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Biography
Brenden Patrick Gunnell, a native of Indianapolis, Indiana began his musical studies at an early age. Through the guidance and steering of both his choral arts director Erich Wangeman and Ball State professor Jeffrey Carter, Brenden decided to pursue his operatic stage career.
In 2002 he was admitted as a voice student at the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, under the tutelage of both renowned coach Mikael Eliasen and teacher Joan Patenaude-Yarnell. During the last years he has worked there with many notable teachers and coaches including Joan Patenaude-Yarnell, Danielle Orlando, Thomas Hampson, and Mira Zakai.
Between 2002 and 2006 he appeared in many productions of Curtis Opera Theatre and sung important roles including Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia (The Male Chorus), Händel’s Alcina (Oronte ), John Adams’ The Death of Klinghoffer (Omar) and Ned Rorem’s Miss Julie (Young Boy), the title role in Britten’s Albert Herring, and Tamino in Mozart’s Magic Flute. Brenden Gunnell also appeared in copious recitals with works by Beethoven,Schubert, Rachmaninov, and Britten. In addition, he had opportunities throughout Philadelphia to persue his love of liturgical oratorios, including the St. John and Matthew passions of Bach, Handel;s Messia, and the Rachmaninov Vespers all as tenor soloist. During his studies at the Curtis, Brenden developed a strong affection and appreciation for the operas, chamber works, and cycles of Benjamin Britten. He continues on and off the stage a thorough study of the life and works of Britten.
Brenden was accepted in April of 2007 as an ensemblemitgelied for the Tiroler Landestheater in Innsbruck, Austria, under the direction and study of world-renowned mezzo soprano and stage director Ks. Brigitte Fassbaender. For the TLT, he has appeared in several premiere productions, including I Pagliacci, Der Fliegende Holländer, The Turn of the Screw (Peter Quint), Ariadne auf Naxos, Das Rheingold, Zar und Zimmerman, and Wozzeck.
For the season 2009-2010 Brenden can be heard in the roles of Iopas (Les Troyens), Tamino, Graf Stanislaus (Vogelhändler) Graf Elemer (Arabella), Arturo (Lucia), Andres (Wozzeck), Freddy Eynesford-Hill (My Fair Lady), and tenor soloist in Michael Nymans Noises, Sounds, and Sweet Airs, a ballet-chamber opera in cooperation with the corps de ballet of the Tiroler Landestheater.
In concert, Brenden is currently engaged as the Tenor soloist in Britten’s War Requiem, a piece very close to his heart. He will be appearing as well with Münchner Symphoniker under Maestro Schmöhe as Tenor soloist in Beethoven’s epic 9th Symphony. In Innsbruck, Brenden can be heard in Brahm’s charming Liebesliederwalze in the Intermezzo Foyer of the TLT.
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