Seems like AVA mezzo-sopranos are in the news with performances this month on both sides of the Atlantic.
Newest alum Nina Yoshida Nelsen will be making her New York City Opera debut this month as Suzuki in Madama Butterfly. Some might remember this production when James Valenti starred as Pinkerton on PBS television.
She won’t be alone while in NYC, since she’ll be sharing the stage with three other alums: Jeffrey Halili as Goro, Daesan No as Prince Yamadori and Ross Benoliel as his cover. Nina will stay in NYC after her stint with NYCO to sing Mozart’s Missa Solemnis and the Vivaldi Gloria at Carnegie Hall with the New England Symphonic Ensemble on May 30.
You can see Nina’s performances of Madama Butterfly on March 19,21,25,27 April 2, 4 & 8
Nicole Piccolomini is no stranger to Wagner, after singing the complete Ring Cycle at Deutsche Oper Berlin last season. I guess you can say she got her Wagner start at AVA when she sang Flosshilde and Erda (Das Rheingold) in 2006.
She reprises the role of Flosshilde (Das Rheingold) in which opens tomorrow at the Paris Opera Bastille - their first ever complete Ring Cycle. She will also sing Grimgerde in Die Walküre in May. I just received word from Ms. Piccolomini that she will sing in Die Walküre at both La Scala and the Staatsoper Berlin in the coming seasons. Add to that Lola in Cavalleria Rusticana back at Paris Opera, and I’d say that’s a home run.
You can see Nicole’s performances of Das Rheingold at Paris Opera on March 4, 10, 13, 16, 19, 22, 25, & 28
Sopranos beware!
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