In recent years, lyric tenor Alan Bennett has emerged as one of the finest oratorio singers in the USA, noted for his performances of J.S. Bach, George Frideric Handel, and W.A. Mozart. He has performed extensively throughout the USA, Canada, Europe and South America, singing with prominent festivals and orchestras, as well as in recitals, concerts and operas. His performances have received critical acclaim, notably for his interpretations of the Evangelist in the Passions of J.S. Bach.
Alan Bennett has performed with numerous symphony orchestras throughout North America and recently made debuts with the Cleveland Orchestra, Seattle Symphony Orchestra, Kansas City Symphony and the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra. He has performed with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Omaha Symphony, Colorado Symphony, Calgary Philharmonic, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra as well as with period instrument ensembles including the Handel and Haydn Society, Tafelmusik and Les Violons du Roy. He is likewise a frequent guest at music festivals. He has developed a longstanding relationship with the Carmel Bach Festival, where he performs each summer. He has appeared at the Tanglewood Festival, Oregon Bach Festival, Bethlehem Bach Festival, Baldwin-Wallace Bach Festival, Bay Chamber Festival, Plymouth Music Festival, Le Rendez-vou Musicale de Laterriere in Quebec and the Grand Tetons Music Festival. He has sung for the Houston Masterworks Chorus, Oratorio Society of New York, Washington Choral Arts Society, Baltimore Choral Arts Society, Dartmouth Handel Society, Seattle Chamber Singers and the Bloomington Chamber Singers. He has worked under some of the worlds most prominent Baroque music conductors including Christopher Hogwood, Bruno Weil, Helmuth Rilling, Nicholas McGegan, Bernard Labadie and the late Robert Shaw.
Recent performances include music of Purcell with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, G.F. Handel’s Messiah with the Calgary Philharmonic and Tafelmusik and J.S. Bach's Christmas Oratorio (BWV 248) with the Boulder Bach Festival. This spring (2004) he makes debuts with the Santa Rosa Symphony (Benjamin Britten's Spring Symphony) and Orchestra Seattle (J.S. Bach's St. Matthew Passion (BWV 244), Evangelist). He returns to the San Francisco Bach Choir, the Baldwin-Wallace College Bach Festival, Violons du Roy and the Carmel Bach Festival.
At the other end of the music spectrum, he has worked regularly in contemporary music, performing and recording the music of Arvo Pärt and Steve Reich with Theatre of Voices.
Alan Bennett has recorded for Harmonia Mundi USA, Nonesuch, Telarc and Focus Records. He is currently on the vocal faculty of Indiana University in Bloomington. |