|
The Australian bass-baritone, Jeremy Kleeman, was at 7 years old a semi-finalist on Australia's Got Talent. He obtained his Bachelor of Music degree in Classical Singing (2009-2011) and his Master of Music degree in Opera Performance 2013012014 frm Melbourne Conservatorium of Music at University of Melbourne. He continued his studies at the Developing Artist Program at Victorian Opera and later an Artist Diploma in Opera (Opera Studio) at the Royal College of Music, London (August 2019-2021). He is a Samling Artist and a Sambrook Scholar with Melba Opera Trust. He is also a Green Room Award winner, winner of the Dame Heather Begg Memorial Award and Australian International Opera Award.
Widely acclaimed for his interpretation of the title role in W.A. Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro, Jeremy Kleeman has performed the role in every major Australian city in productions with Opera Australia, Opera Queensland (July 2021), State Opera of South Australia (November 2023) and West Australian Opera. Other operatic roles of note include Guglielmo in W.A. Mozart's Così fan tutte for Opera Queensland (August 2023); Benjamin Britten's The Rape of Lucretia for Sydney Chamber Opera (August 2017) and later, Dark MoFo Festival; and Walter Furst in Guillaume Tell for Victorian Opera.
A versatile and charismatic performer, Jeremy Kleeman has appeared in a wide range of productions, including Magus in the world premiere of Baroque pastiche Voyage to the Moon by Musica Viva and Victorian Opera (for which he was nominated for both Helpmann and Green Room Awards), Toby Raven in the world premiere of Cloudstreet by State Opera of South Australia, Reverend Stratton and Mr. Jeffris in the world premiere of in Elliot Gyger's Oscar and Lucinda by Sydney Chamber Opera (August 2019) and Ernesto in J. Haydn's Il mondo della luna at Royal College of Music in 2019. Albert the Pudding in Calvin Bowman’s The Magic Pudding at Victorian Opera (March 2018), and Husband in Hing-yan Chan’s Double Happiness. Music theatre and operetta roles include Captain Corcoran in HMS Pinafore and Sergeant of Police in Pirates of Penzance for State Opera of South Australia (May 2023); and for Victorian Opera, Rapunzel's Prince in Into the Woods, Jonas Fogg in Sweeney Todd and Horn Player in Sunday in the Park with George. Critics have praised him for his vocal control, elegant stage presence and his ability to bring characters to life.
Jeremy Kleeman performed in 2024 the title role in the world premiere of Jack Symonds’ Gilgamesh for Opera Australia and Sydney Chamber Opera (September-October 2024). Australian Book Review wrote, “Kleeman as Gilgamesh dominates the opera, creating a powerful, multi-dimensional character. He possesses a beautifully smooth baritone voice, rich in colour, wide in range, with an expressive and limpid vocal line.” Recent performance highlights include creating the roles of Captain Gibb & Hugh Gibson in Cassomenos and Gething's Eva at the Port Fairy Spring Music Festival, singing Bass Soloist in Rossini’s Stabat Mater for both Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, and making role debuts as Schaunard in La bohème for Opera Queensland and Abimèlech in Camille Saint-Saëns' Samson et Dalila for Melbourne Opera.
Jeremy Kleeman is also well known for his work on the concert platform. He has sung George Frideric Handel's Messiah with Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Melbourne Philharmonic; J.S. Bach's Matthäus-Passion BWV 244 and Johannes-Passion BWV 245 for Canberra International Music Festival, Melbourne Bach Choir, Newcastle University Choir and Christ Church South Yarra; and Rossini's Petite messe solennelle with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Chorus. He has also appeared with Musica Viva, Pinchgut Opera, Queensland Symphony Orchestra and Canberra Symphony Orchestra.
In Europe, Jeremy Kleeman performed as a soloist in Edward Elgar's Apostles with the London Philharmonic Choir and London Philharmonic Orchestra, featured with the London Handel Players at the Tilford Bach Festival, appeared in recital at the Northern Lights Festival in Norway, and sang Traveller in the Moscow premiere of B. Britten's Curlew River. |
