Anando Mukerjee is “India’s finest tenor” (The Statesman 2009), considered the only internationally recognized tenor from India. After receiving degrees in Zoology and Natural Sciences respectively from Delhi and Cambridge Universities, where he was an Inlaks scholar, he pursued his vocal studies privately in England. The highlight of his vocal training however was his seven years of discipleship under legendary Swedish tenor Nicolai Gedda. Anando received a Charles Wallace India Trust British Council Award in 2001, was a finalist in the UK National Mozart Competition in 2007 and the Wagner Society Bayreuth Bursary Competition in 2012.
A spinto tenor specializing in the Italian and French bel canto, romantic and verismo operatic repertoire, his significant operatic debut took place in 2006 when he sang Rodolfo (La bohème) at the Belgrade National Opera, Serbia. This was followed by a period of intense learning of new roles and performing them across the UK and Europe, including Tobias (Tobias and the Angel, New Sussex Opera 2007), Beppe (Pagliacci, Dorset Opera 2009), Macduff (Macbeth, White Horse Opera 2009), Nemorino (L’elisir d’amore, Somerset Opera 2010), Alfred (Die Fledermaus, Surrey Opera 2012), Don Jose (Carmen, Plymouth Operatic Society 2015, Windsor & Eton Opera – Royal Command Performance 2016), Alfredo (La Traviata, Stentorphon Opera 2010, Somerset Opera 2011, Windsor & Eton Opera 2015), the Duke (Rigoletto, Bury Court Opera, Anghiari Festival, Scottish Opera, all 2011), Cavaradossi (Tosca, Little Venice Music Festival 2012, Philharmonia Britannica 2013, Athenaeum 2017, Everybody Can! Opera 2019), Riccardo (Un ballo in maschera, Windsor & Eton Opera 2017), Percy/Riccardo (Anna Bolena, New Caledonian Opera 2020), Canio (I Pagliacci, RCM Orchestra 2021), Edgardo (Lucia di Lammermoor, Instant Opera, reviewed in Opera magazine 2022), reprising Rodolfo (La Boheme 2019 & 2022) and Alfredo (La Traviata 2023) for Instant Opera, the latter reviewed in Opera magazine. 2024 marked a significant turning point in his career with his first foray into the Wagnerian heldentenor repertoire with him covering Siegmund (Die Walküre) and Loge (Das Rheingold) for Longborough Festival Opera’s 20204 Ring Cycle conducted by Anthony Negus and his debut in a Wagner role as Erik in Persona Arts’ groundbreaking production of Der Fliegende Holländer directed by the award winning director Iqbal Khan, supported by the Arts Council and personally recognized by HM the King. Recent role debuts include Luigi (Il Tabarro) and Calaf (Turandot) in 2024 & 2025 respectively both for Instant Opera commemorating the Puccini 100th death anniversary, the latter production conducted by Alice Farnham.
Concert highlights include his Italian debut at the Teatro dei Rozzi, Sienna, taking part in the Concordia International Ensemble Gala. Other concert appearances include his Cadogan Hall debut in London Lyric Opera’s cycle A Feast of Orchestral Songs; the opening of the 9th season of the Symphony Orchestra of India at the NCPA Bhabha Opera House, Bombay; the Maximum India Festival, Kennedy Center, Washington DC, with the Washington National Opera; and his debut at the Al-Madinat Opera House in Dubai. His notable recitals include his Wigmore Hall appearance accompanied by Leslie Howard and featured on BBC Radio 3’s In Tune; the Maria Callas International Club’s 30th Anniversary Celebration at the Royal Opera House (Crush Room); and a lieder programme performed with the pianist Babette Hierholzer at the Allensbach Festival, Germany. Anando gave the orchestral world premiere of Ian Venables’ Venetian Songs accompanied by the Orchestra of St. John Bromsgrove featured on BBC Radio 3 In-Tune. He has also appeared on the BBC World Service, All India Radio & Premier Christian Radio.
On the oratorio stage Anando’s repertoire encompasses Handel, Bach, Mendelssohn, Rossini, Gounod, Verdi & Puccini. As a tenor soloist he has appeared in Puccini’s Messa di Gloria with the Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra; in Verdi’s Requiem and Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle at the Great Hall, Dartington; in Stanford’s Requiem with the Birmingham Choral Union; in William Lloyd-Webber’s The Saviour, performed in celebration of the composer’s centenary at Westminster Central Hall; & Dubois’ Seven Last Words of Christ. Recent highlights include his Royal Albert Hall (RAH) debut in 2022 for the 50th Anniversary of Prom Praise with the All-Souls’ Orchestra, returning there for the Coronation Prom in 2023 and again in 2025 for Prom Praise: Wonder.
