Asitha Tennekoon

Praised by The Globe and Mail for “…his silky, emotional presence on stage – both vocally and dramatically…”, Sri Lankan tenor Asitha Tennekoon has established himself as one of Canada’s most versatile singing artists. In 2016, he drew critical acclaim and received a Dora Award for his portrayal of Paul in Tapestry Opera/Scottish Opera’s Rocking Horse Winner. Asitha is sought after for performances spanning from Baroque to experimental repertoire. 

This season, Asitha reprises his performance as Paul in Tapestry Opera’s remount of Rocking Horse Winner and sings the role of Boy Angel in Du Yun and Royce Vavrek’s Pulitzer Prizewinning Angel’s Bone presented by Loose Tea Music Theatre in Toronto.

Asitha continues to expand his reputation as an impressive interpreter of J.S. Bach’s Evangelists and will be featured this season with the Grand Philharmonic Choir in Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and the St. John Passion with Vancouver Bach Choir. Asitha will debut in Halifax with Cecilia Concerts, performing the music of Métis composer Ian Cusson. 

Asitha recently made several operatic debuts; as Ferrando in Edmonton Opera’s Cosi fan tutte, the First Priest with Canadian Opera Company’s The Magic Flute, Remendado with Pacific Opera Victoria and as Flute in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Vancouver Opera, Jacques Lacombe conducting.

Asitha has sung principal roles with Opéra de Montréal, Against the Grain Theatre, Tapestry Opera, Soundstreams Canada, Opera on the Avalon, Opera 5, and Opera Lafayette. 

Asitha is a Co-Founder of Amplified Opera, a Toronto based indie Opera company committed to placing artists at the centre of public discourse. He makes his home in the unceded traditional territories of the xwməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səlilwətaɬ (TsleilWaututh) Nations (Vancouver, BC).