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Performances
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Eugene Onegin, Monsieur Triquet, Pittsburgh Opera, 2009 "Act II focuses on Onegin and Lensky, but perhaps the most entertaining
character is Monsieur Triquet (Joseph Frank)." Pittsburgh Tartan
(Oct 2009) |
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Peter Grimes, Rev. Horace Adams, "The cast was an exceptionally strong one...tenor Joseph Frank was notable as the Rev. Horace Adams." David Gregson (Opera News, July 2009) |
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| Ariadne auf Naxos, Tanzmeister, Metropolitan Opera, Debut 1979 "A witty Dancing Master." The New York Times "His Dancing Master was a total delight vocally and dramatically." New York Daily News "Richly comic Dancing Master." Christian Science Monitor "Joseph Frank’s wittily epicene Dancing Master." 1985 The New York Times, (John Rockwell)
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Ariadne Auf Naxos, Los Angeles Opera 2004 "Joseph Frank was an airborne Dancing Master." "Joseph Frank was remarkable as the Dancing Master, an accomplished dancer as well as a fine character tenor." (Beverly Hills) Ariadne auf Naxos (Pittsburgh Opera) “Her (Zerbinetta) four companions in the Harliquinade were depicted with vitality by Joseph Frank (who also excelled as the Dancing Master in the Prologue,)….and Frank nimble enough to sing well standing on his head with his legs spread-eagled above him.” (Pittsburgh Post Gazette-Robert Croan) |
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Andrea Chenier, Incredible, Pittsburgh Opera "Joseph Frank, one of today's top character tenors, was appropriately oily as the aptly named spy." 10/19/98 Pittsburgh Post Gazette |
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Abduction from the Seraglio, Pedrillo, San Francisco "Joseph Frank must be the world’s champion Pedrillo. He played Belmonte’s sidekick with a fetching impishness and spark, not to mention total vocal security, erasing in the process, all previous portrayals." San Francisco Examiner
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Boris Godunov, Count Shuisky, Theatre du Capitole, Toulouse, France "Joseph Frank was a splendidly unctuous Shuisky." 6/17/98 International Herald Tribute "Major contribution came from Joseph Frank's superbly duplicitous Prince Shuisky." 11/12/91 The Pittsburgh Press "Joseph Frank slimy-toned, slimy Shuisky." 11/13/91 Pittsburgh Post Gazette Boris Godunov, Sony recording: "The exceptional quality of Joseph Frank's singing gives Shuisky unusual prominence." Opera News. "...the flattering, vicious Shuisky of Joseph Frank," Music Review Magazine "Frank is a light, ingratiating, understated Shuisky, and perhaps all the more unctuous because of it." American Record Guide 6/92 Boris Godunov (Tulsa Opera) “Joseph Frank assumed a small, plaintive sound as the Simpleton, his concept thoroughly tuching.” (Opera News-John Toms) |
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Fanciulla del West, Nick, Palm Beach Opera "Among the many small roles, Joseph Frank (Nick) stood out for his natural phrasing." 1/24/00, Sun Sentinel
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Lucia di Lammermoor, Arturo, Santa Fe Opera "Joseph Frank as ‘Arturo’ is cool, poised and lordly with a jewel of a voice that we’ll hear again in Lulu, and would like to hear in lighter Mozart and Strauss." William Dunning "And Frank, who deserves more and more mention for his acting resources, offered equally resourceful tenor passages in his brief role of ‘Arturo’." Albuquerque Tribune "I found Joseph Frank as ‘Arturo’ to have a pleasing lyric voice." Will Hoffman |
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Lulu, Marquis, Prince, Santa Fe Opera "Joseph Frank’s ‘Procurer’, a key figure in the first scene of Act III, was expertly done." Andrew Porter, New Yorker "Mention should be made, also, of the fine work of Joseph Frank as the Prince and the Marquis." Harold C. Schonberg, New York Times "A fine piece of work was character tenor Joseph Frank’s finely etched portrayals of the ‘Prince’, the 'butler’ and the 'marquis.’" Washington Star
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 Joseph Frank (Goro) (photo: Winnie Klotz) |
Madama Butterfly, Goro, Pittsburgh Opera "Joseph Frank was a smooth, slick Goro." Pittsburgh Post Gazette "Joseph Frank, of the MET, displayed a clear-sounding voice and an intelligent understanding of the role. No wonder this young tenor is in demand." Pittsburgh Press "Joseph Frank successfully brought forth the complex role of Goro as cultural go-between." (2002 Pittsburgh) |
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Madama Butterfly, Goro, Houston Grand Opera "Joseph Frank brings his reliable character tenor bag of tricks and easy clear vocalization to bear on the role of Goro. Year in and year out Mr. Frank produces totally convincing impersonations of secondary parts, always with flair and originality. He is perfect as the duplicitous marriage broker, playing Japanese against American, while cheerily striding both sides of the fence." Garretson, Houston Montrose Voice. "And tenor, Joseph Frank, gave another of his reliable character portrayals as the conniving marriage broker, Goro." Carl Cunningham, The Houston Post |
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 Julian Patrick (Sharpless) Joseph Frank (Goro) Renata Scotto (Butterfly) (photo: Carolyn Mason Jones) |
BUTTERFLY "The Pinkerton was out-sung by the pungent character tenor Joseph Frank, as the marriage broker Goro." 4/20/98 Pittsburgh Post Gazette "The marriage broker Goro was brightly acted and well sung by Joseph Frank" (Tribune) |
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The Magic Flute "Veteran character tenor Joseph Frank took focus every time he appeared in the cameo role of the Moor, Monostatos." (Pittsburgh Opera) post-Gazette. |
 Kiri Te Kanawa (Pamina) Joseph Frank (Monostatos) (photo: Carolyn Mason Jones) |
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 Joseph frank (Hauk-Sendorf) Karen Armstrong (Emilia Marty) (photo: Ken Howard) |
The Makropulos Case, Hauk-Sendorf, Los Angeles Opera 1992 "Joseph Frank supplied a droll portrait the rouge-cheeked Hauk-Sendorf, one of Marty's old lovers." 12/16/92 San Francisco Examiner |
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Mignon, Laertes, Santa Fe Opera 1982 "Joseph Frank’s light lyric voice lends a theatrical quality to his portrayal of the actor ‘Laertes’." San Francisco Examiner |
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L'Incoronazione di Poppea (SFO) "San Francisco's cast...was nothing short of brilliant...reaching a height of dazzling virtuosity in the duet done by Barbara Hendricks and that excellent tenor-buffo, Joseph Frank, their amorous fingers crawling up a garden rake." San Francisco Examiner |
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Manon Lescaut (Opera Colorado)
“Memorable was Joseph Frank’s immaculate portrayal of the ultra-refined dancing master.” (Christian Science Monitor-Eleanor Keats “a perfect dancing master played by tenor Joseph Frank.” (Denver Muse-Blair Chotzinoff) Manon Lescaut (San Diego Opera) “Joseph Frank contributed pointed character studies as the Dancing Master and Lamplighter.” (Los Angeles Times – Martin Bernheimer) |
 Manon Lescaut (SFO) Joseph Frank (Maestro di Ballo) Leontyne Price (Manon) (photo: Carolyn Mason Jones) |
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Le Nozze di Figaro, Don Basilio, San Francisco Opera "Joseph Frank once again steals the show in the backup parts, playing old Basilio as a slick gossip-monger, a man to be feared rather than derided." 11/13/98 Mercury News "Joseph Frank was an enjoyably oily Don Basilio" 11/11/98 San Francisco Chronicle "Joseph Frank's Basilio oozed oiliness." 11/10/98 San Francisco Examiner "No one does unctuous, insinuating villainy like tenor Joseph Frank, and his enjoyably creepy Don Basilio was the latest in a series of memorable cameos." 1/12/98 San Francisco Chronicle |
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Le Nozze di Figaro, Don Basilio, Houston Grand Opera "Joseph Frank was a delightfully moldy Basilio." Opera News “Tenor Joseph Frank stood out with his fine, clear singing and his very forward characterization of the gossipy, unsavory music master, Don Basilio.” (Post-Carl Cunningham) |
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I Pagliacci, Beppe, San Francisco Opera "Joseph Frank turned in an exceptionally graceful Beppe." Los Angeles Times "Joseph Frank was a charming Beppe." Opera News |
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I Pagliacci, Beppe, Tulsa Opera "And Frank, with only snatches to sing, was impressive." Tulsa Tribune "Joseph Frank as Beppe and as ‘Harlequin’ in the play within the play sang the serenade, ‘O, Colombina’ to perfection, displaying as he did in ‘La Navarraise’ a delightful tenor voice." High Fidelity/Musical America |
 Louis Quillico (Tonio) Josephine Barstow (Nedda) Harry Theyard (Canio) Joseph Frank (Beppe) |
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 Joseph Frank (Franz)
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Tales of Hoffmann, Spalanzani, San Francisco Opera "Joseph Frank was an amusingly oily Spalanzani," 11/19/96 San Francisco Chronicle "Character tenor Joseph Frank deftly played Spalanzani, the devious builder of the Olympia doll that seduces Hoffmann." (SJ Mercury times 96) |
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Tales of Hoffmann, Spalanzani, Cochenille, Franz, Andres, Chautauqua Festival "In particular Joseph Frank, as the servant Cochenille proved an absolute antic genius, something he confirmed in three other roles." 7/8/95 Buffalo News |
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Tales of Hoffman, Spalanzani, Cochenille, Franz, Andres, Honolulu Opera "Tenor Joseph Frank had comic business throughout the evening in four roles. My favorite was his dapper and officious Spalanzani, the creator of Olympia but his Venetian hunchback was quite suitably fulsome. I liked the deafness of his Franz... cute." Honolulu Star Bulletin "Joseph Frank’s representation of Spalanzani and Franz deserves special mention." Honolulu Advertiser
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Tosca, Spoletta, San Francisco Opera "Joseph Frank made full use of every opportunity to turn Spoletta into a character of unforgettable malevolence." Sunday Advocate, Baton Rouge |
 Luciano Pavarotti (Cavaradossi) Joseph Frank (Spoletta) |
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Tosca, Spoletta, Philadelphia Opera "Other assets were Joseph Frank’s very fine cameo as Spoletta." The Bulletin, Philadelphia |
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Tosca, Spoletta, Houston Grand Opera "Wonderfully smarmy Spoletta was Joseph Frank." Houston Chronicle Tosca (San Diego Opera) The smaller roles were neatly delineated, especially the slimy Spoletta of Joseph Frank.” (Los Angeles Times-Martin Bernheimer) |
 Ingvar Wixell (Scarpia) Joseph Frank (Spoletta) |
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Turandot, Emperor Altoum, San Francisco Opera "Tenor Joseph Frank exuded regal world-weariness as Turadot’s father, the emperor." San Diego 2005. "Tenor Joseph Frank - bright witty Emperor Altoum." 10/11/99 Oakland Tribune "Tenor Joseph Frank invested the aged Emperor Altoum with both savvy and restraint." 9/12/98 San Francisco Examiner "Tenor Joseph Frank was a wily Altoum," 10/8/93 San Francisco Examiner ""Fabulously feeble" In the cameo part of the wizened emperor, San Jose State tenor Joseph Frank brought out the requisite frailty of voice and doddering mannerisms." 10/9/93 San Jose Mercury News "Joseph Frank was the perfect Emperor, whose every word was easily understood." 10/30/93 Hokubei Mainichi "Joseph Frank paid Puccini the compliment of singing, not croaking, the utterances of the aged emperor." Bernheimer 10/28/93 Los Angeles Times Eva Marton (Turandot) Michael Sylvester (Calaf) Joseph Frank (Emperor Altoum) |
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Wozzeck, Der Nar, San Francisco Opera "Strong support came, however, from Joseph Frank's veteran fool." SF Examiner "Joseph Frank was a superb Madman." OPERA Allan Ulrich |
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Wozzeck, The Idiot, San Diego Opera "An impressive operatic actor, Joseph Frank as the Idiot." 2007 (San Diego) "Joseph Frank as the Idiot who chillingly predicts the smell of blood around Wozzeck." (San Diego) "Joseph Frank was the poignant Idiot." (San Diego - 2007) "Joseph Frank was terrific as the so-called Idiot" (San Diego - 2007) |
 American tenor Joseph Frank (The Idiot) and German bass Franz Hawlata (Wozzeck) in San Diego Opera’s production of Wozzeck, directed by Des McAnuff. (photo: Ken Howard, 2007) |
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Falstaff, Bardolfo, San Francisco Opera "Tenor Joseph Frank was a fine , puckish ‘Bardolfo’." J. Clingstone, San Mateo Times "I also enjoyed the del arte performance of Joseph Frank, ‘Bardolfo’." San Francisco Progress "Kevin Langan and Joseph Frank were a pair of vital uglies, first class." Robert Commandy, San Francisco Chronicle "Joseph Frank rounds out the superb cast with a first rate performance." Sacramento Bee "Joseph Frank and Kevin Langan are the ugliest and bawdiest Bardolfo and Pistola ever to argue the case for man’s honor on the opera stage." R. Pontzius, San Francisco Examiner "Joseph Frank as a spirited Bardolfo - cast as generous as you are likely to find." "Joseph Frank and Kevin Langan stumbled and bumbled faithfully as the cartoonish Bardolfo and Pistola." Martin Bernheimer, L.A. Times "As Falstaff’s cronies, Joseph Frank and Kevin Langan, Bardolfo and Pistola, expertly executed much of the exaggerated antics and stylized attitudes of the staging." Contra Costa Times. Falstaff (Houston Grand Opera) “Joseph Frank’s nicely lyrical and vivacious Bardolfo.” Houston Post (W. Albright) |
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Eugene Onegin, Monsieur Triquet, Baltimore Opera "The amusing, mannered Triquet was Joseph Frank." 3/16/99 Baltimore Sun
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Mefistofele, Wagner, San Francisco Opera "San Jose character tenor Joseph Frank was properly unctuous as Faust's sidekick Wagner, and his voice was solid." 11/14/94 San Jose Mercury News |
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Rake’s Progress, Selem, Honolulu Opera "Tenor Joseph Frank was a spirited auctioneer." Star Bulletin "A magnificent touch of color in the costume and orange-red wig of the auctioneer, played and sung with skill and polish by Joseph Frank." Honolulu Advertiser |
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| Concerts |
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Christmas Oratorio, Evangelist, Tenor Arias, Santa Fe Symphony and Chorus "Tenor Joseph Frank (another Santa Fe Opera Alumni) performed double duty as both the Evangelist and the tenor soloist. It's not always possible that both roles can be sung by the same voice. His technical versatility allowed him to perform artistically well in each role." 12/22/98 The New Mexican |
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St. John Passion (Buffalo
Philharmonic)
“The musical forces were impressive…soloists, some of whom were superb. Count one of the latter as tenor Joseph Frank as the Evangelist, whose fluid phrasing, expressive nuance and exceptional vocal control made the recitative seem an art in itself.” Buffalo News (Kenneth Young) |
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Ode to St. Cecilia (Handel)
Sinfonia San Francisco
“Metropolitan and San Francisco Opera tenor Joseph Frank was the evening’s featured artist, and his creamy voice provided the finest, and most sensitively created musical moments of the program.” (San Francisco Examiner – Richard Pontzious) “Tenor Joseph Frank sang his grand arias with ring and vigor. He provided a bright coloratura splash.” (San Francisco Chronicle –Marilyn Tucker) |
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St. Nicolas (Britten)
“…Spearheaded by Joseph Frank’s ringing portrayal of the Bishop (Nicolas), the piece communicated powerfully.” Indianapolis Star (Jay Harvey) |
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