# Jovanovich > Explore the World of Brandon Jovanovich. Discover the captivating journey of renowned operatic tenor Brandon Jovanovich through his biography, upcoming performances, historical achievements, media highlights, contact details, and insightful blog. ## Homepage URL: https://www.brandonjovanovich.com ### "Stirring superlatives..." Brandon Jovanovich has performed on every major opera stage throughout the United States and Europe. Journey through the following pages to explore his schedule, biography, media, blog and more... “Canio's anger was intense, but tenor Brandon Jovanovich sang Canio's sorrows with remarkable composure in the famous "Vesti la giubba." No heavy, false effects, but honest emotion in "Ridi Pagliaccio," beautifully supported by conductor and orchestra.” Franz Strattman - **Upcoming Schedule**: Stay updated on Brandon Jovanovich's upcoming performances. - **Biography**: Brandon Jovanovich has won acclaim performing some of the most demanding roles with the world’s most distinguished maestri in major operatic houses throughout the world… - **Performances & Awards**: Explore the rich history of Brandon Jovanovich's illustrious career in the world of opera, highlighting his notable achievements. - **Media**: Enjoy a collection of engaging media content featuring Brandon Jovanovich's performances, behind-the-scenes glimpses, & more... - **Blog**: Stay up to date on Brandon's musings, journeys off the opera stage and more... - **Contact Information**: Be sure to keep in touch with Mr. Jovanovich through his social media or management. > And Brandon Jovanovich, as Ulysses, can make his powerful tenor shine even in the softest passages. A technically extremely demanding role – the man knows exactly what he's doing, both vocally and dramatically. ## Biography URL: https://www.brandonjovanovich.com/biography ### Brandon Jovanovich Biography Praised by audiences and critics alike, Brandon Jovanovich was most recently hailed by Operawire as “a force of nature…displaying tremendous charisma onstage to go along with a unique combination of vocal ruggedness and elegance…his voice rang with heroism throughout. ” The Wall Street Journal notes his “ardent, heroic tenor and strong acting. ” Seen and Heard International writes “ …Brandon Jovanovich is a true heldentenor, with a ring to his voice, never-ending stamina and even a firm lower register…he can dominate the stage with ease.” One of the most important dramatic tenors in the world today, Brandon Jovanovich has won acclaim performing some of the most demanding roles with the world’s most distinguished maestri in major operatic houses throughout the world. These theaters include Teatro alla Scala, Opera National de Paris, the Metropolitan Opera, the Royal Opera House, Bayerische Staatsoper, Staatsoper unter den Linden, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Opernhaus Zurich, Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcleona, Wiener Staatsoper, San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Opera Australia, Salzburg Festival, and many more. Some of the highlights of Mr. Jovanovich’s 2024-25 season see him returning to the Metropolitan Opera as the monomaniacal Captain Ahab in Jake Heggie’s Moby Dick. Tapping into his further exploration of the Slavic repertoire, he will joins Evgeny Kissin at Carnegie Hall to sing Shostakovich’s From Jewish Folk Poetry. In Munich, Mr. Jovanovich will perform Ulysse in the premiere of Faure’s Penelope as based on Homer’s Odyssey. Mr. Jovanovich’s 2023-24 season saw him return to the international stage with an array of exciting role reprisals. Highlights included Mr. Jovanovich opening the season at Teatro alla Scala in the title role of Robert Carsen’s new production of Peter Grimes conducted by Simone Young. He returned to the Bayerische Staatsoper as Hermann in Benedict Andrew’s new production of Pique Dame opposite Asmik Grigorian and later Lise Davidson. He was also seen in Berlin as Dick Johnson in Lydia Steier’s production of La Fanciulla del West at the Staatsoper unter den Linden where he was praised as “absolutely fabulous” (Online Merker).In the 2022-23 season Mr. Jovanovich returned to the Metropolitan Opera as Sergei in Graham Vick’s production of Lady Macbeth von Mtsensk conducted by Kerri- Lynn Wilson. He later returned to Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona as Luigi in Il Tabarro, conducted by Susanna Målkki and opposite Lise Davidson. Mr. Jovanovich made his role and house debut as Laca in Jenufa with the Opera of Palau de les Arts in Valencia and reprised the role of Florestan in Fidelio at the Wiener Staatsoper. There have been numerous highlights of Mr. Jovanovich’s career. Some of these include his 2004 debut at Teatro alla Scala as the title role in Les Contes d’Hoffman. His house debut as BF Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly under the baton of Donald Runnicles at the San Francisco Opera in 2007. Mr. Jovanovich’s debut at the Bregenz Festival in 2007 as Mario Cavaradossi in Tosca which was later featured in the James Bond film Quantum of Solace. His first foray into Wagner was with the 2011 Francesca Zambello Ring Cycle as Siegmund in Die Walküre. Debuting at the Arena di Verona as Don Jose in Carmen in 2012. Mr. Jovanovich’s work on the 2015 Andreas Homoki’s production of Wozzeck at the Opernhaus Zürich was recorded for DVD and won the International Classical Music Award and the BBC Music Magazine Award. Back-to-back productions of Les Troyens saw his Aeneas at the Wiener Staatsoper (2018) opposite Joyce DiDonato and then at the Opéra Bastille (2019) in a new Stefan Herheim production. A life-long dream of working with Maestro Barenboim was fulfilled in 2019 in his debut as the title role in Samson et Dalila at the Staatsoper Unter den Linden. 2021 saw him collaborate once again with Maesto Phillippe Jordan at the Wiener Staatsoper as the title role in Wagner’s Parsifal. Mr. Jovanovich was able to bring his artistry to the London stage as the titular role Lohengrin at the Royal Opera House in 2022. Mr. Jovanovich has enjoyed working relationships with many houses in both the United States and Europe. Since his debut (2010) in Carmen as Don Jose, Mr. Jovanovich has returned to the Metropolitan Opera as a regular guest. Don Jose in Carmen (2011, 2014), Sergei in Shostakovich’s Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk (2014, 2022), the Prince in Rusalka which was broadcast worldwide (2017), in concert with the Metropolitan Orchestra at Carnegie Hall under the baton of Yannick Nézet- Séguin as Siegmund in Die Walküre (2021), Bacchus in Ariadne auf Naxos which was broadcast throughout the world (2022) and most recently as Captain Ahab in Jake Heggie’s Moby Dick. Since his debut in 2009 as Steva in Jenufa at the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich, Mr. Jovanovich has returned for Don Jose in Carmen (2011, 2016), Bacchus in Ariadne auf Naxos (2013), Des Grieux in ManonLescaux (2016), Dick Johnson in La Fanciulla del West (2019) and Hermann in Pique Dame (2024). The tenor has enjoyed many lasting relationships with theaters such as Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco Opera, the Opernhaus Zürich and the Wiener Staatsoper. In addition to opera, Brandon Jovanovich is a sought-after oratorio and concert performer. Highlights include Schoenberg’s Gurrelieder with Kolner Philharmonie conducted by Markus Stenz (recorded by Hyperion and receiving a Gramaphone Award and the Sunday Times album of the year) and with Manchester’s Hallé conducted by Mark Elder. Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 saw another collaboration with Markus Stenz and the Gürzenich Orchesta Koln as well as his Dreden debut with the Dresdner Philharmonie. At the Festival St. Denis Mr. Jovanovich was heard in Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde under the baton of Maestro Harmut Haenchen. He made his Musikverein debut in Vienna under the baton of Jiri Bélohlavek in Dvorak’s Glagolitic Mass. Mr. Jovanovich has performed Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in venues across the US and Europe including with RAI National Symphony Orchestra, with the LA Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl, the St. Louis Symphony and the Aquitaine National Orchestra in Bordeaux. A native of Billings, MT, Mr. Jovanovich received his training at the Northern Arizona University and the Manhattan School of Music. He was the recipient of the Richard Tucker Award in 2007, and was nominated for the Opera Awards in the category of International Opera Singer Male of the year 2019. ## Schedule URL: https://www.brandonjovanovich.com/schedule ### Schedule Published dates for upcoming performances Lyric Opera of Chicago Salome January/February 2026 (cancelled due to medical reaction.)Boston Lyric Opera Das Lied von der Erde March 2026Cleveland Orchestra Night at the OperaNew National Theater, Tokyo Peter Grimes November 2026The rest of the spring and summer season is in flux. Please see my blog for more details.Details for more of the 2026/2027 season will be announced soon. ## Performance History URL: https://www.brandonjovanovich.com/history ### Performances & Awards Opera AwardsInternational Opera Singer Male - nominee 2019Gramophone Award       Gurre-Lieder recording - Winner 2016Richard Tucker Award           ~Winner~ 2007Grammy Award     Mines of Sulpher recording - nominee 2005Aria Award ~Winner~ 2004 Education Seattle Opera Young Artist 1998Manhattan School of Music 1997-1998Santa Fe Opera Apprentice 1996 & 1997Northern Arizona University Bachelor of Science - Theater PerformanceUniversity of Mary - Bismarck Opera Past PerformancesParsifal - Parsifal - San Francisco Opera 2025Penelope - Ulysses - Bayerische Staatsoper 2025Moby Dick - Captain Ahab - Metropolitan Opera 2025Pique Dame - Hermann - Bayerische Staatsoper 2024Peter Grimes - Peter Grimes - Teatro alla Scala 2023Rusalka - Prince - Bergen National Opera 2023 Fidelio - Florestan - Wiener Staatsoper 2023Jenufa - Laca - Palau des Arts 2023 Il Trittico - Luigi - Gran Teatre del Liceu 2022Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk - Sergei - Metropolitan Opera 2022Lohengrin - Lohengrin - Royal Opera House 2022Ariadne auf Naxos** -Bacchus - Metropolitan Opera 2022Die Walküre - Siegmund - Deutsche Oper Berlin 2022Parsifal - Parsifal - Wiener Staatsoper 2021Die Walküre** - Siegmund - Deutsche Oper Berlin 2021Pique Dame - Hermann - Opera national de Paris 2021 (Covid Cancel)Parsifal - Parsifal - Bayerische Staatsoper 2021 (Covid Cancel)Ariadne auf Naxos - Bacchus - Wiener Staatsoper 2021 (COVID Cancel)Carmen - Don Jose - Sydney Opera 2021 (COVID Cancel)Fidelio - Florestan - Metropolitan Opera 2020 (COVID Cancel)Die Walküre - Siegmund - Deutsche Oper Berlin 2020Pagliacci - Canio - Washington National 2020 (COVID Cancel)Das Rheingold - Froh -Lyric Opera of Chicago 2020 (COVID Cancel)Die Walküre - Siegmund - Lyric Opera of Chicago 2020 (COVID Cancel)Madama Butterfly - B.F. Pinkerton - Lyric Opera of Chicago 2020Pique Dame - Hermann - Lyric Opera of Chicago 2020Samson et Dalila - Samson - Staatsoper Unter den Linden 2019Pagliacci** - Canio -Dutch National Opera 2019Rusalka - Prince - San Francisco Opera 2019Fidelio - Florestan - Wiener Staatsoper 2019Parsifal - Parsifal - Deutsche Oper Berlin 2019La Fanciulla del West - Dick Johnson - Bayerische Staatsoper 2019Les Troyens** - Aeneas - Opéra Bastille 2019Rusalka - Prince - Wiener Staatsoper 2018Les Troyens - Aeneas - Wiener Staatsoper 2018Pique Dame** - Hermann - Salzburger Festspiele 2018Die Walküre - Siegmund - San Francisco Opera 2018Das Rheingold - Froh -San Francisco Opera 2018 Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk - Sergei - Royal Opera House 2018La Fanciulla del West - Dick Johnson - Opernhaus Zürich 2018Die Walküre - Siegmund -Lyric Opera of Chicago 2017Carmen - Don Jose - Los Angeles Opera 2017Lohengrin - Lohengrin - Deutsche Oper Berlin 2017Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk - Sergei - Salzburger Festspiele 2017Lohengrin - Lohengrin - Opernhaus Zürich 2017Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk - Sergei - Wiener Staatsoper 2017Carmen - Don Jose - Lyric Opera of Chicago 2017Rusalka** - Prince - Metropolitan Opera 2017Les Troyens - Aeneas - Lyric Opera of Chicago 2016Carmen - Don Jose - Wiener Staatsoper 2016Carmen - Don Jose - Sydney Opera House 2016Carmen - Don Jose - Bayerische Staatsoper 2016Manon Lescaut - Des Grieux - Bayerische Staatsoper 2016Die Meistersinger -       Walther von Stolzing - Opéra Bastille 2016Die Meistersinger -       Walther von Stolzing - San Francisco Opera 2015Wozzeck** - Drum Major - Opernhaus Zürich 2015Fidelio - Florestan - Opernhaus Zürich 2015The Passenger - Walter - Lyric Opera of Chicago 2015Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk - Sergei - Metropolitan Opera 2014Carmen - Don Jose - Metropolitan Opera 2014Susannah - Sam - San Francisco Opera 2014Carmen - Don Jose - Opernhaus Zürich 2014Carmen - Don Jose - Houston Grand Opera 2014Fidelio - Florestan - Opernhaus Zürich 2013Carmen - Don Jose - Dallas Opera 2013Carmen - Don Jose - Los Angeles Opera 2013Ariadne auf Naxos - Bacchus - Bayerische Staatsoper 2013Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk - Sergei - Opernhaus Zürich 2013Carmen - Don Jose - Opernhaus Zürich 2013Manon Lescaut - Des Grieux - La Monnaie 2013Madama Butterfly - B.F. Pinkerton - Los Angeles Opera 2012Lohengrin - Lohengrin - San Francisco Opera 2012Carmen - Don Jose - Arena di Verona 2012Tosca - Cavaradossi - Opera Køln 2012Don Carlos - Don Carlos - Houston Grand Opera 2012Carmen - Don Jose - Deutsche Oper Berlin 2012Tosca - Cavaradossi -Canadian Opera Compny 2012Ariadne auf Naxos - Bacchus - Lyric Opera of Chicago 2011Carmen - Don Jose - Bayerische Staatsoper 2011Die Walküre - Siegmund - San Francisco Opera 2011Das Rheingold - Froh - San Francisco Opera 2011Carmen - Don Jose - N.C.P.A. (Beijing) 2011Carmen - Don Jose - Lyric Opera of Chicago 2011Senso** - Hans Buchner - Teatro Massimo 2011Carmen - Don Jose - Metropolitan Opera 2010Carmen - Don Jose - Gran Teatro del Liceu 2010Madama Butterfly - B.F. Pinkerton - Santa Fe Opera 2010Madama Butterfly - B.F. Pinkerton - Dallas Opera 2010Ariadne auf Naxos - Bacchus - Boston Lyric Opera 2010Carmen - Don Jose - Metropolitan Opera 2010Katya Kabanova - Boris - Lyric Opera of Chicago 2009Jenufa - Steva - Bayerische Staatsoper 2009Il Tabarro - Luigi - San Francisco Opera 2009Rusalka** - Prince -- Glyndebourne Festival 2009Die Vøgel** Hoffegut - Los Angeles Opera 2009Norma - Pollione Teatro Verdi - Trieste 2009Peter Grimes - Peter Grimes - Teatro di San Carlo 2009Carmen - Don Jose -        Washington National Opera 2008Cavelleria Rusticana - Turiddu - Houston Grand Opera 2008Carmen - Don Jose - Glyndebourne Festival 2008Rusalka - Prince - Minnesota Opera 2008Tosca - Cavaradossi - Seattle Opera 2008Tosca - Cavaradossi - l’Opera de Nice 2008Madama Butterfly** - B.F. Pinkerton - San Francisco Opera 2007Macbeth - Macduff - Dallas Opera 2007Cavelleria Rusticana - Turiddu - New York City Opera 2007Tosca** - Cavaradossi - Bregenz Festival 2007Anna Karenina** -Constantin Levin - Opera Theater of St Louis 2007Anna Karenina** - Constantin Levin - Florida Grand Opera 2007Jenufa - Steva - Angers-Nantes Opera 2007Candide - Candide - Teatro di San Carlo 2007Tosca - Cavaradossi - de Vlaamse Opera 2006Dido and Aeneas - Aeneas - Teatro alla Scala 2006Werther - Werther - Opera de Lille 2006Madama Butterfly - B.F. Pinkerton - Staatstheater Stuttgart 2006Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk - Sergei - Austin Lyric Opera 2006Cavelleria Rusticana - Turiddu - Dallas Opera 2005Madama Butterfly - B.F. Pinkerton - New York City Opera 2005Gloriana - Robert Devereux - Opera Theater of St Louis 2005Flight - Bill - Boston Lyric Opera 2005Tosca - Cavaradossi -Opera de Bordeaux 2005Carmen - Don Jose - de Vlaamse Opera 2004Les Contes d’Hoffman - Hoffman - Teatro alla Scala 2004The Mines of Sulpher** - Boconnion - Glimmerglass Opera 2004Madama Butterfly - B.F. Pinkerton - Opera Toulon 2004Madama Butterfly B.F. -Pinkerton  - Theatre du Capitole Toulouse 2004Les Contes d’Hoffman - Hoffman - Angers-Nantes Opera 2004Carmen - Don Jose - Palm Beach Opera 2004Norma - Pollione - Angers-Nantes Opera 2003Madama Butterfly - B.F. Pinkerton - New York City Opera 2003La Belle Helene - Paris - Santa Fe Opera 2003Intermezzo - Baron Lummar - Santa Fe Opera 2003Flight - Bill - Opera Theater of St Louis 2003Madama Butterfly - B.F. Pinkerton - Opera de Bordeaux 2003Turn of the Screw - Peter Quint - Megaron-Thessaloniki 2002Salome - Narraboth - New York City Opera 2002Susannah - Sam - Festival Opera 2002Macbeth - Macduff - Opera de Bordeaux 2002Il Tabarro - Luigi - Angers-Nantes Opera 2002Gianni Schicchi - Gherardo - Angers-Nantes Opera 2002Susannah - Sam - Palm Beach Opera 2002Sapho (Massenet)** - Jean Gaussin - Wexford Festival 2001La Tragedie de Carmen - Don - Jose Festival Opera 2001La Traviata - Alfredo - Virginia Opera 2001Street Scene - Sam Kaplan - Minnesota Opera 2001Madama Butterfly* - B.F. Pinkerton - Dallas Opera 2000La Tragedie de Carmen - Don Jose - Opera de Bordeaux 2000The Tale of the Nutcracker** - Nutcracker - Opera San Jose 2000The Two Widows (Smetna) - Ladislov - Chautauqua Opera 1999The Tale of Dorian Grey - Lord Geoffrey - Florentine Opera 1999Cosi fan Tutti - Ferrando - Seattle Opera Y.A. 1998Genius of Leonard Berstein - Trio/Tony/Songs - Chicago Opera Theater 1998Paul Bunyan* - Hot Biscuit Slim - New York City Opera 1998The Two Widows (Smetna) - Ladislov -         Manhattan School of Music 1998The Bartered Bride* - Vasek - New York City Opera 1997Semele - Apollo - Santa Fe Opera 1997Arabella - Welko - Santa Fe Opera 1997Postcard from Morocco - Man w/ Paint Box - Manhattan School of Music 1997La Hija de Rappaccini** - Giovanni - Manhattan School of Music 1996The Tender Land - Martin - Northern Arizona Univ. 1993The Magic Flute - Sarastro - Northern Arizona Univ. 1991(*denotes student performances, denotes CD/DVD/Broadcast)ConcertDie Walküre (act I) -Siegmund - Fort Worth Symphony 2024SF Opera Centennial arias San Francisco Opera 2023Samson et Dalila & Parsifal title roles Salzburger Festspiele 2022Die Walküre - Siegmund - Festival de Lanaudiere 2022Die Walküre - Siegmund - Metropolitan Orchestra at Carnegie Hall 2022Die Walküre - Siegmund - Seattle Opera 2021Mahler’s 8th Symphony - Soloist - Dresdner Philharmoniker 2017Das Lied von der Erde - Soloist - Festival Saint Denis/  Orchestre National de France 2017Gurre-Lieder - Waldemar - Hallé Orchestra 2017Beethoven’s 9th Symphony - Soloist - RAI National Symphony 2016Wozzeck - Drum Major - Philharmonia Zürich at Royal Festival Hall 2015Tosca - Cavaradossi - Boston Symphony - Tanglewood 2015Fidelio - Florestan - San Francisco Symphony 2015Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis - Soloist - San Francisco Symphony 2015Glagolitic Mass (Janacek) - Soloist - Czech Philharmonic-Musikverein 2015Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis - Soloist - LA Philharmonic 2015Fidelio** - Florestan - Verbier Festival 2014Gurre-Lieder* - Waldemar - Kölner Philharmonie 2014Lohengrin - Lohengrin - Festival de Lanaudiere 2013Die Walküre - Act I - Siegmund - Baltimore Symphony Orchestra 2013Carmen - Don Jose - L.O.C. - Millennium Park 2012Palm Beach Opera 50th - Soloist - Palm Beach Opera 2012Mahler’s 8th Symphony* - Soloist - Kølner Philharmonie 2011Beethoven’s 9th Symphony - Soloist - LA Phil at Hollywood Bowl 2011Opera in the Park - Soloist - San Francisco Opera 200975th Anniversary Concert - Otello(scene) - Glyndebourne Festival 2009Beethoven’s 9th Symphony - Soloist - St. Louis Symphony 2009Grand Opera before Wagner Arias & Duet Bard Music Festival 2006The Merry Widow (excerpts) Arias & Duet Pacific Symphony 2005Beethoven’s 9th Symphony - Soloist - Aquitaine National Orchestra 2005New Years Eve Gala Arias & Duet Philadelphia Orchestra 2004Carmen - Don Jose - Voix du Renoix 2002Beethoven’s 9th Symphony - Soloist - Aquitaine National Orchestra 2002 (*denotes CD recording, **denotes DVD/Broadcast)Operetta & MusicalsThe New Moon* - Philippe - City Center Encores! 2003Carousel - Mr. Snow - Papermill Playhouse 2001The Student Prince - Carl Franz - Papermill Playhouse 2000Pirates of Penzance - Frederic - New York Gilbert & Sullivan 1999 1997Yeoman of the Guard - Fairfax - NYGASP 1997Utopia Limited - Cap. Fitzbattleaxe - NYGASP 1997Gondoliers - Luiz - NYGASP 1996 Iolanthe Strephon NYGASP 1996HMS Pinafore - Ralph Rackstraw - NYGASP       1995-98The Mikado Chorus NYGASP       1995-98Fiddler on the Roof - Soloist - Northern Arizona Univ. 1993Sweeney Todd - Anthony - Northern Arizona Univ. 1992(*denotes CD recording) ## Opera Photos URL: https://www.brandonjovanovich.com/gallery-5pbj ### Production Photos A collection of captivating opera production images featuring Brandon Jovanovich. ### Opera Productions Gallery Explore the diverse opera productions featuring Brandon Jovanovich in various roles. ## Contact Information URL: https://www.brandonjovanovich.com/contact ### It takes a village… Enchanting audiences across the globe is something that I have been doing for over a quarter of a century. It isn’t possible without you; fans, music-lovers, voice aficionados, theater lovers, classical music junkies….it is because of YOU that we are able to spread some joy out in the world. Please feel free to reach out and I will try my best to get back to you. Until then, keep a song in your heart! Contact InformationManagement:IMGA/Matthew HornerPLEIADES HOUSE, 7 WEST 54TH STREET , NEW YORK, NY 10019 USAmhorner@imgartists.com(212) 994-3514 To contact Mr. Jovanovich please send an email to: operabrandon@gmail.com ## Blog URL: https://www.brandonjovanovich.com/blog ### Brandon’s Blog… Musings on Brandon’s journey onstage, hobby farm, family life and medical journey. ### Discover more about Brandon’s life both onstage and off. - **Opera Insights**: Gain unique insights into the world of opera through Brandon Jovanovich's experiences and performances. - **Travel Stories**: Immerse yourself in captivating travel stories shared by Brandon Jovanovich from his global adventures. - **Family Moments**: Experience heartwarming family moments and the joys of a hobby farm shared by Brandon Jovanovich. - **Resilience and Triumph**: Learn about Brandon Jovanovich's health journey…COMING SOON ## Blog - Opera 20 January 2026 URL: https://www.brandonjovanovich.com/blogopera200126 ### Blog - Opera Having been on the international stage for over a quarter of a century things seem to be changing… A young artist in my most recent Parsifal production asked me about my career. Typical things, “Where did you study, were you always a tenor, how did you make it happen?” Questions that every young singer wants answered. Questions that arise out of trepidation and fear of what comes next. Questions one asks no matter what field you are in I imagine. “When did you first want to be a nurse? How do you become an electrician? Where did you train to be a hairdresser?” I’ve answered these questions hundreds of times throughout my career, but they always make me pause….did I choose the right path?Standing on an opera stage manifests a unique perspective. Most of the time I don’t think about it, I just do it. There is a thrill involved in stepping into a world of music, cloaked in a costume and ready to bring a character to life. I absolutely love breathing life into my vision of a character. Yes, this character was given a vocal line and words by composer and librettist. Yes, this character was plunked down into a world created by the director, costume designer and set designer(whether it aligns with the composer and librettists’ original concept or not). But he is mine. I get to choose how to play him. I get to decide whether I am shocked or angered by a situation on stage. Whether I am in love or pretending to be. I can change intentions, movements, vocal colors all with the understanding that flexibility and fluidity come with live performance. It is thrilling and constantly challenging to “be in the moment.”Yet these freedoms are by and large reigned in. You don’t want to throw off a colleague by doing something extreme, you don’t want to mess up timing with the conductor. You have to be malleable yet consistent. There is an edge that you can approach with certain colleagues where an ebb and flow takes place and you understand each other in a “zone.” You are locked in to a character and scene and you are able to “riff,” to organically play a scene or series of emotions in the moment. You know that your onstage partners are with you and an electricity happens. It is the best! I have certain colleagues that I truly enjoy working with knowing that we can let loose and create something organic each time.The odd thing about being questioned about how I came into this world of opera, how I was able to navigate it all and attain the status that I currently have, is that I feel like a fraud. It is a very weird feeling. I know that I have put in the work, the hours of training onstage and off, the memorizing and stress (oh BOY is there ever a ton of stress in this career), yet doubt plagues me. “How do people like ME? My voice? My acting?” It is a duality that I find hard to put into words. I know that I am giving a great performance, but am I really good enough to be up here?Maybe it is just me, maybe we all have a little of that doubt in us? I don’t know. It isn’t a constant thought, but it is there. I choose to believe that it is because I am hypercritical of all I do. I see the imperfections and hear them too! They cut me to the bone and yet that is what a live performance is.I have been thinking of late about AI and the impact that it will have on all industries. I heard a song recently and thought: “Damn, that dude has a hell of a voice!” Turned out to be an AI song. Gorgeous timbre, beautiful phrasing and overall just a really great song! But fake. Maybe some call it real, but someone didn’t come up with it, someone didn’t train their voice to sing it. It is a computer and algorithmic generation that carries no intrinsic artistic weight. Live events do. Opera, musical theater, live theater, bands at a bar, school plays…all real people, real emotions, real triumphs and real mistakes. That is the beauty of it all in my mind. The doing. Seeing people come together onstage and in the audience to experience a moment in time. To me, that is where magic happens. A lightening in a bottle moment might happen, you never know!So, did I choose the right path? I love what I do, that I can tell you. It has been a long and rewarding journey thus far. Some hiccups? Sure. Did I miss a lot of moments with my wife and kids? Absolutely. Was I able to provide them with experiences and lessons that have left an indelible impression on them? You bet! They constantly express their gratitude for how they have been raised. I occasionally get a message or email from someone telling me about a show they happen to remember. That is what it is all about in my book. Creating a memory that lives with you, whether onstage singing a beautiful duet, sitting in the audience experiencing an incredible performance, or looking at pictures of a family trip to a country that we wouldn’t have gone to were it not for opera.I have a lot to be thankful for in life, and opera is one of the branches from which much rich fruit has grown. ## Blog - Travel 20 January 2026 URL: https://www.brandonjovanovich.com/travel200126 ### Blog - Travel China, Australia, Europe and the USA…I’ve traveled quite a bit! Growing up in Montana in the 1970’s was an amazing experience. Billings, known as the “Magic City”, was the largest town in Montana at the time, about 90,000 people. Not huge by any means. Montana itself had around 750,000 people living in the state, which is slightly larger than Germany. A huge state to explore, there was camping, hunting, fishing, visiting family and friends in abundance in my first 17 years. I cannot express just how wonderful the state is.My mom grew up on the Crow Indian Reservation about 90 miles southeast of Billings. It is what I think of as the start of the plains, although there were rolling hills around Lodge Grass. My Grandpa, great aunts and uncles still lived there when I was young and visiting was always a blast. Picking chokecherries along the Little Bighorn River on my grandpa’s old pig farm was always a blast (although the plethora of ticks were a little piece of hell of earth).My dad grew up about and hour south west of Billings in a little ski town called Red Lodge. Nestled in the Beartooth Mountain range it is an idyllic town of about 2,000 people. We spent many July 4th’s and holidays going up and visiting his side. Located only 90 minutes from the back entrance to Yellowstone Park, we visited there quite regularly. It was quite back then, no reservations needed.We had a couple of visits out in Minnesota where my Mom’s first husband’s (who died in a trucking accident) family lives. I think that we went to Canada once or twice but I may be wrong on that. We drove out twice to Tacoma, Washington where my great-uncle Frank lived. The farthest south I went was Denver where my Aunt Teresa and Uncle Pete lived. So not too far.I spent one year in Bismarck, North Dakota playing football at the University of Mary. After one freezing winter, my college friend Chad and I transferred to Flagstaff, AZ where I eventually earned my degree in Theater Performance. What an incredible part of the country! So unique and beautiful with its deserts and dry mountain ranges. I would always drive from Billings to Flagstaff (just over 1,000 miles) so I got to know the beauty of Idaho, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada and Wyoming to boot!We spent a spring break in Rocky Point, Mexico once and I know that I went to Tijuana, Mexico at least once too. So, as a 23 year old leaving Flagstaff for a month stint in LA I had seen a lot of the US as far as I was concerned! LA was amazing, but my girlfriend (now wife) took the leap and moved to New York City. We met up and drove from Billings to New York in the summer of 1994. What a trip! Where the western part of the USA is mostly dry with muted tans, browns, grays and greens, the eastern part of the US was absolutely stunning with it’s lush greens, softened mountain ranges and vibrant plants and flowers.Since she originally haled from the east coast, we would visit her family often. I was able to get to know Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania quite well. America is so vast and I absolutely love it.It wasn’t until 2000 when my teacher, Neal Goren, introduced me to director/tenor Laurence Dale that I would make my first trip to Europe. Bordeaux, France was my first stop and it was absolutely amazing. Language, markets, wine, food…the way of life was just so vastly different to this native Montanan. I was in love. Next I went to Wexford, Ireland (one of the first flights out of Newark after 9/11…literally deserted once past security). A phenomenal experience and Cara was able to bring our infant son Jacob in what would define their youth…travel!Many smaller venues in France defined a huge part of my early operatic career. Nantes/Angers, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Toulon, Nice, Lille and others. I started working in Italy too. Milan, Naples, Palermo, Trieste. Germany and England would soon follow with some of the most magical and precious memories spent on a historical heritage site, we rented a converted horse barn for two summers while I worked at Glyndebourne Opera Festival.As my career grew, so did opportunities. Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Belgium, China, Australia and more. We were blessed to travel the world as well as the US. We lived out of suitcases for about 3 years. Spending time together as a new family. Using a suitcase lined with blankets as a crib, changing out seasonal clothing in our rental unit in New Rochelle, NY. It was crazy, it was stressful, it was madness and it was absolutely stupendous!I have probably spent 12-15 years of my life living overseas. Not in one place mind you, but hopping around from one country to another. One language to another. Sometimes with the family, but more often than not alone.I was supposed to visit Japan and South Korea on a tour when COVID hit. I will get over to Japan soon, and I hope that Cara or one of the kids can accompany me. We will see!I am asked quite often where my favorite city is. I truly can’t say. Each city, country, opera house all have something unique to offer. Some new food to try or venue to visit. I can’t put my finger on just one place and say “This is it!”I have this blog now, and I hope to spend more time exploring and sharing many thoughts, experiences and pointers here. So stay tuned until next time! ## Blog - Family and Farm 20 January 26 URL: https://www.brandonjovanovich.com/family200126 ### Family and Farm From opera singer to chicken wrangler/apiary enthusiast our hobby farm has become a labor of love and so much more… Having spent many years on the road, a short stint living in La Hulpe, Belgium, then a three year go at living in my home town of Billings, Montana, it just made sense to put down some roots near a major airport on a place that I could get away from city life and unwind.We were inspired by a farm house that we rented for two summers in the late 2000’s. Whilst at Glyndebourne singing we were lucky enough to live at the most charming farm. A grass tennis court, and old horse named Frosty, a large (cold) swimming pool, WW II bunkers, an apple orchard, pastures for sheep, mushrooms galore and a straight shot to the South Downs Way trail which would lead us to the Seven Sisters Country Park. It was absolutely idyllic and we were hell bent on recreating something akin to it in the US.I knew that we needed to be near a major airport and near a city where I would (hopefully) sing a lot. While perusing the internet I happened upon a small ten acre farm for sale about one hour from the Lyric Opera of Chicago and one hour from the O’Hare airport. After giving it a once over Cara flew to finalize the paperwork in 2010.The minor work that I had envisioned has become a full time job! There isn’t a room in this house that I haven’t touched or redone in some way (to be honest I did hire someone to do the upstairs for the kids when we first moved in and someone to transform the utility basement into something more functional). Even with those improvements, we have been hard at work redoing the work we had done.It is a one room school house first built in 1857 and after a fire burnt it to the ground in 1915, they rebuilt it into what is our living room and main part of the home today. A kitchen/utility basement was added on in the 70’s and a garage and master bedroom/bathroom were added on the 80’s. An old four stall barn and four stall stables were part of the purchase. Everything needed work and what I estimated to be a series of small projects turned into one huge project after another until this past summer when our stables was finally converted into an opera studio. This has been a labor of love! (We still have to knock down and redo the barn.)After first moving in we were “gifted” 5 Bantam roosters. If you know anything about roosters, you never want this many, let alone only roosters without hens. So we purchased some of those, tamed and culled the rooster hoard that was terrorizing Cara and the kids and decided to get some bees to boot.We have gone through quite a bit of a trial and error with chickens, ducks, turkeys, bees, and geese. We even had a miniature donkey for a few weeks, but with my work schedule, young kids and their schedules, a wife doing double duty as mom/dad/chauffeur/cook/cleaner and so much more…we eventually ended up having a bunch of chickens and bees (although the geese are still haunting us and one duck survived the coyotes).Although we haven’t achieved the same farmhouse status as we dreamt about from England, we have made a little oasis for our kids to grow up in. They have learned so much about hard work, chickens and bees, chores, building and pitching in, and they have a place they know as home.We still have so much to do, but I am happy for a little respite from constant building. YouTube, books and trial and error have guided me along the way. I would say that I am a decent builder now…not great by any stretch of the imagination, but decent.We have a little stand outside of our driveway in which we sell eggs and honey with the occasional veggies and fruit during the summer months. We have been host to a ton of wild life; beavers, raccoons, possum, coyotes, fox, geese, ducks, an otter, snapping turtles, carp, crawfish, skunks and much more! I love it.I’ll dig into some of the finer points of wrangling chickens and suiting up to get honey, but for now, I am content. ## Blog - Health 20 January 2026 URL: https://www.brandonjovanovich.com/health200126 ### Health and a new normal Well it has been an interesting couple of years… This is one of the most difficult things to discuss, my health. Health is such a mercurial thing. You can’t know exactly what it means to be healthy or sick as defined by me, but my health has been affecting my opera schedule and I think it best to dispel some rumors, to possibly inspire, and to be a resource for those in need.Let’s cut to the bone…I have prostate cancer. I was officially diagnosed on September 3, 2024, but it was affecting my singing and health (unbeknownst to me) for a few years. Let me back up about a decade and take you on a little journey through my first health “scare”.Generally I have always been a fairly healthy man. I love to workout, lift weights, work hard, lift heavy things. I eat fairly well, watch my weight (for the most part) and keep active. If you have seen me perform onstage, you may recall me lifting my leading lady, or swinging on a rope of some sort. If it requires athleticism I am the tenor for you!I was singing my first Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg in San Francisco, late 2015 when I had a serious bout of food poisoning. A day or two later I noticed my knee swelling up. “Huh, I must of twisted it onstage while singing with the orchestra.” At least that is what I thought. The final week before opening is intense and I had already been ill, so I wasn’t about to let it slow me down. Then my ankle started to swell and my back started to hurt, it could no longer be ignored. After many trips to a walk-in clinic and limping around onstage during the performances, I was told that they could find nothing and to see a rheumatologist when I got home.I did so when I arrived back in Illinois and lo and behold I have an autoimmune called Ankylosing Spondylitis. It causes swelling of the joints, back, bone decay and a bevy of other wonderful symptoms. My leg had swollen to about 50% it’s normal size, my back was aching and I was in constant pain. BUT, my debut at the Opera Bastille in Paris was in a couple of weeks and with our ol house in constant need of repair and three growing kids…I needed to work!So off to Paris with a cane in hand (literally), compression socks, tons of prednisone (they wouldn’t give me the highly effective biological drugs until three months of trying a combo of cheaper alternatives) and a low dose chemo I was immersed in Stefan Herheim’s Meistersinger von Nürnberg.To say I was in pain would be an understatement. I rented an apartment about 8 blocks from the Bastille, a short walk that might take 10 minutes or less to make. I was making the trek in approximately 45 minutes each way. It was exhausting, frustrating and scary. The longer the A.S. worked it's way into my system the more debiltating it was.People at the opera house knew I was recently diagnosed with something and were trying to work with me. I was literally unable to move onstage after standing for a while and would need to stand on my good leg and spin and pivot in place. I learned a lot about the ole hop/jump step to elicit a youthfulness to my performance. No critic mentioned me looking or sounding ill, no one mentioned anything after the performances, so that was good. I did “okay” in the end. I made my debut!When I returned to the USA my three months of waiting was up, and although apprehensive I gave the "wonder drug" Humira a try. It is an experience that I will never forget. I got my first injection and after coming home and laying down for an hour or so (I was contantly exhausted) I felt the inside of my body start to crack. It felt like glass was shattering in me!? So very bizarre. I got up and walked down the stairs to our bedroom saying "I think it worked," when Cara replied, "Honey, you are walking without a cane!"Since 2016 I was on a constant monthy or bi-weekly injection of a biological medicine (supplimented with occasional prednisone) to mitigate my auto-immune. There were "flare-ups" along the way and at times I had to cancel a performance. I was better and that is what counted. It may have been the fine print that got me (see below)? I don't know.The medicines that I was taking were advertised on TV quite a bit (a practice unique to the US) and would state: "May cause nausea, on-site injection reaction, liver damage, heart failure...etc." Essentially it would suppress my overactive immune system and allow me to function normally, it literally gave me my life back. The downside to that is that my immune system was suppressed in all aspects. It may have allowed other lurking illnesses to gain a foothold in my body.Fast forward to the spring of 2024. I was to sing a Carmen at the ROH in London. A role that I have sung over a hundred times. A role that I could roll out of bed and sing…until London. I was having such a hard time supporting my voice. My breath support just wasn’t functioning right. My body was out of sorts and couldn't for the life of me figure out what was going on. I assumed that my A.S. was acting up and no matter what I was doing it wasn't getting better. So I withdrew from the engagement.I hated doing it. There is a lot of self-loathing involved in making a decision like that. I let down my family, I let down the public, my agents, the theater...myself. With some time, rest, taking different meds, upping my prednisone intake I got better, for a while.I was off to Berlin for a short run of La Fanciulla del West at the Berlin Staatsoper. I got there and almost immediately got a stomach bug, or so I thought. Lots of indigestion, nausea, aches and pains. It was a bugga boo! I did get through the production, I even got a pretty good review!From Berlin I went to Munich for their summer festival where I would revive a production from earlier that season. I was able to perform the first of two shows, but then started feeling off on the morning of the second show, and it was confirmed that I had COVID, so I had to withdraw from the 2nd and last show.I returned home, got better and about a week later I woke up to extreme pain in my gut. My first thought was a ruptured appendix. So off to the ER I went. A CT scan and a couple of tests later the doctor walked into my room and announced, "You have cancer." It was like a bucket of cold water. I was numb, shocked and horrified all at once. He convinced me to stay in the hospital and get mulitple tests over the next 48 hours.The tests came back showing different masses in my gut, but no cancer. It puzzled them and me. After listening to the cancer doctor and the endocrinologist argue over my pictures in the room, It was decided that I didn't have cancer, but that I was having a reaction to my A.S. meds. They were inflaming my intestines. Fantastic news to me!A few days later I flew to NYC for a publicity photo shoot for an upcoming production of Jake Heggie's Moby Dick at the Metropolitan Opera. All went well at the shoot and I arrived home to pack for my next gig Ariadne auf Naxos in Zurich. Before leaving the US, my wife and I were offered a complete blood panel work-up through her school insurance as a “beginning for the school year” get healthy initiative. We got pricked, filled some viles of blood and drove to the airport.Zurich was going well. It is a company that I worked at many times in my career and the intendant/director was leaving and wanted me in one of his final productions. I was honored and having a blast. Only a couple of days in I received a phone call from the states. "Hello Mr. Jovanovich, we did your blood work here and your PSA level is extremely high at 178. You need to see your primary care doctor right away." Normal Prostate Specific Antigen is 0-4. Anything over 4 and you may have something wrong with your prostate.Oh boy. That had me worried, but a Google search and some positive thinking had me pointed in the direction of an artificially raised result because of vitamins and minerals that I was taking to mitigate the "swollen intestines." To be sure, I called a friend from Zurich and he put me in touch with his brother, a doctor. He got me in the next day to test my PSA levels, they came back at 211. I talked to my doctor on the phone and they urged me to get home NOW.Worried, scared and with a heavy heart I broke the news to a few colleagues and finished the rehearsal. I then pulled Andreas aside and broke the news to him. He could see the shock and worry on my face and wished me a speedy recovery.As luck would have it, my leading lady in the show was friends with a doctor in Munich and they said they could work up all of the panels, take every test possible and get me results almost immediately. That is exactly what they were able to do. From Sept 3-5 of 2024 it was confirmed that I had stage four prostate cancer and would have to take extreme steps to arrest it's progression. I thought I was going to die. I figured I had about four months left.I flew home and was subjected to more tests, more worry and a lot of apologies from doctors for not looking at the prostate. It was decided rather quickly that I would need chemotherapy, to get medically castrated and to take a testosterone inhibitor (prostate cancer feeds off of testosterone). My first chemo was September 30th of 2024. I was scheduled for six rounds of chemo spaced six weeks apart. In the end they gave me nine doses.During this time, I performed a Wagner concert in Washington DC, I almost performed a Gurrelieder with the LA Philharmonic, but my weakened immune system made me a ripe target for a cold. I had to withdraw again.I was scheduled to sing a concert version of Korngold's Die Tote Stadt which I was just too exhausted to do. So another cancellation. I was set to sing Moby Dick in the spring of 2025 at the Metropolitan Opera and although I was loosing my hair, I looked like crap, and felt even worse I showed up. One leg behind my back and a cane in hand I rehearsed Ahab as best I could. The top people at the Met were made aware of my situation and were nothing but supportive.I had our opening night, and although not in my best form, I did fairly well. I had to fly home for another round of chemotherapy the day after opening. I have a pointer for any opera singer on chemotherapy. Your chords are affected for about 10 days, you shouldn't sing.I sang show number two, but could tell something was up vocally, and it was confirmed the next day when I couldn't phonate. I ended up missing shows three, four and five. My voice was fried and needed to recover. All in all it was a fairly decent show. My colleagues knew of my struggles and were extremely supportive. It is a hell of difficult role to sing in top form, it was a colossus beast for me.I was able to rest for a month or two until my next gig in Munich. They were nervous (as word had gotten out) but all went fairly well.Most recently I sang Parsifal in San Francisco. Another fairly good show!After my nine rounds of chemo, the words "remission" were mentioned to me. The doctors were shocked at how well it had worked. The cancers in my gut were down to mostly normal size, my PSA was at .44 and I was on the right path! I had changed eating habits, was taking (still am) a ton of suppliments, vitamins, minerals and herbs. All was looking up, but I still had a lot of bone metastasis. So the decision to put me on a new form of radiation was universally agreed upon.My first Pluvitco injection was November 20th. It is a special form of radiation that they flood into the veins and it attaches only to the prostate cancer cells. It is expensive but highly effective, although not without side effects. My first round of six, spread six weeks apart went well. I found that I couldn't sing for a few days after getting it, but I had spaced them out in a way that would limit any fallout from the injections, or so I thought. On the 30th of December I got shot number two and wow it was different. Headaches, dizziness, nausea, saliva glands dried up...I was a mess.I was scheduled to sing Herod with my "home" company, but after trying my best...there were just too many obstacles in my way. I had to withdraw.That brings me to today. To this blog and website. I have some free time now and needed to create a new site. So there is one upside.There are a lot of downsides too. Word has gotten out about my cancer, hence me writing about it. Theaters have cancelled "scheduled" but not contracted work (something that is done often in our business). I don't have near as many things in the books as I would like, plus I have had to cancel many productions over the past two years. I need to work.So, I am expanding my horizons! I have a couple of ideas kicking around in my head. I have my agents scouring theaters for work. I am hoping that they see and hear my work still, and that I have a ton to offer audiences. Time will tell.That is about it! If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to reach out. I am currently reading a few books about beating cancer and staying on top of this beast! Wish me luck and you'll see me onstage soon.My current book list:How to Starve CancerChris Beat CancerBeating Cancer with NutritionRadical Remission ## Blog - Health 21 January 2026 URL: https://www.brandonjovanovich.com/healthblog ### Blog - Health 21 January 2026 I wrote a blog yesterday, but it will remain on the back burner for now…Ones health is such a personal thing. Being in the public eye (somewhat) it becomes necessary to divulge certain aspects of ones health…especially when it affects my craft. With that in mind, I recently had to withdraw from my upcoming Herod in Salome at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.It is always such a hard thing to do, but when your body isn’t cooperating, you must do what you have to. I am extremely lucky to have such wonderful people at the Lyric who understand and have found a great replacement. It still irks me. A lot of time and effort when into learning the role and now it is sidelined.I have been dealing with a health issue for the past couple of years and I am on the other side of it now, but this final push has caused a reaction in my body. Modern medicine is just amazing. I recall my mother-in-law saying that “side effects of medicines are just effects, nothing side about them.” That is what I am dealing with…an effect of some meds that I am on. (“Medicine X may cause headaches, nausea, liver damage or other reactions.”) I am dealing with one of those “other” reactions. I just need to ride it out and then I should be on the mend! So that is the good news.I look forward to seeing you on an opera stage at some point! Until then, keep a song in your heart!"Music is a higher revelation than all wisdom and philosophy." — Ludwig van Beethoven.