Biography
| As one of America’s most accomplished tenors Mark Thomsen, tenor, enjoys a successful career in critically acclaimed performances throughout the world. Mark has performed to acclaim at the Metropolitan Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera, La Scala (Milan), Wiener Staatsoper, Wiener Volksoper, New York City Opera, Dallas Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Washington National Opera, and the Santa Fe Opera among others. Mr. Thomsen has sung and directed in the Imperial Symphony Orchestra’ s (now Lakeland Symphony Orchestra) opera productions, A Night at the Opera, most recently as stage director of Puccini’s La bohème. Mr. Thomsen recently performed with the Portland Opera for their production of Mozart’s La Finta Giardiniera. Highlights for the upcoming season include returning to Las Vegas for performances of Handel’s Messiah and various concerts in the Las Vegas valley. A graduate of Eastman School of Music (MM) Mark is Artist-In-Residence at Florida Southern College where he teaches voice and directs the opera class. Additionally, Mark is Program Director and co-founder of the vocal summer program IOPE (International Opera Performing Experience, http://www.performopera.com/), which is based in Mercatello, Italy. To learn more about Mark Thomsen, go to www.markthomsen.com |
Interests
As a former collegiate athlete I love sports including and not limited to football, basketball, baseball, golf and tennis. Travel is important as is reading murder mysteries and historical novels. Movies as escapism is enjoyable as well.
Education
BA in Applied Voice, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, MN, 1978
Minnesota Opera Apprentice, 1978 - 1980
Performer’s Certificate in Voice, Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester, 1982
Performer’s Certificate in Opera, Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester, 1982
MM in Voice, Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester, 1983
Houston Grand Opera Apprentice, 1982 - 1985
Honors and Awards
- Distinguished Alumni Award in the field of Music, The Gustavus Alumni Association, Gustavus Adolphus College 2011
- First Decade Award, The Gustavus Alumni Association, Gustavus Adolphus College 1988
- Debut Artist of the Year, New York City Opera, New York 1985
- Pavarotti Award, Metropolitan Opera Auditions, Texas 1985
- Second Place, Metropolitan Opera Auditions, Texas 1985
- Pavarotti Award, Metropolitan Opera Auditions, Texas 1984
- First Place, National Association Teachers of Singers Minnesota Regional Competition 1977
Projects
I am currently rehearsing FSC's Opera Theater's production of, "La Perichole" to be performed on March 20, 2015. The current semester finds me as Program Director of FSC's Christmas Gala. I'm enjoying working with students and faculty on the logistics of the program as well as rehearsing the "Reflections 'Elf'semble" for their rendition of "Twas the Night Before Christmas."
Publications and Exhibitions
Recordings (1982 - 2013)
The Truth About Windmills by Alec Wilder/Arnold Sundgaard. Performed by Pantheon singers: Claron McFadden, Robynne Redmon and Mark Thomsen.
A Quiet Place by Leonard Bernstein/Stephen Wadsworth. Performed by Deutches Grammophon singers include: Beverly Morgan, Chester Ludgin, Peter Kazarass, Kurt Ollman, Louise Edekin, and Mark Thomsen.
The Horse I Ride Has Wings with David Garvey on piano. Now recording selections from Mark Thomsen include: ‘Dalla sua pace’ from Mozart’s Don Giovanni, ‘Salut! demeure chaste et pure’ from Gounod’s Faust and Frank Bridge’s song ‘The Horse I Ride Has Wings’. Other singers include Donnie Ray Albert.
Bandanna by Daron Hagen, Albany Records. Performed by UNLV Opera Theater Chorus, UNLV Wind Orchestra, Lesley DeGroot, James Demler, Paul Kreider, Mark Thomsen, Darynn Zimmer, Daron Hagen, conductor.
Performance Experience (2008 – 2014)
Opera
The Metropolitan Opera
Role: Don Ottavio (cover and perform)
Mozart’s Don Giovanni, sung in Italian
Role: Nicias (cover)
Massanet’s Thais, sung in French
Role: Eustazio (cover)
Rossini’s Armida, sung in Italian
Role: Diener 7 (cover)
R. Strauss’ Capriccio, sung in German
Opera Naples (FL)
Role: Tamino
Mozart’s Die Zauberflőte, sung in English
Imperial Symphony Orchestra
*Stage Director for Lehár's The Merry Widow (January, 2014) performed in English and in conjunction with Florida Southern College and Florida Dance Theater
Role: Don Ottavio
Mozart’s Don Giovanni, sung in Italian
Role: Frederick
Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance, sung in English
Indianapolis Opera
Role: Dick Johnson
Puccini's La Fanciulla del West, sung in Italian
Opera Las Vegas
Role: Don Ottavio
Mozart’s Don Giovanni
Portland Opera
Role: Governor/Vanderdendur/Ragotski
Bernstein’s Candide
Spokane Opera
Role: Cavaradossi
Puccini’s Tosca, sung in Italian
Manitoba Opera
Role: 1st Jew
Strass’ Salome, sung in German
Concert
Faust in Anchorage Symphony's concert production of Berlioz' The Damnation of Faust
Tenor soloist for Indianapolis Opera’s Opera Goes to the Movies arias including: “M’appari’ tutt’ amor” from von Flotow’s Martha; “O Lola” and the brindisi from Puccini’s Cavalleria Rusticana; “Nessun dorma” from Puccini’s Turandot
Tenor soloist for Collins’ Daughter of The South, Peoria Symphony Orchestra
Tenor soloist in Handel’s Messiah with The Desert Chorale of Las Vegas, NV (2008, 2009, 2010)
Tenor soloist in Mozart’s Requiem with the Spoleto Festival, USA, sung in Latin
Tenor soloist in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, sung in German with the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra
Tenor soloist in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, sung in German with the Las Vegas Philharmonic
Tenor soloist in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, sung in German with the Binghamton Philharmonic (NY)
Tenor soloist in Mozart’s Coronation Mass with the Spoleto Festival, USA Don José in Grand Junction Symphony Orchestra's concert production of Bizet's Carmen