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. He drew critical acclaim as Paul in Tapestry Opera/Scottish Opera’s Rocking Horse Winner, receiving the 2016 Dora Award for Best Male Performance. Sought after for performances spanning from Baroque to new commissions and experimental music, Asitha enjoys exploring the many ways opera and art music can make an impact on audiences today.

This season, Asitha sings his first Remendado in Pacific Opera Victoria’s Carmen, followed by the role of Boy Angel in the Canadian Premiere of the 2017 Pulitzer Prize-winning opera Angel’s Bone (Du Yun, Royce Vavrek), co-produced by re:Naissance Opera, Sound the Alarm Music/Theatre, Arraymusic, Loose Tea Music Theatre and Turning Point Ensemble. In 2023, Asitha debuts as Flute in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Vancouver Opera, Jacques Lacombe conducting.

A Dora Award-winning performer, Asitha most recently made his debut as Ferrando in Edmonton Opera’s Cosi fan tutte, the First Priest with Canadian Opera Company’s The Magic Flute, and Bénédict in Opera Kelowna’s production of Berlioz’ Béatrice et Bénédict. Asitha has sung principle roles with Opéra de Montréal, Against the Grain Theatre, Tapestry Opera, Soundstreams Canada, Opera on the Avalon, Opera 5, and Opera Lafayette (USA).

Asitha is a Co-Founder of Amplified Opera, an 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 (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations (Vancouver, BC).