Rising dramatic tenor Limmie Pulliam has thrilled audiences with his captivating stage presence and his “stentorian, yet beautiful,” sound.
The 2024-25 season will feature a combination of exciting debuts and returns for Mr. Pulliam, including his role debut as Calaf in Turandot for a special benefit concert for University of Houston’s Moore School of Music, followed by further performances of the role in his debut with the Minnesota Orchestra, conducted by Thomas Søndergård. Also on the symphonic stage, he joins Franz Welser-Möst for Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde at the Tonhalle Orchester Zürich. He debuts with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra as Radamès in Aida led by Music Director Jonathan Heyward, and collaborates again with Yannick Nézét-Seguin in his debut with the Orchestre Métropolitain for Bruckner’s Te Deum. Elsewhere during the season, he makes his role and house debut as Samson in Samson et Dalila with New Orleans Opera, house debuts with Austin Opera for Verdi’s Requiem and Arizona Opera as Radamès in Aida, and returns to Oberlin Conservatory for special performances of Rhiannon Giddens’ Omar. Next season will feature his return to the Cleveland Orchestra for further performances of Das Lied von der Erde, a debut with the Dallas Symphony for Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 under the baton of Fabio Luisi, and a role and house debut with Utah Opera as Florestan in Fidelio.
During the 2023-2024 season, the tenor made his European debut with the Gewandhaus Orchester as the tenor soloist in Verdi’s Requiem, continuing his collaboration with Maestro Franz Welser-Möst. In the States, Mr. Pulliam debuted the role of Cavaradossi in Tosca with Madison Opera, and returned to the role of Canio in Pagliacci in his company debut with Florida Grand Opera. While in Florida, he also made his debut with the New World Symphony for Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. Other concert appearances during the season include holiday concerts with the Madison Symphony, and a “Best of Verdi” concert with the Lubbock Symphony.
In 2022, Pulliam made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Radamès in Aida, which also served as his role debut. He subsequently performed Radamès with Tulsa Opera that season for their 75th anniversary gala concert. Mr. Pulliam also returned to The Cleveland Orchestra for his first performances as Dick Johnson in Puccini's La fanciulla del West, conducted by Franz Welser-Möst. In concert, he debuted with the San Diego Symphony singing Verdi’s Requiem, and made his Carnegie Hall debut performing The Ordering of Moses in collaboration with Oberlin Conservatory, his alma mater. He joined pianist Mark Markham in recital with the Nashville Symphony and Delta Symphony, and closed the season with the Ojai Festival, presenting selections from Rhiannon Giddens’ critically-acclaimed new opera, Omar.
Mr. Pulliam’s 2021-2022 season included his company and role debut with Los Angeles Opera as Manrico in Il Trovatore. He additionally made two significant orchestra debuts, singing the title role in Otello with The Cleveland Orchestra and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with The Philadelphia Orchestra under the baton of Yannick Nézét-Seguin. He also appeared in concert with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City for a night of operatic greatest hits, and the Memphis Symphony for their rescheduled Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. During the summer, he joined Madison Opera for their widely popular Opera in the Park concert, and the Bard Music Festival as Albert in Rachmaninoff’s rarely-performed The Miserly Knight, led by Leon Botstein.
An in-demand concert artist, he has performed Verdi’s Requiem with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra, and the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra. He also made a much-anticipated return appearance with Vashon Opera where he was featured in a sold-out Limmie Pulliam & Friends concert. He has also joined The National Opera Association’s 2016 convention to honor of their Lifetime Achievement Award recipient George Shirley, and appeared with The Concord Chorale as tenor soloist in Mozart’s Requiem and the tenor soloist in Stainer’s Resurrection with New Covenant United Methodist Church. Mr. Pulliam has been featured in numerous appearances with the internationally renowned chorale Gloriae Dei Cantores, as tenor soloist (Ahab/Obadiah) in Mendelssohn’s Elijah as well as in concerts featuring Intimations of Immortality and For St. Cecelia by Gerald Finzi. He appeared as the tenor soloist in Handel’s Messiah with the Forum Sinfonia Orchestra of Finland and soloist in Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass with the San Angelo Symphony. Mr. Pulliam was also a featured soloist on The American Spiritual Ensemble’s 2013 Winter Tour.
The Missouri native trained with the late renowned pedagogue Richard Miller. He is also a former participant in the young artist programs of Cleveland Opera, Opera Delaware and Opera Memphis. He was the 2012 Artist Division Winner of the National Opera Association's Vocal Competition and, in 2013, was a winner in the 3rd Annual Concorso Internazionale di Canto della Fondazione Marcello Giordano in Catania, Sicily.
