ARYEH NUSSBAUM COHEN
ARYEH MAKES A KNOCKOUT DEBUT AT DEUTSCHE OPER BERLIN
In his role debut as The Boy/Angel in George Benjamin's contemporary masterpiece Written on Skin, Aryeh scored a triumph, in the piece's greatly successful staged debut in Berlin.
"The great singers, especially countertenor Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen, make the evening an event. Huge cheers"
- Martina Hafner, B.Z.
"countertenor Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen is excellent... a wonderfully colorful, sensual-sounding voice that blossoms very beautifully."
- Ingrid Wanja, Der Opernfreund
"Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen's angelically bright, yet also remarkably powerful voice… At the end of the evening there was nothing but emotional cheers. Rarely experienced. It's been a long time since a premiere in Berlin has been so calm, well-balanced and confidently smooth."
-Kai Leuhrs-Kaiser, Berliner Zeitung
ARYEH TAKES THE GERMAN PRESS BY STORM IN ADVANCE OF HIS DEUTSCHE OPER BERLIN DEBUT
Aryeh was profiled in Berlin's three largest newspapers, Tagesspiegel, Berliner Morgenpost, and B.Z., in advance of his triumphant debut at Deutsche Oper Berlin in Written on Skin. To learn more about the production, Aryeh's family history in Germany, and his journey to starring center stage at Deutsche Oper Berlin, read on!
REVIEW: ARYEH TRIUMPHS IN HIS DEBUT AT THE TEATRO DEL'OPERA DI ROMA
Aryeh makes his critically-acclaimed Italian debut in Giulio Cesare and Tre Controtenori.
"...a Sesto of great vocal power, expressive, with a beautiful timbre and a sure technique."
- Renato Verga, Première Loge
" A voice of tremendous volume, tonal weight, and noble legato, with an expressive thrust that knows how to deeply touch the heart…"
- Paola De Simone, Connessi all’opera
ARYEH WINS IN 2022-23 SAN FRANCISCO CLASSICAL VOICE
Best of Bay Awards
The San Francisco Classical Voice recently announced the winners in their Best of the Bay awards for the 2022-23 season, recognizing achievement in classical music in the San Francisco Bay Area. Aryeh was honored to win "Best Vocal Recital" for his recital with Carrie-Ann Matheson on San Francisco Opera's Schwabacher Recital Series.
2023-2024
SEASON ANNOUNCEMENT
Aryeh begins and ends the 2023-2024 season with Handel's Giulio Cesare in Egitto - starting the season at the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma as Sesto and closing the season at The Glyndebourne Festival in the title role. He also debuts at Deutsche Oper Berlin as The Boy/First Angel in the company premiere of George Benjamin's Written on Skin. On the concert stage, he joins The English Concert for a worldwide tour of Handel's Rodelinda, as Unulfo - including stops in Asia, at Carnegie Hall, and many more. His vibrant concert schedule also includes I Tre Controtenori at the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, all-Bach programs around the United States with American Bach Soloists, Apollo's Fire, and Cantata Collective, and first performances of Orff's Carmina Burana, with The Indianapolis Symphony.
2023
THE GEORGE AND NORA LONDON AWARD
Aryeh was named a winner of a 2023 George and Nora London Award, along with $12,000 prize. The award has been granted annually since 1971 to five of the most promising young American and Canadian opera singers, judged by a panel of many of America and Europe's top casting directors.
2022-2023
SEASON ANNOUNCEMENT
In the 2022-23 season, Aryeh makes his Komische Oper Berlin debut as David in a new production of Handel's Saul, he debuts at Bayerische Staatsoper München in his role debut as Endimione in Cavalli's La Calisto, and he debuts at The Glyndebourne Festival in his role debut as Athamas in a new production of Handel's Semele. On the concert stage, he debuts with Chicago's Music of the Baroque in his role debut as Hamor in Handel's Jeptha, he returns to Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra for his role debut as Didymus in Handel's Theodora, and he debuts with the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia in a solo program of works by Handel, Vivaldi, and Spanish Baroque composer Jose de Nebra. He will also have return engagements with the San Francisco Symphony, American Bach Soloists, Ars Lyrica Houston, and debuts with University Musical Society Ann Arbor and others.
2022
THE RICHARD TUCKER MUSIC FOUNDATION
Aryeh was chosen as a 2022 recipient of a $10,000 Richard Tucker Career Grant by the Richard Tucker Music Foundation.
This award, granted annually to three singers by a panel of many of North America’s top artistic administrators, recognizes exceptional young American opera singers who have begun a high-level professional career.
REVIEW: GIULIO CESARE IN MOSCOW
Aryeh makes a critically-acclaimed role debut as Giulio Cesare with the Moscow State Chamber Orchestra
"Several serious discoveries were discovered at once. The main one is the young American countertenor Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen... we have never heard this: a freely flowing lyrical mezzo of the most beautiful color… of excellent range, flexible, chiseled. This Caesar… the elegant manner of the singer made a strict youth-demigod."
- Kommersant
2021-2022
SEASON ANNOUNCEMENT
'In the 2021-22 season, Aryeh makes his Metropolitan Opera debut as Rosencrantz in the Met and U.S. premiere of Brett Dean's Hamlet, and he makes his Opernhaus Zürich debut in a world premiere ballet creation choreographed by Christian Spuck upon the music of Monteverdi's Madrigals. On the concert stage, he makes his Russian and role debuts in the title role of Handel's Giulio Cesare in Egitto with the Moscow Chamber Orchestra, he makes his Dutch and role debuts as Prince Go-Go in Ligeti's Le Grand Macabre at Amsterdam's Concertgebouw with the Dutch Radio Filharmonisch Orkest, and he returns to The Dallas Opera in a series of gala concerts led by Emmanuel Villaume. He returns to Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra for a concert-lecture on the history of Jewish cantorial music, and he returns to Ars Lyrica Houston in a program of Bach and Handel.'
RAVE REVIEWS FOR COHEN AND SHAMRAY
Recital
Audiences and critics applaud the heart-felt recital that closed Aryeh's time at the Adelaide Festival.
"The recital commenced with a brace of three Shakespeare settings by the English master, Roger Quilter, and it was immediately apparent that here was a great talent, a singer who must be immediately placed among the finest of countertenors. There was great beauty to be heard in his tone, which is creamy and reminiscent of the great contraltos and mezzos like Kathleen Ferrier and Janet Baker. The range of vocal colour was extraordinary and he displayed complete technical command, not only in the projection of his voice, but his legato was cello-like in its smoothness and his control of volume truly amazed..."
- Limelight
ARYEH SHINES IN A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM
Adelaide Festival
Aryeh makes a critically-acclaimed role debut as Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Adelaide Festival
“(Five Stars) As King of the Fairies, 27-year-old countertenor Nussbaum Cohen is one of the only international guests at this year’s festival and upon witnessing his performance last night, it is clear as to why the international press considers him a redefining force in the countertenor field.”
- Limelight
“Oberon is sung by the utterly dazzling American countertenor, Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen. His voice is a dream in itself, perhaps the Manuka honey of the musical world.”
- The Barefoot Review
ALBUM RELEASE
Handel's
Saul
AVAILABLE NOW
Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra's live performance recording of Handel's Saul, led by Maestro Nicholas McGegan - featuring Aryeh's critically acclaimed role debut as David - is out now!
"Just as in the score itself, this was an occasion on which David walked off with the crown. That would be Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen, the extravagantly gifted young countertenor whose every appearance only serves to add luster to an already remarkable level of accomplishment. At 25, an Adler Fellow with the San Francisco Opera, he seemed poised to redefine what’s possible for singers of this distinctive voice type."
- San Francisco Chronicle
RETURN TO HOUSTON GRAND OPERA: as DAVID in HANDEL'S SAUL
Aryeh makes critically-acclaimed return to Houston Grand Opera as David in Handel’s Saul.
"Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen is a vocal wonder. Caramel and crystalline, his voice could melt the hardest hearts, as his David does."
- Houston Press
"Cohen has a voice of warmth and purity that yielded an angelic quality to his performance. He handles the florid melismas of each aria with total ease...it appears the show might have been better titled David.”
- Houstonia
ARYEH TRIUMPHS IN 2018-19 SAN FRANCISCO CLASSICAL VOICE
Best of Bay Awards
The San Francisco Classical Voice recently announced the winners in their Best of the Bay awards for the 2018-19 season, recognizing achievement in classical music in the San Francisco Bay Area. Aryeh was honored to win both "Best Opera Singer" and "Best Recital Soloist".
WINNER
The Sullivan
Foundation
Aryeh is one of five singers to be awarded the 2019 top prize from The Sullivan Foundation.
The William Matheus Sullivan Musical Foundation awarded five $10,000 grants to young artists who auditioned for the Foundation in New York on November 10 and 11, 2019. In addition to these cash awards, winners will participate in the five-year program of continued financial aid for coaching in new roles, which is one of the unique features of the Sullivan awards.
COUNTERTENOR ARYEH NUSSBAUM COHEN TAKES THIRD PLACE AT THE 2019 OPERALIA COMPETITION
Aryeh was recently awarded 3rd Prize in the 2019 Edition of Plácido Domingo’s Operalia Competition, held in Prague. One of just twelve finalists from around the world in this year’s competition, Aryeh was awarded Third Prize; he was the only competitor from the USA to place in this year’s competition. In the finals concert, he performed "Inumano Fratel... Stille Amare" from Handel’s Tolomeo. The finals concert, conducted by Maestro Plácido Domingo, was broadcast live internationally.
ALBUM RELEASE
American Bach Soloists
AVAILABLE NOW
Aryeh’s solo CD with American Bach Soloists - featuring works by Gluck, Handel, and Vivaldi - is out now!
“Without question, the recording...shows Nussbaum Cohen as a complete artist with an impressive technique. Diction, phrasing, breath support, full rounded tone, and a flair for ornamentation — the veritable checklist of technical attributes essential to great Baroque singing — are there in spades. So is a total commitment to the swings between melancholy, despair, anguish, nobility, fury, pain, and love under duress at the core of the recital’s repertoire. One of the most impressive features of Nussbaum Cohen’s artistry is tonal consistency.”
- San Francisco Classical Voice
SAN FRANCISCO OPERA DEBUT: as MEDORO in HANDEL'S ORLANDO
Aryeh makes critically-acclaimed San Francisco Opera debut in the principal role of Medoro in Handel’s Orlando.
“The triumph belonged to young countertenor Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen as Medoro. The second-year Adler Fellow is on the fast track to stardom.¨
- Bay Area Reporter
Aryeh Nussbaum-Cohen. He sang Medoro with buttery tone and lovable earnestness. Especially gorgeous was his smoothly sung Act 2 aria of aching nostalgia (“Verdi allori”).”
- San Francisco Classical Voice
GRAMMY-WINNING RECORDING DEBUT: KENNETH FUCHS'
Poems of Life
LONDON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
AVAILABLE NOW
Aryeh's GRAMMY®-winning first commercial recording project - the world premiere recording of Kenneth Fuchs' Poems of Life (Twelve poems by Judith G. Wolf) with the London Symphony Orchestra - was released in August 2018. The album recently won a 2019 GRAMMY® Award in the Best Classical Compendium category, which honors albums with multiple soloists and multiple works. The album is available now- click below to learn more about purchasing and online streaming!
NEW FEATURE: SOUND BITES
DECEMBER 2018 | VOL. 83, NO. 6
AVAILABLE IN PRINT NOW
"Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen is just twenty-four, but he's already a countertenor on the rise... 'Most countertenors are struggling baritones [who] realize, 'Oh, I have a pretty nice falsetto—let me give this a whirl,'' he says, chuckling. 'I'm the rare case that I've always been a countertenor. But not by any plan—by luck and ignorance.'"
(Henry Stewart for Opera News)
ARYEH ANNOUNCES HIS NEW SEASON ENGAGEMENTS
In the 2018-2019 season, Aryeh joins the Lyric Opera of Chicago roster for Handel's Ariodante, and he joins the San Francisco Opera roster for Handel's Orlando. He makes his role debut as David in Handel's Saul with the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra in performances around the Bay Area, and for his debut at Disney Hall in Los Angeles. Aryeh returns to Ars Lyrica Houston to make his role debut as Ottone in staged performances of Handel's Agrippina. He also returns to American Bach Soloists for a New Year's Eve gala concert in San Francisco's Herbst Theater, and he records his debut solo CD with ABS - featuring works by Vivaldi, Bach, and Handel. In addition, he sings his first performances of the Bach Christmas Oratorio with the Portland Baroque Orchestra.
COUNTERTENOR ARYEH NUSSBAUM COHEN TAKES TOP PRIZE AT THE 2018 DALLAS OPERA COMPETITION
Mr. Nussbaum Cohen was awarded both the First Prize and the "People's Choice Award," determined by audience ballot, at the 30th Annual Dallas Opera Guild Vocal Competition on April 28, 2018.
After lengthy deliberations from the judges’ panel - which included representatives from Lyric Opera of Chicago, Bayerische Staatsoper Munich, Glyndebourne Festival, Warner Classics, and others - on Friday, April 27th, six of twenty singers were selected to move into Saturday evening's finals round. The six finalists were accompanied by the Dallas Opera Orchestra under the baton of the internationally renowned Mrs. Eugene McDermott Music Director, Emmanuel Villaume.
Check out the latest profile on Aryeh in this month's Arts + Culture Texas Magazine.
“I got rejected by everything I applied to, all in about a week’s time,” Cohen says. “I really thought my life was over—having gone from my public policy plan to this more-volatile dream—but I was able to use that to light a fire of motivation. I wanted to show everyone that I did have something to contribute."
2018-2019
ADLER FELLOW
“San Francisco Opera Center Director Sheri Greenawald today announced the eleven recipients of the 2018 Adler Fellowship... The multi-year performance-oriented residency offers advanced young artists intensive individual training, coaching and professional seminars, as well as a wide range of performance opportunities. Adler Fellows are selected from the artists who have participated in the Merola Opera Program. The prestigious fellowship has nurtured the development of more than 175 young artists since its inception.” (Broadway World)
