Brett Sprague

American-German heldentenor Brett Sprague begins a freelance career in the 2026/27 season after ensemble engagements in Karlsruhe and Erfurt. Wagner and Britten have been recurring points of reference in his work, from Loge and Peter Grimes to the roles that shape this new period. His season’s engagements include role debuts as Erik in Der fliegende Holländer and Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus at Staatstheater Kassel, followed by a return to the Luzerner Theater as Erik in 2027. He is also scheduled to make his debut as Siegfried at Opéra de Monte-Carlo in 2027.

Mr. Sprague’s guest engagements include the title role in Les contes d’Hoffmann at the Semperoper Dresden, Peter Grimes at the Lucerne Festival and Luzerner Theater, Loge in Das Rheingold at the Croatian National Theatre Rijeka, and Lord Barrat in Henze’s Der junge Lord at the Staatstheater am Gärtnerplatz. Britten also figures prominently in his concert work: he sang the War Requiem with Phil Zuid in October 2026 and is scheduled to return for the Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings in May 2027. Liszt’s Faust Symphony with the Biel Solothurn Symphony Orchestra follows in June 2027.

From 2024 to 2026, Mr. Sprague was a member of the Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe ensemble, where his repertoire included Mark in Ethel Smyth’s The Wreckers, directed by Keith Warner, alongside Lensky in Eugene Onegin, Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the Chevalier de la Force in Dialogues des Carmélites. During his engagement at Theater Erfurt from 2019 to 2024, he portrayed the title roles in Peter Grimes, Les contes d’Hoffmann and Weingartner’s Orestes, as well as Loge and Ismaele in Nabucco. In 2022 he created Nicholas Gage in the world premiere of Taylor’s Eleni at the theatre.

His concert work has brought a continuing collaboration with Santtu-Matias Rouvali, under whom he has sung Carmina Burana with the National Philharmonic Orchestra of Poland, Göteborgs Symfoniker, Tampere Filharmonia and Oslo Filharmonia. A further engagement in the work with the Philharmonia Orchestra in London is scheduled for June 2027. His concert repertoire encompasses Verdi’s Requiem, Rossini’s Petite messe solennelle and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, alongside song recitals.

Before moving to Europe in 2019, Mr. Sprague created roles in contemporary works with Indianapolis Opera, Opera Colorado and OnSite Opera New York. His early career included Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, Don José in Carmen and resident artist engagements with Opera Colorado and Chautauqua Opera. He holds a master’s degree from Manhattan School of Music and a bachelor’s degree from Chapman University. His distinctions include awards from the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Seattle Opera Guild and Joan Taub Ades Vocal Competition.