Denes Striny | Conductor

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In 2001, Mr. Striny founded the Shaker Mountain Opera and in the premiere festival season conducted the Albany Symphony Orchestra in Wagner's Die Walkure with an international cast. It was hailed by the press as "stunning," "a gesture worthy of the great Wagner himself," and "an evening to write home about." Striny also conducted an all Verdi program with international soprano Lauren Flanigan, and the operas La Boheme and Lucia di Lammermoor. The 2002 season had Striny conducting Wagner's Gotterdammerung with Metropolitan Opera Soprano Carol Yahr, bass John Cheek, also from the Metropolitan Opera, and Dwight Hill from the Berlin Opera. Other concerts conducted during the 2002 season were the Music of Richard Strauss with Metropolitan Opera Soprano Carolyn James and Cavalleria Rusticana with Rome Opera Soprano Nina Edwards and Royal Norwegian Opera tenor Thomas Ruud. Striny also conducted fully staged versions of Gianni Schicchi, Suor Angelica, and La Traviata. Maestro Denes Striny was the principal conductor of the Amalfi Coast Music Festival and Institute in Salerno, Italy for seven years, where he conducted the Rome Festival Orchestra, and the Badia di Cava Music Festival in Cava de Tirenni, Italy, where he conducted the Bulgarian National Orchestra. In 2001, he conducted Cavalleria Rusticana with Metropolitan Opera soprano Myra Merritt, which was broadcast throughout Italy on RAI Television, “charged with electricity… Striny conducted with precision and control, leading his forces to one exciting climax after another. It was a night to remember."

In 2003, Striny conducted a concert version Tosca and fully staged performances of Manon. And in 2004 he conducted “Aida” in the opening concert of Shaker Mountain Opera with the Albany Sympony Orchectra, and Ebony Ecumenical Chorus joining Shaker Festival Chorus with international soloists Angela Brown, Eduardo Villa, Luis Ledesma, John Cheek, Damon Nestor Ploumis, and Tatiana Ishemova. He then conducted a fully staged version of Tales of Hoffmann.

" Maestro Striny was born in St. Paul, Minnesota and attended The Catholic University of America in Washington, DC, where he received his Bachelor of Music degree in voice and Master of Music degree in conducting. As a singer, Mr. Striny has sung leading tenor roles in many of the major opera houses in the United States. He made his European debut with England's Opera North as Walther in Wagner's Die Meistersinger to great critical acclaim. Mr. Striny has also sung throughout Germany, Japan and Australia. For his role in Carmen, the newspaper The Australian wrote, "Tenor Denes Striny's Jose was a knockout!" The Australian Daily Mirror wrote, "Denes Striny and Maria Ewing provided a thrilling and unforgettable night out." The London Financial Times called him "a gutsy clear voiced tenor," and Opera News called him "a robust and clarion Radames."

Mr. Striny's first book, Head First: The Language of the Head Voice, with a foreword by international opera legend Birgit Nilsson, was published in 2007. Birgit Nilsson was the Honorary Chair of Shaker Mountain Opera, a tremendous supporter and friend.

"an ‘Aida’ that’s as good as it gets. This ‘Aida’ was a tremendous success. The Albany Symphony played beautifully under Striny.”
~ James Hennerty, Albany Times Union

"’Aida’ meets its challenges...six extraordinary singers, a large chorus similarly outfitted with vocal dynamos and a virtuosic orchestra capable of conquering those carefully defined layers of ravishing melodies and intricate counterpoint… The marvelous Act II finale ensemble, went remarkably well under the podium leadership of Striny, who is the festival’s founder and artistic director.”
~ Richard Houdek, Berkshire Eagle

(Tales of Hoffmann) “A splendid presentation. Right from the opening f minor chord on through to the closing c major, we are on a roller coaster; driven, guided and controlled by the expert conducting of the company’s founder Denes Striny. It is a thrilling performance. As they say in the opera world, Bravo!”
~ Charles Kondek, Independent

"It was a bit like having the Three Tenors plus two show up to sing in your living room. ...an evening of stunning and heroic singing. A collection of this many voices of such caliber doesn't come down the pike very often, even at major operas houses... a magnificent Ride of the Valkries... the Albany Symphony musicians did themselves proud under Striny's very capable direction."
~ Bill Rice, The Sunday Gazette

“Denes Striny, American conductor as well as artistic director of the Shaker Mountain Opera, in a gesture worthy of the great Wagner himself, opened the festival with a stunning concert performance of Die Walkure with fine singers and the Albany Symphony Orchestra. It was a gala night to write home about.”
~ Ron Emery, Albany Times Union

An Evening of Giuseppe Verdi with Lauren Flanigan:

Richard Houdek, The Berkshire Eagle: "(Lauren Flanigan)...an astonishing actress, along with Striny and the Albany Symphony gave us a block-busting rendition of Abigaille's aria]..."

"...a nearly heart-stopping exhibition of sensual singing...”
~ Peter Bergman, The Independent

“Striny clearly feels the music: He is one of those hopping, swiveling podium figures who scoops up phrases and implores big chunks of sound.”
~ Richard Houdek, Berkshire Eagle

Berkshire Eagle – Andrew Pincus "Shaker Mountain Opera rushes
in where others fear to tread"

Jody Dalton of The Albany Times Union declares: "A new and remarkable festival of opera...characterized by a remarkable professionalism in vocal talent and general music execution"

Berkshire News – Marion Wilshire “With Denes Striny and the Albany Symphony Orchestra to accompany the singers, the composer’s most popular opera (Manon) is in loving hands”.