Donovan Elliot Smith, tenor

Donovan Elliot Smith, a Pittsburgh native, is currently based in Switzerland where he sings as a freelance tenor in the opera chorus at Opernhaus Zürich (Zurich Opera House). He recently received his artist diploma in the summer of 2018 from Hochschule der Künste Bern (Bern University of the Arts) where he also completed his master’s studies.

Ensemble experience aside, he has also appeared as soloist throughout Europe in roles such as Ferrando in Mozart’s Così Fan Tutte, Beppe in Donizetti’s Rita, the title role in Mozart’s Idomeneo, and Beppe in Leoncavallo’s I Pagliacci. Apart from the bel canto repertoire, he has also appeared in concert as the tenor soloist in Britten’s Serenade (for tenor, horn, and strings), Purcell’s King Arthur, and solo recitals.

Before he moved to Europe, Donovan sang several leading roles in musical theater productions, namely: Enjolras in Les Miserables, Horse in The Full Monty, Coalhouse Walker Jr. in Ragtime, and the Serpent in the new work Eve Apart while he was studying with the late Richard Cowan at Carnegie Mellon University.

Donovan is fluent in Swiss German, German and French.