Press headshot via The Metropolitan Opera (metopera.org)

Matthew Polenzani

Tenor (lyric)

Born August 23, 1968 in Evanston, Illinois, United States (58 years old)

Opera

Matthew Polenzani is an American lyric tenor. He has appeared with the Metropolitan Opera, Seattle Opera, Royal Opera House, Bayerische Staatsoper, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Vienna State Opera, and San Francisco Opera, among others. He has also sung with numerous symphony orchestras. His younger sister is independent folk musician Rose Polenzani. His grandfather is Lynn Hauldren, known as the "Empire Guy".

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Signature Roles

Ferrando in Così fan tutte Tamino in Die Zauberflöte Nemorino in L'elisir d'amore Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni Rodolfo in La Bohème Don José in Carmen Cavaradossi in Tosca Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly Il Duca in Rigoletto Alfredo Germont in La traviata

10 Signature Roles5 Principal Houses

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Carmen as Don José · Teatro alla Scala · Jun 23, 2026

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Career Trajectory

Polenzani's ascent from his Metropolitan Opera debut in 1997 to international prominence reflects a singular commitment to the lyric tenor repertoire and the highest standards of musical preparation. His voice—luminous, elegant, and dramatically engaged—has made him the preferred interpreter of Mozart, bel canto, and French opera at the world's leading houses, from the Metropolitan Opera and Vienna State Opera to the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Recipient of the Richard Tucker Award and the Met's Beverly Sills Artist Award, he represents a tradition of American tenor artistry grounded in textual fidelity, vocal beauty, and interpretive depth.