 | | | | | |
 “She is, in a word, | | ||||
|
Elizabeth Blancke-Biggs, most recently heard worldwide in the Sirius Satellite Radio Metropolitan Opera Broadcast of Puccini's Tosca with tenor Marcello Giordani, as Puccini's La Fanciulla del West under the direction of Bruno Bartoletti at Palermo's Teatro Massimo, and as Verdi's Lady Macbeth at Santiago, Chile's Teatro Municipal, is becoming recognized as one of the most exciting lirico-spinto sopranos on the international scene today. Critics have praised her virtuosic bel canto technique, the beauty of her voice, her pyrotechnic coloratura, and her unerring theatricality. Hailed as one of the best young Verdi singers by Placido Domingo, she appeared with him at the Washington National Opera as Giordani’s Fedora in a gala performance. She made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Violetta in the Zeffirelli production of Verdi’s La Traviata under the baton of Marcello Viotti with Lado Ataneli as Germont, and her Italian debut was the title role in Jonathan Miller’s production of Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda at Torino’s Teatro Regio, conducted by Evelino Pidó. In South America she was Abigaille in Verdi’s Nabucco for Chile’s Teatro Municipal, with Maurizio Benini. In London she appeared as Bellini’s Norma and Puccini’s Fanciulla del West for Opera Holland Park. She was seen as Minnie in La Fanciulla del West, for Florida Grand Opera with Anthony Michaels-Moore as Rance, and where one reviewer said “... [her] rapturous sound literally enveloped the stage. A flamboyant, charismatic stage presence.” She returned to FGO to sing a critically acclaimed Tosca. For the New York City Opera she was seen as both Tosca and Mimì in La Bohème. She reprised Abigaille in Nabucco for the Aspendos Festival at the 15,000 seat Roman amphitheater in Antalya, Turkey, and was featured in a new production of Aida at Opera Omaha and Norma for Palm Beach Opera with Ruth Ann Swenson as Adalgisa. 
|
| |||
