Biography
Neal Ferreira is quickly gaining national recognition in the character tenor repertoire. Upcoming performances include Spalanzani and Andres in Les Contes d’Hoffmann in his Florida Grand Opera debut, and a return to the Boston Lyric Opera as Spoletta in Tosca and Snout in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Mr. Ferreira was awarded the 2009 Stephen Shrestinian Award for Excellence from Boston Lyric Opera, and in the 2009-2010 season he appeared with the company as the Gran Sacerdote in Mozart’s Idomeneo, re di Creta and Ein Officer in Ariadne auf Naxos, as well as covering the roles of Tanzmeister and Brighella. He recently made his Opera Colorado debut performing Spalanzani and Andres in Les Contes d’Hoffmann, roles he first performed with Boston Lyric Opera under the direction of Maestro Keith Lockhart in 2008. That season, he also appeared as Monostatos in The Magic Flute with Boston Lyric Opera for Young Audiences.
As an oratorio soloist, Mr. Ferreira has performed the role of Uriel in Haydn’s The Creation with world-renowned soprano Jayne West, as well as noted performances in Orff’s Carmina Burana, Bach’s Mass in B minor and Magnificat, Mozart’s Requiem, Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, and Dvořak’s Stabat Mater throughout the New England area. He is a regular guest soloist at his alma mater, Providence College, where he has most recently appeared in Handel’s Messiah and Dubois’ Seven Last Words of Christ with the Providence College Orchestra and Chorus.
Mr. Ferreira holds a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from New England Conservatory, graduating with Academic Honors in 2005. There he studied with international opera singer Patricia Craig, and he sang the role of Tamino in The Magic Flute as part of New England Conservatory Outreach Opera’s inaugural production.
As a recipient of the Roberts Music Scholarship for musical aptitude and achievement, Mr. Ferreira completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from Providence College in 2002, graduating cum laude. While at Providence College, he studied voice with David Harper and appeared in many stage productions with both the Music and Theater Departments. Mr. Ferreira has returned several times to teach master classes to undergraduate and high school students at the Providence College Summer Vocal Institute.
