Brian Downen returns to Eugene Opera in Cinderella after his 1997 debut as Nanki-Poo in The Mikado. He has recently appeared with Lake George Opera as Paolino in Il Matrimonio Segreto, Virginia Opera as Roderigo in Otello, Opera Delaware as Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, Nevada Opera as Lindoro in L'italiana in Algeri, Opera North East as Romeo in Romeo and Juliet and Opera Idaho as Tamino in Die Zauberflote, Count Almaviva in Il Barbierre di Siviglia and Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus. The Sparta, Illinois native was trained in the Yale Opera Program performing leading roles in Cinderella, Cosi Fan Tutte and Beatrice et Benedict in which he made his Lincoln Center debut. He also sang Mr. Upfold in Benjamin Britten’s Albert Herring directed by Britten protege, Colin Graham. Downen performed apprenticeships with the Steans Institute for Young Artists, the Santa Fe Opera and Opera Theatre of St. Louis.