BIOGRAPHY
For his 2023 house début with Scottish Opera as Don Jose in Carmen: Indian-American tenor Alok Kumar is described by THE GUARDIAN as “a knockout… technically assured, his singing resonates with the raw pathos of a man on the edge – and his acting… equally compelling;” by BACHTRACK as ‘a commanding presence with a depth and resounding resonance, exhilarating as he faced up Carmen at the end;” and THE SPECTATOR remarks “Kumar’s tenor is certainly ardent. There’s something in the way he socks those top notes towards the gods…”
In 2023 and 2024, Alok Kumar reprises his Don Jose in Carmen in house debuts with Scottish Opera (UK) and Vancouver Opera (Canada), and makes two more house debuts with Portland Opera and Fort Worth Opera (USA) in Kamala Sankaram’s opera Thumbprint and as Rodolfo in La Boheme. He returns to Hong Kong Musica Viva for his role debut as Percy in Donizetti’s Anna Bolena. In concert, invitations include those from each San Diego Symphony, The Cleveland Orchestra and The New Choral Society for Verdi’s Requiem, Puccini’s La Fanciulla del West, and Mozart’s Requiem. Upcoming with the Orchestra of Scottish Opera led by Stuart Stratford, he sings excerpts from Bizet's Les pêcheurs de perles, Gounod's Faust, and Massenet's Werther, in The French Collection concert.
Mr. Kumar has worked with conductors Marek Janowski, Susanna Mälkki, Riccardo Frizza, Dane Lam, Maria Badstue, Kensho Watanabe, Bertrand de Billy, Marco Armiliato, James Conlon, Valerio Galli, Joseph Riscigno, Ramón Tebar and Lio Kuokman, with recent invitations to sing under Franz Welser-Möst and Rafael Payare, and upcoming with Miguel Harth-Bedoya.
Mr. Kumar made a series of monumental débuts starting with his Royal Opera House and London Philharmonic Orchestra début creating the role of Chyavana in the world premiere of Ravi Shankar’s opera Sukanya, a work harmonizing the distinct music, dance and theatrical traditions of India and the West. He made his Los Angeles Opera début in La Traviata and with the company subsequently sang leading roles in Moses and The Count of Monte Cristo. Additionally, Mr. Kumar participated in the Intimate Apparel workshop with Lincoln Center and appeared in Houston Grand Opera’s HGOco serial web opera entitled “Star Cross’d.” In 2019-2020 Kumar performed in the world première of Robert Paterson’s Chamber Version of Spring Songs at the Mostly Modern Festival, made his Opera Omaha début in the role of Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, as well as returned to the London Philharmonic Orchestra for the revival of Sukanya. 2020 cancelations included a company debut with Opera Hong Kong as Don José in Carmen, and concerts of Verdi’s Requiem in New York City, and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with Orquesta Filarmónica de Jalisco in Guadalajara, Mexico.
The Metropolitan Opera has been a force in his career and role development. His 2018 début in Puccini’s La Fanciulla del West led to the esteemed house immediately inviting him to stay on as Rinuccio* in Gianni Schicchi. In 2019-2020 he was invited to make role debuts as The Italian Singer in Der Rosenkavalier and Steuermann in Der Fliegende Holländer. Engagements in 2020 and 2021 were to include multiple appearances in Kat’a Kabanova (Váňa Kudrjaš), Die Frau ohne Schatten (Die Erscheinung eines Jünglings), Aida (The Messenger) and Fidelio (Jachino). He returned to the Metropolitan Opera in 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 for productions of Ariadne auf Naxos (Scaramuccio), Lucia di Lammermoor (Normanno), The Rake’s Progress (Tom Rakewell*), Don Carlo (Conte di Lerma) and The Hours (Louis*).
In recent seasons he performed with the Forte Tenors, Don José in Bizet’s Carmen with Michigan Opera Theater, Florida Grand Opera and Musica Viva in Hong Kong, reprised the role of the Duke of Mantua in Palm Beach Opera’s production of Verdi’s Rigoletto, débuted as Macduff in Verdi’s Macbeth under the baton of Emmanuel Plasson, sang Robert Paterson’s Batter’s Box and Spring Songs with American Modern Ensemble at Carnegie Hall, and appeared in New York City Opera’s production of Respighi’s rarely performed opera La Campana Sommersa. International engagements include débuts at Canada’s le Domaine Forget International Music Festival as Don José in La tragedie de Carmen and a concert of French operatic excerpts in France under the direction of Michel Plasson.
Favorite operatic roles in Mr. Kumar’s repertoire include Rodolfo in La bohème, Cavaradossi in Tosca, Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Lensky in Eugene Onegin, Des Grieux in Manon Lescaut, the title roles in Werther and Les contes d’Hoffmann. Other roles performed in concert include his portrayal of Pinkerton in the love duet from Puccini’s Madama Butterfly with the Cincinnati Pops/Cincinnati Opera led by John Morris Russell and as Alfredo in La Traviata with Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra.
Other concert engagements include Dvorak’s Stabat Mater with the Fairfield County Chorale, as well as a series of summer concerts with the Bay Atlantic Symphony featuring Italian operatic repertoire. He has appeared with symphonies and orchestras in Spain, California, Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Texas and Massachusetts, including in Symphony Hall with the Boston Pops for the Richard Rodgers Centennial and in Sanders Theater with the Greater Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, Mr. Kumar has performed in a gala concert at the Sanibel Music Festival in Florida, made his début at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles as a soloist in Galvany’s Oh My Son, made his début as tenor soloist in the New York premiere of Stephen Paulus’ To Be Certain of the Dawn at Carnegie Hall’s Stern Auditorium and performed as a soloist in Bay Atlantic Symphony’s A Night at the Opera New Year’s Eve concert. In the recital forum, Mr. Kumar unveiled a solo recital of Romani-influenced art songs at the Ware Center in Lancaster, PA before singing a benefit concert at the Lucas Theater in Savannah, GA featuring works by Puccini, Bizet, Verdi and Massenet.
Alok Kumar is an alumnus of The Peabody Conservatory of Music, Rice University’s Shephard School of Music, Boston University’s Opera Institute and Suffolk Law School. He resides in Los Angeles, CA with his wife and daughter, and maintains a private law practice.
*indicates a role cover
“Alok Kumar is “a knockout… technically assured, his singing resonates with the raw pathos of a man on the edge – and his acting… equally compelling;””
“‘a commanding presence with a depth and resounding resonance, exhilarating as he faced up Carmen at the end;””
“ “Kumar’s tenor is certainly ardent. There’s something in the way he socks those top notes towards the gods…””
“Kumar is wonderful as Macduff. He has a rich, pleasing voice that conveyed his anguish at the murder of his family and he emanated a great sense of humanity... ”
SOCIAL MEDIA
SCHEDULE
UPCOMING PERFORMANCES
SEP 22, 2023 - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Opera
Dinner with the Stars: FWO Gala - Tenor
Joseph Illick, Conductor
DEC 8, 2023 - Hong Kong
Musica Viva Hong Kong
Donizetti: Anna Bolena - Percy
Jeffrey Lueng Shu-ming, Conductor
Lo Kingman, Director
TICKETS AND DETAILS
DEC 10, 2023 - Hong Kong
Musica Viva Hong Kong
Donizetti: Anna Bolena - Percy
Jeffrey Lueng Shu-ming, Conductor
Lo King-man, Director
TICKETS AND DETAILS
MAR 1, 2023 - Dundee, Scotland
Scottish National Opera
French Collection Concert
Stuart Stratford, Conductor
TICKETS AND DETAIL
MAR 3, 2023 - Glasgow, Scotland
Scottish National Opera
French Collection Concert
Stuart Stratford, Conductor
TICKETS AND DETAILS
APR 5, 2024 - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Opera
Puccini: La Bohème - Rodolfo
Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Conductor
Chuck Hudson, Director
TICKETS AND DETAILS
APR 7, 2024 - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Opera
Puccini: La Bohème - Rodolfo
Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Conductor
Chuck Hudson, Director
TICKETS AND DETAILS
APR 27, 2024 - Vancouver, BC
Vancouver Opera
Bizet: Carmen - Don José
Les Dala, Conductor
Rachel Peake, Director
TICKETS AND DETAILS
MAY 2, 2024 - Vancouver, BC
Vancouver Opera
Bizet: Carmen - Don José
Les Dala, Conductor
Rachel Peake, Director
TICKETS AND DETAILS
MAY 4, 2024 - Vancouver, BC
Vancouver Opera
Bizet: Carmen - Don José
Les Dala, Conductor
Rachel Peake, Director
TICKETS AND DETAILS
JUN 15, 2024 - Vienna, Austria
Volksoper Wien
Adams: The Gospel According to the
Other Mary - Lazarus
Nicole Paiement, Conductor
Lisenka Heijboer Castañón, Director
TICKETS AND DETAILS
JUN 18, 2024 - Vienna, Austria
Volksoper Wien
Adams: The Gospel According to the
Other Mary - Lazarus
Nicole Paiement, Conductor
Lisenka Heijboer Castañón, Director
TICKETS AND DETAILS
JUN 21, 2024 - Vienna, Austria
Volksoper Wien
Adams: The Gospel According to the
Other Mary - Lazarus
Nicole Paiement, Conductor
Lisenka Heijboer Castañón, Director
TICKETS AND DETAILS
JUN 24, 2024 - Vienna, Austria
Volksoper Wien
Adams: The Gospel According to the
Other Mary - Lazarus
Nicole Paiement, Conductor
Lisenka Heijboer Castañón, Director
TICKETS AND DETAILS
JUN 30, 2024 - Vienna, Austria
Volksoper Wien
Adams: The Gospel According to the
Other Mary - Lazarus
Nicole Paiement, Conductor
Lisenka Heijboer Castañón, Director
TICKETS AND DETAILS
PAST PERFORMANCE Highlights
MAY 12 - JUN 17, 2023 - Glasgow, Inverness, Aberdeen, Edinburgh SCOTLAND
Scottish Opera
Bizet: Carmen - Don José
Dane Lam, Conductor
John Fulljames, Director
MAR 18 - MAR 26, 2023 - Portland, OR
Portland Opera
Sankaram: Thumbprint - Faiz
Maria Badstue, Conductor
Omer Ben Seadia, Director
NOV 22 - DEC 15, 2022 - New York, NY
Metropolitan Opera
Puts: The Hours - Louis (Cover)
Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Conductor
Phelim McDermott, Producer
NOV 3 - DEC 3, 2022 - New York, NY
Metropolitan Opera
Verdi: Don Carlo - Conte di Lerma
Carlo Rizzi, Conductor
David McVicar, Producer
OCT 23, 2022 - Scarsdale, NY
The New Choral Society
Mozart: Requiem - Tenor
Dr. John T. King, Conductor
OCT 1 & 2, 2022 - San Diego, CA
San Diego Symphony
Verdi: Messa da Requiem - Tenor (Cover)
Rafael Payare, Conductor
MAR 1 - MAR 17, 2022 - New York, NY
Metropolitan Opera
Strauss: Ariadne auf Naxos - Scaramuccio
Marek Janowski, Conductor
Stephen Pickover, Director
APR 23 - MAY 21, 2022 - New York, NY
Metropolitan Opera
Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor - (Normanno)
Riccardo Frizza, Conductor
Simon Stone, Director
MAY 30 - JUN 11, 2022 - New York, NY
Metropolitan Opera
Stravinsky: The Rake’s Progress - (Rakewell (c))
Susanna Mälkki, Conductor
Knighten Smit, Director
APR 16 - MAY 6, 2021 - New York, NY
Metropolitan Opera
Strauss: Die Frau ohne Schatten (Die Stimme)
Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Conductor
Herbert Wernicke, Director
CANCELLED DUE TO PANDEMIC
JAN 14, 15, 16 & 17, 2021 - Hong Kong
Opera Hong Kong
Bizet: Carmen (Don José)
Gianna Fratta, Conductor
Enrico Castiglione, Director
CANCELLED DUE TO PANDEMIC
SEP 21 - DEC 12, 2020 - New York, NY
Metropolitan Opera
Verdi: Aida (Un Messaggero)
Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Conductor
Michael Mayer, Director
CANCELLED DUE TO PANDEMIC
MAY 29 - 31, 2020 - Guadalajara, MX
Orquesta Filarmonica de Jalisco
Beethoven: Ninth Symphony
Jesus Medina, Conductor
CANCELLED DUE TO PANDEMIC
MAR 2 - MAR 27, 2020 - New York, NY
Metropolitan Opera
Wagner: Der Fliegende Holländer (Steuermann)
Valery Gergiev/Patrick Furrer, Conductor
François Girard, Stage Director/Producer
CANCELLED MID RUN DUE TO PANDEMIC
JAN 15, 2020 - London, UK
London Phil. Orchestra/Royal Opera House
Shankar: Sukanya (Chyavana)
David Murphy, Conductor
Suba Das, Director
DEC 2019 - JAN 2020 - New York, NY
Metropolitan Opera
Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier (Italian Singer)
Sir Simon Rattle, Conductor
Robert Carsen, Revival Stage Director
NOV 1 & 3, 2019 - Omaha, NE
Opera Omaha
Puccini: Madama Butterfly - Pinkerton
Joseph Rescigno, Conductor
Leslie Swackhamer, Director
Jun 26, 2019 - Saratoga, NY
Mostly Modern Festival
Paterson: Spring Songs
JUN 1 - JUN 22, 2019 - Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles Opera
Verdi: La Traviata (Gastone)
James Conlon, Conductor
Marta Domingo, Director
JAN 26, 2019 - New York, NY
Metropolitan Opera/Lincoln Center Theater
Gordon: Intimate Apparel (Mr. Marks)
Ricky Ian Gordon, Composer
Bartlett Sher, Stage Director
NOV 23 - DEC 15, 2018 - New York, NY
Metropolitan Opera
Puccini: Gianni Schicchi (Rinuccio (c))
Bertrand de Billy, Conductor
Gregory Keller, Revival Stage Director
OCT 4 - OCT 27, 2018 - New York, NY
Metropolitan Opera
Puccini: La Fanciulla del West (Harry)
Marco Armiliato, Conductor
Gregory Keller, Revival Stage Director
APR 26, 2018 - New York, NY
Weil Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall
Paterson: Spring Songs (World Premier)
Geoffrey Burleson, Pianist
Paterson: Batters Box
Blair McMillen, Pianist
MAY 12 - MAY 19, 2017 - London, UK
London Phil. Orchestra/Royal Opera House
Shankar: Sukanya (Chyavana)
David Murphy, Conductor
Suba Das, Director
MAR 11, 2017 - Palm Beach, FL
Palm Beach Opera
Verdi: Rigoletto (Duca)
Antonello Allemandi, Conductor
Jay Lesenger, Director
DEC 17 & 18, 2016 - Hong Kong
Musica Viva
Bizet: Carmen (Don José)
Lio Kuokman, Conductor
Lo Kingman, Director
NOV 13 & 18, 2016 - Miami, FL
Florida Grand Opera
Bizet: Carmen (Don José)
Ramón Tebar, Conductor
Bernard Uzan, Director
OCT 23, 2016 - Detroit, MI
Michigan Opera Theater
Bizet: Carmen (Don José)
Valerio Galli, Conductor
Ron Daniels, Director
JUN 3- JUN 11, 2016 - Middlebury, VT
Opera Company of Middlebury
Verdi: Macbeth (Macduff)
Emmanuel Plasson, Conductor
Douglas Anderson, Director
JUN 21, 2015 – Los Angeles, CA
Walt Disney Concert Hall
Galvany: Oh My Son (Jesus)
Dean Anderson, Conductor
MAR 24, 2015 – Sanibel Isle, FL
Sanibel Music Festival
Puccini Concert
Kyle Swann, Conductor
Alan Mann, Director
AUG 22, 2014 – Quebec, Canada
Le Domaine Forget Festival
Bizet/Brooks: La Tragédie de Carmen (Don José)
Paul Nadler, Conductor
MAY 24, 2014 – New York, NY
Stern Auditorium Carnegie Hall
Paulus: To Be Certain of the Dawn
William Wyman, Conductor
MAY 10, 2014 – Fairfield, CT
Fairfield County Chorale
Rossini: Stabat Mater
David Rosenmeyer, Conductor
APR 12 & 13, 2014 – Alicante, Spain
Auditorio de Diputacion Alicante
Galvany: Oh My Son (Jesus)
Francisco Maestre, Conductor
SEPT 7 & 8, 2013 – Cincinnati, OH
Cincinnati Pops
Puccini: Madama Butterfly (Pinkerton)
John Morris Russell, Conductor
MAR 23 & 24, 2013 - Harrisburg, PA
Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra
Verdi: La Traviata (Alfredo)
Stuart Malina, Conductor
PROJECTS
THE FOUR SEASONS
Composer - Robert Paterson
Robert Paterson’s The Four Seasons consists of four song cycles, with a total of twenty-one songs, for four different voice types: soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor, and bass-baritone. Each voice type represents a different season: Summer Songs (soprano), Autumn Songs (mezzo-soprano), Winter Songs (bass-baritone), and Spring Songs (tenor). The four critically-acclaimed singers on this album, soprano, Marnie Breckenridge, mezzo-soprano, Blythe Gaissert, tenor Alok Kumar, and bass-baritone David Neal have worked closely with Paterson, and gave the world premieres of these works with American Modern Ensemble, one of America’s most beloved new music ensembles.
INTIMATE APPAREL
Composer - Ricky Ian Gordon
Librettist - Lynn Nottage
In 1905, an African American seamstress supports herself by creating exquisite lingerie for wealthy Manhattan clients. When a letter arrives from a stranger, it awakens a desire within her that leads to the love that she yearned for, but it is nothing like she expected.
This historical romance by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage creates a portrait of a young woman's determination and the true meaning of intimacy, and has been adapted in operatic form by composer Ricky Ian Gordon in collaboration with playwright/librettist Lynn Nottage. The work is a co-commission between the Lincoln Center Theater and the Metropolitan Opera with a presentation conducted by Julian Wachner and stage direction by Bartlett Sher.
SUKANYA
Composer - Ravi Shankar
Librettist – Amit Chaudhury
After a terrible mistake leaves the ancient sage Chyavana blinded, the beautiful princess Sukanya finds herself marrying for the sake of her kingdom. As a pair of swaggering, meddling gods watch this unlikely union blossom, will love grow in the strangest of circumstances?
Taken from the legendary Sanskrit texts of the Mahābhārata, the story of Sukanya has been brought to life in this innovative production with music by Indian music legend Ravi Shankar and combines traditional Indian instruments with Western orchestra and singers. This performance is directed by Curve Associate Director Suba Das and unites dance choreographed by the Aakash Odedra Company.
A ROOM WITH A VIEW
Composer – Jeffrey Stock
Librettist – Marc Acito
Director – Scott Schwartz
A delightful new musical based upon the E. M. Foster's novel by the same name. This multifaceted love story is set in Florence, Italy in 1908. Alok Kumar portrayed the role of the Italian in the workshop performance of excerpts from the work before a specially invited audience in New York City.
CONTACT
GABRIELLA CAMPOS: World & General Management
Opera & Symphony
gabriellacamposartists@gmail.com
(617) 851-3906
In collaboration with
ATHOLE STILL ARTISTS
&
ONLY STAGE
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