From Ireland, the tenor Paul McNamara is based in The Netherlands where he is Artistic Leader of the Dutch National Opera Academy, the collaborative master’s in opera performance offered by the Conservatorium van Amsterdam in partnership with the Royal Conservatoire The Hague.
The tenor has appeared in opera houses throughout Germany and Austria performing roles such as Wagner’s Claudio (Das Liebesverbot), Erik, Tannhäuser, Loge, Tristan, Siegfried, Mime and Parsifal. In addition to operas by Berg, Braunfels, Schillings, Schreker, Strauss, Korngold and Zemlinsky, his extensive repertoire also includes work by Cavalli, Monteverdi, Mozart, Weber, Meyerbeer, Leoncavallo, Tchaikowsky, Janáček, Britten, Previn, Penderecki and John Adams.
He has been heard at major venues including Venice’s Teatro La Fenice, Teatr Wielki – the Polish National Opera in Warsaw, the Teatro Municipal in Rio de Janeiro, the Théâtre de la Monnaie in Brussels, the Opéra Royal de Versailles, Opéra national du Rhin, and with the Salzburg Festival at the Beijing Music Festival. A keen recitalist, concert appearances have taken him to many of the world’s leading venues including the Berlin Philharmonie, the Pierre Boulez Saal Berlin, the Amsterdam Concertgebouw and New York’s Carnegie Hall as well as to the Telemann Festival in Hamburg with Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin.
An alumnus of the Royal Irish Academy of Music, Paul McNamara is an honours graduate of the University College Cork, the Cork School of Music and the Royal College of Music London. He is a casting consultant for the Stichting Omroep Muziek (Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra & Choir) and Opera Adviser to the Arts Council of Ireland (An Chomhairle Ealaíon).
www.paulmcnamara.info
Here is what he says about DEBUT:
"There are many reasons why I look forward to returning to DEBUT as chairman of the jury this year. At a time when competitions play such a central role in the trajectory of emerging artists, DEBUT offers something truly distinctive.
DEBUT is more than a competition. Under the artistic leadership of Clarry Bartha, it has become an inspiring model of what a modern artistic platform can and should be.
Rather than focusing solely on results, the competition creates a holistic environment of artistic exchange and growth, not only for the singers involved but also for jury members. It is a stimulating and enlightening forum in which music and artistry take centre stage. The scope of the programmes presented in each round gives singers the time and space to reveal themselves fully, showcasing both their vocal qualities and who they are as artists.
Over the years, DEBUT has distinguished itself by creating a supportive and nurturing artistic family. Through its networks and extensive post-competition mentorship and care, it offers young singers not only an opportunity to perform but also a meaningful framework for continued artistic development. In this way, DEBUT provides an indispensable environment in which the next generation of singers can truly flourish and grow."
