Tenor Jason Karn has impressed critics and audiences alike with his vibrant, bright tone and dramatic characterizations.
He recently made his New York City Opera Debut in the role of the Young Gypsy in the New York Premier of Rachmaninoff’s Aleko. This is after making his return to Opera Carolina in the same role. Where critics said, “In the brief but impassioned duettino for the Young Gypsy and Zemfira, tenor Jason Karn… infus[ed} ‘Еще одно, одно лобзанье!’ with ardor and soaring to top C with panache and vocal abandon… ”
Of a recent New York City performance as Roméo in Roméo et Juliette, the New York Sun said, “He has an attractive soft-grained tenor that at its best reminded me a bit of the late Alfredo Kraus. Mr. Karn’s singing was flexible, smoothly phrase, and secure on top.” From a performance in Otello, Opera News said, “Jason Karn was particularly suited to Cassio, cutting a handsome figure and singing well.”
Jason returned to Dicapo Opera to sing Alfredo in La Traviata. Classicalsource.com said, Jason gave “a consistently robust and rugged portrayal of Alfredo that was appropriately aloof or compassionate, reflecting his character’s changing emotions. Alfredo’s profession of love for Violetta and his outpouring of joy were wonderfully sung.” Jason was also a featured soloist at the Newport Music Festival, for their 44th season. He will be returning to Newport this summer.
Noted engagements include his Avery Fisher Hall debut with the American Symphony Orchestra in the American Premiere of Vincent D’Indy’s Fervaal, his Washington National Opera debut as Scaramuccio in Ariadne auf Naxos, Cassio in Otello with Opera Carolina, a return to the Pittsburgh Opera as Al Joad in The Grapes of Wrath, Ferrando in Così Fan Tutte with the Duke Symphony Orchestra and with the Chautauqua Opera.
He performed Ferrando in Così Fan Tutte at Opera Carolina, Cassio in Otello at the Arizona Opera, Tamino in The Magic Flute at Rutgers University, and Bill in Jonathan Dove’s Flight at Austin Lyric Opera.
While a member of the prestigious Merola Program at San Francisco Opera, critics raved about his portrayal of Tom Rakewell in The Rake’s Progress. “Balanced ardency and lovable stupidity with perfect assurance,” said the San Francisco Chronicle. “His tone is vibrant and bright . . . and Karn delivered the role’s stirring high notes with aplomb.” In addition, Mr. Karn completed a 2-year residency with the Pittsburgh Opera Center, where he performed Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, The Novice in Billy Budd, Scaramuccio in Ariadne auf Naxos, Spoletta in Tosca and Erice in L’Ormindo. He served as an apprentice with the 2004 Chautauqua Opera Festival, where he was a featured soloist in two concerts with the Chautauqua Festival Orchestra and was honored with an Encouragement Award.
Mr. Karn holds a B.M. in Vocal Performance from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a M.M. in Vocal Performance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro.