Concert appearances included Britten’s Serenade for Tenor, Horn, and Strings with Pascal Deuber and the Sinfonieorchester St. Gallen, Verdi’s Messa da Requiem, and a recital of Britten vocal works.
 

Earlier seasons at Theater Erfurt saw Brett expand his profile in contemporary and rediscovered repertoire. He sang the title role in Felix Weingartner’s Orestes (finalist for the International Opera Awards), created the role of Nicholas Gage in Nestor Taylor’s Eleni, and portrayed Hoffmann, Ismaele, Néoclès, and The Visitor in works ranging from Offenbach and Verdi to Glass and Rossini.
 

He made his German debut in 2019/20 as Lord Barrat in Henze’s Der junge Lord at Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz, followed by Pedrillo in Die Entführung aus dem Serail at the Thüringer Schlossfestspiele. That same season, he began performing as a sought-after concert soloist across Europe, with recent highlights including Carmina Burana with the National Philharmonic of Poland, Göteborgs Symfoniker, and Tampere Filharmonia, as well as Rossini’s Petite messe solennelle and Beethoven’s 9th Symphony.
 

Before relocating to Europe, Brett was active throughout the U.S. in contemporary opera creation and standard repertoire. He premiered roles in Happy Birthday Wanda June (Clark), Mansfield Park (Dove), and a workshop of The Scarlet Letter (Laitman). He has appeared with Opera Colorado, Indianapolis Opera, Chautauqua Opera, and others, in roles including Don José, Tamino, Il Duca di Mantua, and Laurie (Little Women).
 

A graduate of Manhattan School of Music (MM) and Chapman University (BM), he is a former resident artist with Opera Colorado and young artist with Chautauqua Opera. He is a prizewinner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Seattle Opera Guild, CareerBridges, Anita Cerquetti Competition, and Joan Taub Ades Vocal Competition.