Biography Lauded by the Chicago Sun-Times for his “rich, dark tone and beautiful legato,” Wayne Tigges makes his Glyndebourne Festival debut in his first performances of Escamillo in Carmen, returns to the Lyric Opera of Chicago for Achilla in Giulio Cesare and Basilio in Il barbiere di Siviglia, and joins the North Carolina Symphony for Figaro in Le nozze di Figaro in the 2007-08 season. He made his Metropolitan Opera debut in the 2006-07 season as Achilla in Giulio Cesare as well as his Los Angeles Philharmonic debut in Mozart’s Mass in C minor. He also sang the title role in Don Giovanni with Opera Pacific, returned to the Lyric Opera of Chicago for Capulet in Roméo et Juliette, sang Elijah under the baton of John Nelson with Soli Deo Gloria, and joined the roster of the San Francisco Opera. In the summer of 2007, he sang Bonze in Madama Butterfly under the baton of James Conlon at the Ravinia Festival.

Mr. Tigges enjoys a strong relationship with the Lyric Opera of Chicago where he sang the title role in Le nozze di Figaro at the Lyric Opera of Chicago to great critical acclaim while still a member of the prestigious Ryan Opera Center (formerly Lyric Opera Center for American Artists). Also with the company, he sang Snook in the world premiere of Bolcom’s A Wedding and Angelotti in Tosca. He has also joined the Lyric Opera of Chicago for Sam in Un ballo in maschera, the Servant in Thais, and Bonze in Madama Butterfly. His other engagements with the company include Samson and Delilah, Faust, Lucia di Lammermoor, Pirates of Penzance, Don Giovanni, Fidelio, Susannah, and Tippett’s The Midsummer Marriage.

Mr. Tigges sang Basilio in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Santa Fe Opera, the title roles of Don Giovanni and Le nozze di Figaro with Austin Lyric Opera, Bonze in Madama Butterfly with Los Angeles Opera, Sacerdote in Nabucco at the Gran Teatro del Liceu and Zuniga in Carmen with San Diego Opera. He has joined Cincinnati Opera for Angelotti in Tosca, Sam in Un Ballo in Maschera, Speaker in Die Zauberflöte, the Doctor in Pelléas et Mélisande, and the Second Soldier in Salome. With Opera Omaha, he has sung Mother in Seven Deadly Sins, Gideon March in Little Women, and Balthazar in Amahl and the Night Visitors. He has also sung the Father in Hänsel und Gretel with the Fort Dodge Symphony Orchestra.

In addition to his performances on the opera stage, Mr. Tigges maintains a busy concert schedule. He recently sang Nielsen's 3rd Symphony with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and joined the Teatro Regio in Parma for Haydn’s Creation and the Apollo Chorus and Orchestra for Elijah. He sang Stravinsky’s Les Noces with the Cleveland Orchestra, Britten's Serenade under the baton of Sir Andrew Davis as well joined the Cincinnati May Festival for Zemlinsky's Psalm 83 under James Conlon. Other performances include Bach's St. John Passion and St. Matthew Passion with the Knox Chamber Orchestra, Handel's Messiah with the Beyer Music Chamber Orchestra, Poulenc's Stabat Mater with the Musica Antiqua Chamber Orchestra, and concerts of operatic arias at Oregon’s Britt Music Festival.

Originally from Dubuque, Iowa, Wayne Tigges received a graduate degree and Artist Diploma from the University of Cincinnati-College Conservatory of Music where he twice received the Patricia Corbett Awards and his Bachelor of Music from Iowa State University.