James Schaffner, tenor

“Schaffner is a find -- a facile tenor voice and fluent stage presence...whose combination of musical skills and fearless acting ability encourage hope for opera’s future.”

Mark Swed, LOS ANGELES TIMES

"Here's a name to remember: James Schaffner. Evidently the tenor is a recent conservatory graduate. Can that be? He's a total professional and a constant delight, combining great looks, a terrific voice and tremendous comic acting. "

Jim Ruggirello, GRUNION GAZETTE (Long Beach, CA)

"James Schaffner impressed with his ease in high tessitura"

David Shengold, OPERA NEWS ONLINE

"an agile tenor… a splendid, graceful newcomer"

Alan Rich, OPERA NEWS

American tenor James Schaffner is quickly being recognized an important up-and-coming talent in the bel canto, contemporary opera, and operetta repertoire. Most recently he appeared as Graf Albert in Die tote Stadt for New York City Opera, Arturo in Lucia di lammermoor for Kentucky Opera,] Ke-ki-ka-ko in Ba-Ta-Clan and Hermosa, in L’ile de Tulipatan for the Bard Festival, Tom Rakewell in The Rake's Progress, for Festival Mozart, A Coruña, Spain, Laurie in Little Women for Skylight Opera Theater, Prince Phillipe in Lennox Berkeley's A Dinner Engagement in São Paulo, Brazil, and Laurie for Kentucky Opera. Other recent appearances include Alfredo with Oregon Lyric Opera, New York City Opera creating the role of the villainous Khattam-Shud in the world premiere of Charles Wuorinen’s Haroun and the Sea of Stories, the Los Angeles Opera, Opera Boston, the Teatro Santa Cruz (São Paulo, Brazil), Lyric Opera of San Antonio, The Oklahoma Mozart Festival, Long Beach Opera and the Chautauqua Opera. His vivid stage characterizations and ringing lyric tenor voice have earned him extensive media praise. In response to his portrayal of Ernesto in Don Pasquale, the San Antonio Express News said, “James Schaffner projected a big, bright lyric tenor...He even accompanied himself on guitar in his serenade to Norina. The futures market might want to take note of this one.“ The New York Times has stated “James Schaffner displayed a tenor of considerable color and warmth.” He is a graduate of the prestigious Manhattan School of Music (M.M.) and Nebraska Wesleyan University (B.M.) Click here for extended bio...