photo by: Robert Torres Photography
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"Perhaps the conundrum is this – why does the most unnatural of singing voices sound so natural? Years of intense and strenuous training have brought Chan to the point where his voice sounds remarkably pure and his vocal delivery looks completely effortless." (The Straits Times, Singapore)
Chan Wei En is a Singaporean countertenor whose singing is lauded for its “time-stopping” beauty and technical finesse. He leads an active career in Asia and North America performing the major works of Bach and Handel and has appeared in leading roles with numerous organizations including the Singapore International Festival of Art (SIFA), The Opera People (TOP, Singapore), Bachfest Malaysia, Red Dot Baroque (RDB), and many others. Highlights include the title role in Handel’s Oreste with SIFA, conducted by Tian Hui Ng, Bach’s B minor mass & St. Matthew Passion with Bachfest Malaysia, conducted by Dr. David Chin, Ruggiero in Handel’s Alcina with The Opera People, conducted by Red Dot Baroque’s Alan Choo, and Cupid in John Blow’s Venus & Adonis, with Cambridge Chamber Ensemble, conducted by Stephanie Beatrice. This season he makes his Pittsburgh debut in Quantum Theatre's ambitious revival of Broschi's Idaspe alongside superstars Vivica Genaux and John Holiday. He will also make his highly anticipated debut with the Singapore Lyric Opera in December as Prince Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus. Wei En is no stranger to premiering contemporary works, commissioning and premiering Jonathan Shin’s song set, The Other Merlion & Friends, and giving the Boston premieres of Stephan Weisman’s The Scarlet Ibis as Doodle, Ligeti’s virtuosic Nouvelle Aventures, conducted by Efstratios Minakakis, and workshopped Pulitzer Prize winner, Cerise Jacob’s videogame opera, Permadeath. Wei En has garnered a myriad of awards at numerous international competitions. Most recently as an international finalist for the “2022 Respighi Prize (Music)” organized by the Chamber Orchestra of New York. He was also nominated for “Best Solo Performer – Vocal” at the 17th BOH Cameronian Arts Awards in Malaysia. Wei En sings as a core member of Boston-based group, Carduus, directed by Holly Druckman. Other past organizations include Gotham Early Music Society’s Open Gates program, Publick Musick, Capella Clausura, Revels Inc. (Cambridge), Music at the Farm (R.I.), St. Peter’s Episcopal Church (Cambridge), First Lutheran Church of Boston, St. Paul Choir School (Harvard Square), Trinity Lutheran Church (Worcester), Parish of All Saints (Ashmont), Canto Armonico, Henry Purcell Society of Boston, Rhode Island Civic Chorale & Orchestra, M.I.T Concert Choir, ATCECM (Toronto), the Hong Kong Bach Festival, and many others. Wei En’s musical journey runs parallel to his work as an arts leader. Apart from his work with Carduus, Wei En is an active council member of Early Music America’s “Emerging Professional Leadership Council”, specifically on the IDEA council, working with EMA staff and Board of Directors to encourage the development of programming and resources for emerging artists and professionals in the field of early music. Wei En also contributes his time as a consultant to the Asian Opera Alliance, sharing his entrepreneurial experiences with their DEI work. He is also the founder and Artistic Director of Camerata Nova Anglia’s recital series devoted to exploring the stories of POC singers. His work with CNA has been recognized with grants from The Iguana Music Fund, Cambridge Arts, and an artist/scholar residency with the Sunlit Residency. His work in Singapore has also been recognized by the National Arts Council of Singapore through their generous 2020 Digital Presentation Grant for the Arts (DPG) Scheme. Wei En earned his M.M. in Voice Performance from the New England Conservatory, where he studied with Dr. Ian Howell, and his B.M. from Ithaca College, where he studied with Professor Carol McAmis. Wei En started his vocal training with eminent Singaporean musicians such as Toh Ban Sheng and Tay Cheng-Jim. Wei En's love for music began with community choirs in Singapore. He was a member of the Hallelujah Oratorio Society and sang with the Amoris Singers. Follow Wei En on facebook@ChanWeiEnCountertenor and Instagram@weiencountertenor *Fee support for Wei En Chan may be available to nonprofit organizations through the New England States Touring (NEST) program of the New England Foundation for the Arts. Visit www.nefa.org for more information. |
Reviews
"Reliably vivid in recitatives, he voiced his aria in Act One, ‘Nel periglio dell’amico,’ engagingly, articulating fiorature cleanly and covering the full range of the music with minimal forcing at the extremities. His singing of the Largo aria ‘Trà l’affanno, e trà il periglio’ in Act Two communicated the character’s state of mind without dramatic excess, Chan allowing the music to speak directly to the listener. Making much of each of Ircano’s moments on stage, Chan lent the character distinctive musical and dramatic identities." (Voix des Arts)
"Wei En Chan, the countertenor singing the role of Ircano, gave a fine display of his prize-winning voice, and acted the part with enthusiastic animation." (onStage Pittsburgh)
"...Wei En Chan displayed physicality and charisma in his aria about bravery and loyalty." (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
"Delicious countertenor floridities from the gilded Cupid of countertenor Wei En Chan included a facile and appealing trill. His arrows always told." (The Boston Musical Intelligencer)
"Perhaps the conundrum is this – why does the most unnatural of singing voices sound so natural? Years of intense and strenuous training have brought Chan to the point where his voice sounds remarkably pure and his vocal delivery looks completely effortless." (The Straits Times, Singapore)
"...Chan performing coloratura arias so naturally that the trills, flourishes and melodic leaps seem entirely their own invention."
(The Straits Times, Singapore)
"...both Cherie and Wei En are skilled singers, making full use of their opportunity given in this opera to show off their vocal range, hitting impossibly high notes with deceptive ease while putting all their emotion into their voice, their anxiety, fears and joys coming through strongly as they repeated verse after verse."
(Bakchormeeboy, Singapore)
"Wei En Chan, the countertenor singing the role of Ircano, gave a fine display of his prize-winning voice, and acted the part with enthusiastic animation." (onStage Pittsburgh)
"...Wei En Chan displayed physicality and charisma in his aria about bravery and loyalty." (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)
"Delicious countertenor floridities from the gilded Cupid of countertenor Wei En Chan included a facile and appealing trill. His arrows always told." (The Boston Musical Intelligencer)
"Perhaps the conundrum is this – why does the most unnatural of singing voices sound so natural? Years of intense and strenuous training have brought Chan to the point where his voice sounds remarkably pure and his vocal delivery looks completely effortless." (The Straits Times, Singapore)
"...Chan performing coloratura arias so naturally that the trills, flourishes and melodic leaps seem entirely their own invention."
(The Straits Times, Singapore)
"...both Cherie and Wei En are skilled singers, making full use of their opportunity given in this opera to show off their vocal range, hitting impossibly high notes with deceptive ease while putting all their emotion into their voice, their anxiety, fears and joys coming through strongly as they repeated verse after verse."
(Bakchormeeboy, Singapore)