Brian Downen is known for his portrayals of leading men in the bel canto repertoire, having sung numerous productions of IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA, LA CENERENTOLA, L’ITALIANA IN ALGERI, DON GIOVANNI, DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE and DIE ENTFÜHRUNG AUS DEM SERAIL. He made his Metropolitan Opera debut in 2016 as Lord Cecil in ROBERTO DEVEREUX and returned in 2017 as Monsieur Triquet in EUGENE ONEGIN. Engagements in the 2019–20 season include Beppe in PAGLIACCI with El Paso Opera; Alessandro in Mozart’s IL RE PASTORE for Little Opera Theatre of New York; in recital at the University of New Mexico.

 

In the 2018–19 season, engagements included the roles of General Sir Philip Wingrave and the Narrator in Benjamin Britten’s OWEN WINGRAVE with Little Opera Theatre of New York; Tamino in DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE with El Paso Opera; tenor soloist in THE MESSIAH with the El Paso Choral Society; the world premiere of Jorge Martín’s song collection EN PAZ at the University of Texas at El Paso; recitals for the Opera Company of Middlebury in Vermont and the Music Hall Artists Series at the University of West Florida in Pensacola.

 

Engagements in the 2017–18 season included The Four Servants (cover) in LES CONTES D’HOFFMANN at The Metropolitan Opera; Il Padre for the New York premiere of Johann Adolf Hasse's PIRAMO E TISBE for the Little Opera Theatre of New York; soloist with the First Armored Division Band of the United States Army, El Paso; soloist for MOZART BY MOONLIGHT with El Paso Opera.

 

In 2016–17, Downen performed Monsieur Triquet in EUGENE ONEGIN and covered Il Maestro di Ballo in MANON LESCAUT at The Metropolitan Opera. Downen made his debut at The Metropolitan Opera in the 2015–16 season as Lord Cecil in ROBERTO DEVEREUX. Other engagements included Il Maestro di Ballo (cover) in MANON LESCAUT for The Metropolitan Opera; Beethoven’s SYMPHONY NO. 9 with the El Paso Symphony; world premiere of A ROSE IN WINTER, an oratorio by Frank La Rocca, Dallas.

 

Engagements in the 2014–15 season include Damon in ACIS AND GALATEA for Opera Bhutan (encore performance); Belmonte in DIE ENTFÜHRUNG AUS DEM SERAIL for Opera Roanoke; Don Ramiro in LA CENERENTOLA for Shreveport Opera; Crepuscolo/Zeriffo in VEREMONDA, L’AMAZZONE DI ARAGONA for Spoleto Festival USA and Mozart’s REQUIEM with the Delaware Symphony.

 

In the 2013–14 season Brian Downen appeared as Damon in ACIS AND GALATEA for Opera Bhutan, the first western opera ever performed in the Kingdom of Bhutan; Harlekin in DER KAISER VON ATLANTIS with Klangforum Wien and Opera Moderne in Vienna; Don Ramiro in LA CENERENTOLA with Pensacola Opera and Nemorino in L’ELISIR D’AMORE for Opera Saratoga.

 

The 2012–13 season includes engagements as Count Almaviva in IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA with Pensacola Opera; Professor Baglioni in LA HIJA DE RAPACCINI with Gotham Chamber Opera; Beethoven's SYMPHONY NO. 9 with the York Symphony and Mathurin in THE REFORMED DRUNKARD with Little Opera Theater of New York. 

​

Other Career highlights have included Almaviva in IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA with Teatr Wielki in Poznan Poland, on tour in Frankfurt Oder, Germany, Opera Columbus, Dayton Opera, Kentucky Opera, New Opera Saint Louis, and Opera Idaho. Don Ramiro in LA CENERENTOLA with Opera Columbus, Cleveland Opera, and Knoxville Opera; Lindoro in L'ITALIANA IN ALGERI with Central City Opera, Nevada Opera, Lake George Opera, and Anchorage Opera; Alfredo in LA TRAVIATA, Elvino in LA SONNAMBULA, and Ferrando in COSÌ FAN TUTTE with the Caramoor Festival; Tamino in DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE with Dayton Opera and the Caramoor Festival; Don Ottavio in DON GIOVANNI with Opera Delaware, Cleveland Opera, and Edmonton Opera; Belmonte in THE ABDUCTION FROM THE SERAGLIO with Opera Omaha; Ernesto in DON PASQUALE, Belmonte in DIE ENTFÜHRUNG AUS DEM SERAIL, and Paolino in IL MATRIMONIO SEGRETO with Lake George Opera; Tonio in THE DAUGHTER OF THE REGIMENT with Knoxville Opera. 

​