BO ZHAO

Tenor

​

The formidable tenor BO ZHAO was born in Qinghai, China. He began his musical studies by learning the saxophone before turning to singing.

He has enjoyed a successful career in Europe in leading tenor roles: Hoffmann in Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffmann, Opera Festival

Château de Linières, France, July 2026; Don José in Bizet's Carmen, Pinerolo, Italy, February 2026; the Duke of Mantua in Verdi's Rigoletto, Hernerpark Serenaden,

Horgen, Switzerland, August 2025; Calaf in Puccini's Turandot, Opera Festival Château de Linières, France, July 2025; Qinzhong in J. Ching's Julie and Mao, Theater Erfurt, Germany, March 2022; Borsa in Verdi's Rigoletto, Opéra national de Lorraine, France, May 2021; and also Borsa at the Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg in November 2021.

​

After graduating from high school in 2000, he went to study in Switzerland. In 2001, he entered the professional class of Katharina Begert (as a baritone) at the Lausanne Conservatory. In 2004, he continued his studies with his original teacher through the Swiss Society of Music Professors (SSPM), where he changed his vocal range to tenor.

​

From 2002 onwards, he participated in various masterclasses with Alain Garrichot (singing and stage presence) and Margreet Honig (singing), and in 2007-2008, notably with Dale Duesing, Robert Tear, and Jaime Aragall.

From 2006 to 2008, he continued his studies with Gilles Cachemaille at the Geneva University of Music, where he earned a teaching diploma. From 2008 to 2010, he pursued advanced studies with Scot Weir at the Zurich University of the Arts in the Master of Music of Performance—Opera program (graduating with highest honors).

​

In 2008, he sang the title role in Gazzaniga's "Don Giovanni" under the direction of Dominique Mentha at the Lucerne City Theatre. In 2010, he performed in Wagner's "Parsifal" (as Knappe) at the Grand Théâtre de Genève and followed that same year with the role of Don Ottavio in Mozart's "Don Giovanni" in Sion. From 2011 to 2013, he was invited by the Sorru in Musica Festival (Corsica) to sing Fenton in Verdi's "Falstaff," and returned in 2012 to sing the title role in Massenet's "Werther," as well as in gala concerts. In 2013, he also sang the role of Ferrando in Mozart's "Così fan tutte." In 2015, he sang Count Libenskof in Il Viaggio a Reims at Royaumont in France. In 2016, he sang Ramiro in La Cenerentola in Paris, France. In November 2017, he sang Prince Sou-Chong in Lehár's The Land of Smiles in Switzerland.

​

He regularly performs sacred works in concert, including Bach's Magnificat, Mozart's Requiem, Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle, and Puccini's Missa di Gloria.

He notably participated in a tour of China with Honegger's King David.

He continues his musical studies with Jeannette Fischer, Melanie Jackson (Paris), David Jones (New York), Fernande Chiocchio (Montreal), and Heidi Wölnerhanssen (Basel).