Vincent Ordonneau began his career as a member of French boys’ choir Les Petits Chanteurs à la Croix de Bois, followed by studies at the Conservatory of Lyon and an early career as an engineer. The French tenor is a noted specialist in the character tenor repertoire, with a reputation for works sung in French, and a focus on 20th and 21st century compositions, such as Michel Tabachnik’s Benjamin, dernière nuit (world premiere at Opéra de Lyon) and Enescu’s Œdipe.
Recent and upcoming highlights include Spalanzani (Les Contes d’Hoffmann) at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Torquemada (L’heure espagnole) for the Opéra de Monte-Carlo, The Four servants (Les contes d’Hoffmann) at Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, The Israeli Opera and Opéra National de Lyon, Remendado (Carmen) at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden and at the Arena di Verona Festival, Schmidt (Werther) at the Royal Opera House, Bardolfo (Falstaff) in Nice, The Chaplain (Dialogues des Carmélites) at the Glyndebourne Festival, and at the Capitole in Toulouse.
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Les contes d’Hoffmann (The Four Servants)
Opéra National de Lyon, December 2025
Vincent Ordonneau demonstrates that he is one of the best in the combined roles of Andrès, Cochenille, Frantz, and Pitichinaccio—and, above all, one of the most mischievous when he adopts the guise of a not very virile dance master, harassed by his young ballerinas.
Paul Fourier, cult.news
Vincent Ordonneau, a specialist in the genre, excels in comic roles, even if they are too rarely exploited by the director. His delightful portrayal of the Ballet Master in Antonia’s act, surrounded by a group of insolent and mischievous little rats, remains unforgettable.
José Pons, Olyrix.com
Among the Francophone performers, we will praise the high standard and elegance of Vincent Ordonneau.
J.F. Lattarico, premiereloge-opera.com
In the guise of a pawn in a grey smock, it is the excellent Vincent Ordonneau in the second of his comic avatars (the first being Andrès, Lindorf’s monosyllabic valet). A little later, in Frantz’s aria, 'Jour et nuit je me mets en quatre,' Vincent Ordonneau brilliantly follows in a tradition once illustrated by the likes of Michel Sénéchal or Rémy Corazza—a subtle blend of derision and emotion. A very charming scene, where six mischievous young dancers pull faces behind the dance master’s back.
Charles Sigel, Forum Opera
Vincent Ordonneau, a dance master tormented by his mischievous little rats, shines as Frantz in a hilarious scene.
Jean-Luc Clairet, ResMusica
Striking an ideal balance between singing and comedy... Vincent Ordonneau’s excellent performances as the servants.
Lloyd, Opera Diary
Vincent Ordonneau, for his part, embodies his various 'servants' with great pleasure.
Elvira Monez, Opera-Online
Vincent Ordonneau, bringing verve to the four valets...
Laurent Bury, Concertclassic.com
Carmen (Le Remendado)
Royal Opera House, April 2024
French tenor Vincent Ordonneau had a ball as Remendado, enthusiastically getting to grips as one of the smugglers and having a bright, dominant tenor voice. He is surely destined for bigger roles.
Mike Hardy, Operawire
Dialogues des Carmélites (Father Confessor)
Glyndebourne Festival Opera, May 2023
Vincent Ordonneau was a sympathetic Father Confessor, especially when delivering a final mass for the sisters
Claire Seymour, Opera Today
Vincent Ordonneau made a moving Father Confessor, a man without all the answers yet immensely sympathetic.
Robert Hugill, Planet Hugill
The cast is of course predominantly female, but Vincent Ordonneau showed great presence as the Father Confessor
Mark Ronan, The Article
Oedipe (Shepherd)
Opéra National de Paris, Autumn 2021
Courageous and equipped with a pleasing, flexible vocal tone, Vincent Ordonneau portrays a shepherd who is both solemn and pure-hearted
Overblog - Fomalhaut
Among several striking performances, special mention of Vincent Ordonneau’s poetic Shepherd.
Emmanuel Dupuy, Diapason
With his impeccable diction, Vincent Ordonneau flies the flag for French singing.
Alexandre Jamar, Forum Opera
Vincent Ordonneau (the Shepherd) has at his disposal a ringing, effective, darkly-coloured tenor voice
Thibault Vicq, Opera Online
The cast includes several strong French artists: …Vincent Ordonneau makes a characterful Shepherd
Laurent Bury, concertclassic.com
Oedipe (Shepherd)
Salzburger Festspiele, Summer 2019
From dizzying heights V.Ordonneau delivers a captivatingly-sung performance
Dr. H.C. Mayer, Opera-online.com
Vincent Ordonneau brings to the Shepherd a lyrical beauty of tone.
Florian Oberhummer, Salzburger Nachrichten
The french tenor Vincent Ordonneau brings a welcome touch of sincerity to the role of the Shepherd.
Claude Jottrand, forum opera
Vincent Ordonneau's Opera Repertoire
| Bernstein | Officer Lonigan, Wonderful Town |
|---|---|
| Bizet | Remendado, Carmen |
| Chabrier | Title Role, Fisch-Ton-Kan |
| Dayer | Jure, Babel After the War |
| Enescu | Shepherd, Oedipe |
| Glanert | Klaxon / Le Pendu, Die drei Rätsel |
| Hérold | Dandolo, Zampa |
| Massenet | The Dean of the Faculty, Cendrillon Schmidt, Werther |
| Mozart | Basilio / Don Curzio, Le nozze di Figaro |
| Offenbach | Spalanzani / Nathaniel / Andrès / Cochineal / Frantz / Pitichinaccio / Les 4 Valets, Les contes d'Hoffmann |
| Poulence | Lacouf / A reporter from Paris, Les mamelles de Tirésias Chaplain of the convent, Dialogues des Carmélites |
| Puccini | Spoletta, Tosca Gobin, La rondine Pong, Turandot |
| Ravel | Torquemada, L'Heure espagnole |
| Rossini | Rudolph, Guilliaume Tell |
| Rota | Lo zio Vezinet, Il cappello di paglia di Firenze |
| Strauss | First/Third/Fourth Jews, Salome |
| Tabachnik | Un joueur d'échecs, Benjamin, dernière nuit |
| Verdi | Matteo Borsa, Rigoletto Bardolph, Falstaff |
| Villa-Lobos | Zoggie, Magdalena |
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