DENNIS CHMELENSKY BARITONE
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Nights of Classical Music
at the Gennadius Library Athens with Curtis on Tour a Nina von Maltzahn Global Touring Initiative of the Curtis Institute of Music. Cotsen Hall, Gennadius Library, American School for
Classical Studies at Athens Athens, Greece.
09/26/18-09/29/2018 8.30pm
Italienisches Liederbuch
by Hugo Wolf performed in full with pianist Mikael Eliasen and soprano Ashley Robilliard in dramatic dialogue at a Private Home in Peace Dale RI and at Music for Montauk Long Island NY.
10/19/2018 at 7.30pm & 10/21/2017 at 7.30pm
Sweeney Todd
music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Book by Hugh Wheeler. Performed in English at the Prince Music Theater in Philadelphia. Role: Pirelli
11/14/2018 at 7.30pm, 11/16/2018 at 7.30pm & 11/18/2018 at 2.30pm
Don Giovanni
music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte. Performed in Italian at the Perelman Theater inside the Kimmel Center Philadelphia.
Role: Don Giovanni
03/07/2019 & 03/09/2019 at 7.30pm
Double Bill: Empty the House & Ten Days
music by Rene Orth. Performed in English at the Perelman Theater inside the Kimmel Center Philadelphia. Role: Paul (Empty the House) and Dr. Blackwell (Ten Days).
05/02/2019 at 7.30pm & 05/04/2019 at 2.30pm
about
Berlin-native baritone, Dennis Chmelensky, studies at the Curtis Institute of Music under the tutelage of renowned instructors Mikael Eliasen and Marlena Malas as the Guna S. Mundheim Annual Fellow.
Following concerts dedicated to Leonard Bernstein's centennial in various venues this past May, Chmelensky will begin his 2018-19 season with an international tour to Athens, Greece. Further highlights for his upcoming season include role debuts such as Don Giovanni (Don Giovanni), Pirelli (Sweeney Todd), Dr. Blackwell (Ten Days) and a reappearance as Paul in Rene Orth's, Empty the House. An avid Lied singer, Chmelensky will also continue to perform Hugo Wolf's Italienisches Liederbuch across the United States.
Chmelensky is the recipient of awards from various foundations, including the Gerda Lissner Liederkranz Foundation in New York (2016), the Richard Wagner Society in Berlin (2013), the Europäischer Hoffnungspreis by the European Foundation for Culture (2009), the Engelbert Humperdinck Prize (2008), and the Bärenreiter Prize (2008). He is also the Grand Prize winner of the International Song Festival in Montenegro (2008) and Jugend Musiziert (2008). Chmelensky is continually supported by the Bürgerstiftung Siegen under the patronage of Rolf H. Brunswig since 2012.
Chmelensky made his debut with the Staatskapelle Berlin as a boy soprano and has performed with the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester, Lautten Company, Dresdner Kapellsolisten, Sing-Akademie Berlin, Rundfunkchor Berlin, and the Curtis Symphony Orchestra in notable venues, such as Philharmonie Berlin, Verizon Hall, Carnegie Hall, and others. Chmelensky spent several summers at the Chautauqua Music Festival and the Franz-Schubert-Institut in Baden bei Wien, where he studied with Robert Holl, Julius Drake, Elly Ameling and Deen Larsen.
Chmelensky's notable roles include Junior (A Quiet Place), Golaud (Impressions of Pelléas), Papageno (Die Zauberflöte), Junius (Rape of Lucretia), Schaunard (La Bohème), The Clock (L'Enfant), Blansac (La Scala di Seta), Spinellocchio (Gianni Schicci), First Officer (Dialogues of the Carmelites), and Paul in the world premiere of Empty the House, an opera by composer Rene Orth and Pulitzer Prize-winning librettist Mark Campbell. He was a long term member of the Staats- und Domchor Berlin and previously attended the Universität der Künste Berlin for voice and conducting, where he studied with Heide Görtz and Kai-Uwe Jirka. His debut album, DENNIS, was released in 2009 by Sony Music.
In his spare time, Chmelensky enjoys watching films, outdoor sports, and traveling.
press
David Patrick Stearns March 08, 2018
"As the mentally ill Junior, Dennis Chmelensky articulated his fractured vocal lines in ways that perhaps set a new standard for the role, while also projecting a flamboyant battiness that suited the character well."
David Wright March 14, 2018
"Dennis Chmelensky brought a potent, edgy baritone to the emotionally unstable role of Junior, provoking and romancing the other characters in equal measure."
Cameron Kelsall March 13, 2018
"Junior remains the piece’s most complicated character. As costumed here by Terese Wadden, his appearance suggests what we would now call gender fluidity: he makes his entrance in fishnets, a sequined top, and makeup. But it seems little else has evolved in 35 years — the libretto reinforces queer stereotypes that link gay identity with mental illness, predatory behavior, and disturbing sexual peccadillos. Despite these alarmingly reductive traits, baritone Dennis Chmelensky works hard to give the character an inner life. He also sings with beautiful (if not always clarion) diction."
Toby Zinman March 13, 2018
"Junior, who is aggressively gay in both manner and costume seemed to me the dominant role, and Dennis Chmelensky’s moving, rich baritone accompanied by real acting provided a fierce center to the piece and to the family’s dysfunction."
David Fox March 08, 2018
"Junior is a problematic part for sure, a troubled (and troubling) compendium of tics and oddities—this is often how “gay” was signified in writing from an earlier time, but one hoped for more from Bernstein and librettist Stephen Wadsworth. Nonetheless, Dennis Chmelensky was often captivating in the role—a presence for sure, decked out here with androgynous ellusiveness, and also seeming appropriately vulnerable. Chmelensky’s dark baritone has a strikingly individual timbre..."
Cameron Kelsall October 08, 2017
"...But Chmelensky emerged as the evening’s unquestionable discovery. His superbly produced lyric baritone lifted the already stellar production to the musical stratosphere, while never sacrificing a connection to the text for mere tonal beauty. Though still an undergraduate, he gave the impression of a fully formed artist, ready to claim his place on the world stage."
contact
past performances
2017-2018
Bernstein in Concert
featuring arias and songs by Leonard Bernstein and others. Performed with pianist Mikael Eliasen and soprano Ashley Robilliard at Towson Unitarian Universalist Church 710 Dulaney Valley Road Chamber Music Society of Maryland.
05/27/2018 at 2pm
Curtis on Tour
featuring arias and songs by Leonard Bernstein and others. Performed with pianist Mikael Eliasen and soprano Ashley Robilliard at Uptown Theatre in Westchester Pennsylvania.
05/22/2018 at 7pm
The Medium
by Gian Carlo Menotti presented by the Curtis Opera Theatre at the Perelman Theatre 300 S Broad Street Kimmel Center Philadelphia. Role: Mr. Gobineau.
05/05/2018 at 7.30pm; 05/06/2018 at 7.30pm
You've Got to Be Taught
recital at the American Philosophical Society Philadelphia featuring anti war and discrimination songs by various composers with Mikael Eliasen as well as faculty and students from the Curtis Institute of Music.
04/26/2018 at 1.30pm
Five Minahan Songs
by Ya-Jhu Yang for Baritone, Cello and Piano, commissioned by Chuck and Judy Freyer. Poetry by Dr. Jeanne Minahan McGinn. World premiere at The Curtis Institute of Music's Field Concert Hall, 1726 Locust Street with the composer on the piano and Jean Kim playing the cello.
04/14/2018 at 8pm
The Time of our Singing Workshop
by composer Kris Defoort and librettist Peter van Kraaij. Based on a novel by Richard Powers. Workshop for Opera Philadelphia before its world premiere in Belgium in 2020 with the composer Kris Defoort and conductor Ryan Kwamé. Role: Joey 03/20-03/24/2018
A Quiet Place
by Leonard Bernstein presented by the Curtis Opera Theatre at Playhouse Counter College 68th Street between Park and Lexington Avenue in New York City.
Role: Junior 03/13/2018 at 8pm
A Quiet Place
by Leonard Bernstein presented by the Curtis Opera Theatre at the Perelman Theatre 300 S Broad Street Kimmel Center Philadelphia. Role: Junior
03/07/2018 at 7.30pm, 03/09/2018 at 7.30pm & 03/11/2018 at 2.30pm
You've Got to Be Taught
a program of songs and spirituals focused on themes of love, tolerance, acceptance and forgiveness.
01/23/2018 at 8.00pm
Ruminations
world premiere. Music and poetry by Aiyana Tedi Braun. Dennis Chmelensky (Baritone), Claire Bourg (Violin), Adé Williams (Violin), Erika Gray (Viola), Young In Na (Cello), Aiyana Tedi Braun (Piano).
12/13/2017 at 8.00pm
Italienisches Liederbuch
by Hugo Wolf performed in full with pianist Mikael Eliasen and soprano Ashley Robilliard in dramatic dialogue at the Athenaeum Arts Library La Jolla, San Diego California.
10/21/2017 at 7.30pm
Impressions of Pelléas
after Pelléas et Mellissande by Claude Debussy arranged for two pianos by Marius Constant presented by the Curtis Opera Theater 1726 Locust Street Philadlephia.
Role: Golaud
10/05/2017 at 7.30pm, 10/06/2017 at 7.30pm, 10/07/2017 at 7.30pm & 10/08/2017 at 2.30pm
