The American tenor STEVEN HARRISON debutes in the role of Samson in the production of the opera Samson et Dalila to be staged at the National Theatre.

At the present time, Steven Harrison is considered one of the leading world performers of the French operatic repertoire.

On the American continent he has received acclaim as Rodolfo in La Bohème (New York City Opera), Riccardo in Un Ballo in Maschera (Grand Opera in Miami, Washington Opera) and Ernani (Carnegie Hall). In Europe he debuted in 2000 at Royal Opéra de la Monnaie in Brussels in Luigi Dallapiccola’s opera Il Prigioniero (conductor: Antonio Pappano). Since that time he has been much sought-after tenor in Europe and received the title “Best Singer of 2004″, awarded by the German daily Süddeutsche Zeitung (Nordrhein Westfalen edition). At Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Düsseldorf/Duisburg, where he’s a permanent guest, he has performed, for example, as Pollione (Norma), Don José (Carmen) and Turridu (Cavalleria Rusticana). He has also regulalry sung at Oper Leipzig (Rodolfo – La Bohème), Theater Krefeld/Mönchengladbach (Don José – Carmen, Alfredo – La Traviata, Werther). Furthermore, he sang in the title role in Giordano’s opera Andrea Chénier (festival in Macerata, Italy, 2005), Aeneas in Berlioz’ Les Troyens (stage direction: Christof Loy, conductor: John Fiore, Deutsche Oper am Rhein, 2005) and the tenor solo in Puccini’s Messa di Gloria (France, Germany, Italy).

At the beginning of 2006 he portrayed Rodolfo in Puccini’s La Bohème at Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires and at Baltimore Opera. In the autumn of 2006 he sang the role of Hagenbach in Catalani’s opera La Wally at Deutsche Oper am Rhein, where at the beginning of next year he is scheduled to perform in the title role of Gounod’s Faust.

Steven Harrison’s ruly extensive repertoire also includes the roles of Radam (Aida), Mario Cavaradossi (Tosca), Sam Polk (Floyd Carlisle – Susannah), Narraboth (Salome), the Steersman (The Flying Dutchman), Edgardo (Lucia di Lammermoor), Canio (The Comedians) and, above all, Faustus in Boito’s Mefistofele and in Gounod’s Faust. Audiences have also had the opportunity to see him on concert stages in Janácek’s Glagolithic Mass and Verdi’s Requiem.