Biography
Praised for his "rich, powerful voice" and "bravura-filled stage presence," Neal Ferreira is a nationally recognized lyric tenor with a handsome, masculine tone quality to which he brings a cultivated vocalism and eloquent expression. Dubbed a “Boston mainstay” by the Boston Globe, he recently appeared with Boston Lyric Opera as Auctioneer/Taylor in the New England premiere of Rhiannon Giddens’ and Michael Abels’ Pulitzer Prize winning opera, Omar. The tenor regularly appears with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and returns in 2024 for performances of Lady MacBeth of Mtsensk at Symphony Hall and Carnegie Hall, under the baton of Maestro Andris Nelsons.
Ferreira’s 2023-24 engagements include the role of Flavio in Norma with the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra, as well as a return to Boston Lyric Opera as Loud Stone in Matthew Aucoin’s Eurydice, conducted by the composer. In spring 2024, he will sing the Doctor in Dominick Argento’s The Voyage of Edgar Allen Poe with Odyssey Opera.
A much sought-after interpreter of new music, Mr. Ferreira made his European debut in 2021, creating the role of Leartes in the world premiere of Joseph Summer's operatic Hamlet with State Opera Rousse, Bulgaria. His successful performance as the Visitor in Boston Lyric Opera’s production of Philip Glass’ In the Penal Colony was called “poignant” by the Wall Street Journal and “perfect” by Opera News. The tenor can be heard on the premiere recordings of numerous operas, including Charles Wuorinen’s Haroun and the Sea of Stories (BMOP/Sound), James MacMillan’s Clemency (BIS), Joseph Summer’s The Tempest (Albany), and Mario Castenuovo Tedesco’s The Importance of Being Earnest (Odyssey Opera).
Among his 2020-21 performances cancelled due to the pandemic were engagements with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Odyssey Opera, Symphony New Hampshire, the Orchestra of Indian Hill, the Salisbury Singers, the Commonwealth Chorale, and Chorus North Shore (MA). In the 2019-20 season, Ferreira starred in multiple leading roles, including Tamino in The Magic Flute with the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra at Symphony Hall, as well as Macheath in Benjamin Britten's version of The Beggar's Opera with Emmanuel Music.
Mr. Ferreira made his Tanglewood debut with the Boston Symphony Orchestra in the summer of 2018 in a concert performance of La bohème under the baton of Maestro Andris Nelsons. He first performed with the BSO in the 2016-17 season as Ein Tierhändler in Der Rosenkavalier with Renée Fleming and Susan Graham. In October 2018, Ferreira created the role of Master Turner in the world premiere of Brother Nat, a new opera based on Nat Turner’s historic slave insurrection of 1831, with book/lyrics by Jabari Asim and Liana Asim and music by Damien Sneed and Allyssa Jones. Later that season he returned to Odyssey Opera singing the role of Giovanni D’Aire in Donizetti’s rarely heard L’assedio di Calais.
The tenor received the 2013 Artist of the Year Award from Syracuse Opera, where he last performed the role of Alfred in Die Fledermaus to much acclaim. He was also awarded the 2009 Stephen Shrestinian Award for Excellence from Boston Lyric Opera, with whom he has performed numerous roles over the last fifteen seasons, including Tancredi in John Musto's The Inspector, Monostatos in The Magic Flute, the Gran Sacerdote in Mozart’s Idomeneo, re di Creta, and Snout in A Midsummer Night's Dream, to name a few.
Mr. Ferreira 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 and reprised with the Florida Grand Opera. Other appearances have included Sheldon Segal in Later the Same Evening and Charlie Davenport (cover) in Annie Get Your Gun with Deborah Voigt at the Glimmerglass Festival.
As an oratorio soloist, Mr. Ferreira has performed the role of Uriel in Haydn’s The Creation, as well as noted performances in Orff’s Carmina Burana, Dvořák's The Spectre's Bride and Stabat Mater, Bach’s Mass in B minor and Magnificat, Mozart’s Requiem, and Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle throughout the New England area. He is a regular guest soloist at his alma mater, Providence College, where he most recently appeared in Handel’s Messiah and Dubois’ Seven Last Words of Christ with the Providence College Orchestra and Chorus.
Mr. Ferreira is a student of the world-renowned tenor, Frank Lopardo. He 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, 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. The tenor has returned several times as a guest artist to perform in recital as well as teach masterclasses to undergraduate students.
In addition to performing, Ferreira is an avid voice pedagogue and has served as an Assistant Professor of Voice at Berklee College of Music since 2021.
Awards
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2012-13 Artist of the Year Award
Syracuse Opera
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2011-12 Artist of the Year Award
Syracuse Opera
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2009 Stephen Shrestinian Award for Excellence
Boston Lyric Opera
Education
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Emerging Artist Boston Lyric Opera, 2011-12
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Young Artist The Glimmerglass Festival, 2011
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Master of Music in Vocal Performance
Academic Honors, New England Conservatory of Music, Boston, MA, 2005
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Bachelor of Arts in Music, Minor in Black Studies
Cum Laude, Providence College, Providence, RI, 2002
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Principal Teachers
Frank Lopardo, Penelope Bitzas, Patricia Craig, David Harper
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Coaches
Mikhail Hallak, James Myers, David Moody, Damien Francoeur-Krzyzek, Terry Decima
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Directors
Francesca Zambello, Anne Bogart, Leon Major, Renaud Doucet
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Conductors
Andris Nelsons, David Angus, Gary Thor Wedow, Douglas Kinney Frost
