Behold a major new lyric tenor, making his North American professional debut today as the Evangelist in the Oregon Bach Festival's St. Matthew Passion -- with a remarkable cast of Juliane Banse, Ingeborg Danz, Thomas Quasthoff and Eric Owens, conducted by Helmuth Rilling. With a voice similar to the perfect-Mozart-tenor sound of James Taylor whom he is replacing, Odinius has a "natural" placement in the high register, effortless delivery, and a projection that allows the finest pianissimo carry through cavernous (and, yes, "electronically enhanced") Silva Hall. The voice is not as beautiful as Taylor's, but it has more power: think of a true helden-Tamino, instead of a dreamy Fenton. Born in Aachen and educated in Berlin, the 34-year-old tenor has been getting large roles in small houses and small roles in big houses in Europe, but that's about to change with a Zuerich "Alfonso" and other, yet unannounced assignments. Odinius sang in Nebraska some six years ago in a St. John Passion performance by a Berlin group, but today's Eugene performance will be his U.S. professional debut. As of now, he has no American engagements scheduled -- something that may well change by tomorrow. [log in to unmask] Attachments to [log in to unmask]