The
young soprano Anna Christy has earned rave reviews for her performances
of lyric-coloratura roles. Her performances of Blondchen in Die
Entführung aus dem Serail have been unanimously lauded by
critics: “Anna Christy's Blonde is a delight of feisty energy
and sweet, sharp vocalism.” (Press-Telegram - Opera Pacific)
“Anna Christy managed to steal the show. Her energy on stage,
effective use of movement and a glittering, expressive coloratura voice
combined to make her performance close to perfect” (Observer-Dispatch,
Utica - Glimmerglass Opera). Of her performance of Marie in La
Fille du régiment, the Columbus Dispatch exclaimed:
“In sum, the young singer has that gift that can only be bestowed
from above: star quality.”
Highlights of Ms. Christy's 2004-05 season include her debut with the
Metropolitan Opera as Papagena in a new production of Die Zauberflöte,
and her debut with the Lyric Opera of Chicago as Muffin in the world
premiere of A Wedding, with music by William Bolcom and direction
by Robert Altman. Ms. Christy also returns to New York City Opera in
the 2004-05 season to sing Cunegonde in Candide.
In the 2003-04 season Anna Christy makes her debut with the San Francisco
Opera as Angel More in The Mother of Us All andreturns to New
York City Opera as Yum-Yum in The Mikado. She sings
her first performances of the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor
with Opera Omaha, performs Olympia in The Tales of Hoffmann
with Central City Opera and appears with San Francisco Symphony as Marzelline
in a semi-staged concert version of Fidelio. Her numerous concert
engagements in the 2003-04 season include works by Mozart and Strauss
in a New Year's Eve concert with the Philadelphia Orchestra, the Bach
Cantata No. 152 (Christmas Cantata) with the Orpheus Chamber
Orchestra, Schütz's The Christmas Story with Eos Orchestra;
Beethoven's Egmont with the Oregon Symphony, the Dew Fairy
and Sandman in concert performances of Hänsel and Gretel
with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, the Poulenc Gloria and
Mozart's Exsultate, jubilate at Arizona State University, solo
recitals in Japan, and an appearance with the New York Festival of Song
in Paul Bowles' Picnic Cantata.
In the summer of 2003 Ms. Christy made her Santa Fe Opera debut as young
Jiang Ching in the world premiere of Madame Mao (music by Bright
Sheng and libretto by Colin Graham). Ms. Christy’s engagements
in the 2002-03 season included Zerlina in Don Giovanni with
Los Angeles Opera; Blondchen in Die Entführung aus dem Serail
with Opera Pacific; Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with
Nashville Opera; Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute with
Orlando Opera; Mrs. Nordstrom in A Little Night Music with
New York City Opera; Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 with Eos
Orchestra; and Messiah with ProMusica Chamber Orchestra.
In the 2001-02 season, Anna Christy sang Annabelle in The Glass
Blowers, Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Yum-Yum in The Mikado
and Papagena in Die Zauberflöte with New York City Opera.
Ms. Christy also sang Marie in La Fille du régiment
in a return to Opera Columbus after having sung Adele in Die Fledermaus.
In the summer of 2002 Ms. Christy sang Tytania in A Midsummer Night’s
Dream with Central City Opera.
In addition to the ARIA Award, Anna Christy is a recipient of a 2002
Sullivan Foundation Grant and a 2002 Richard F. Gold Grant. She won
Wolf Trap's 2000 Shouse Debut Artist Award, where she sang roles including
Tytania and Zerlina, recitals with Steven Blier, and Carmina Burana
with the National Symphony Orchestra.
On learning of the ARIA Award, Ms. Christy had this to say:
"I am so thrilled to have been chosen as anARIA Award recipient!
What an amazing honor. This Award made me realize that others have recognized
and are congratulating me on where my hard work has led me. Knowing
and respecting other recipients of this Award also makes being selected
very special. The support, caring, and generosity with which the Thomas
Foundation encourages young singers to persevere is truly wonderful!"
