GMHC Presents:
Angela M. Brown, Soprano
"One of America's most promising Verdi sopranos," Angela M. Brown
brandishes pure vocal power and finesse and has won the acclaim
of critics and audiences. The roles of Aida, Amelia, Tosca,
Elisabetta, Leonora, Ariadne, and the like, are the perfect conduit
for her musical abilities, described by one PBS radio critic as "her
powerful voice and what seems an inexhaustible palette of varied
colors."
Miss Brown sings the title role of Aida this October
for her singing debut with the Metropolitan Opera and reprises
the role in January 2005 for Opera Company of Philadelphia. She
follows that with a stint at the Met to cover Amelia (Un Ballo
in Maschera), a concert of opera arias for Dayton Opera, and
the role of Cilla in Margaret Garner, a new opera by Richard
Danielpour and Toni Morrison, for Cincinnati Opera and Opera Company
of Philadelphia.
The 2003–2004 season marked a new high for Miss Brown's career
as it encompassed four highly successful role debuts, a Carnegie
Hall debut, two glowing reviews each from The New York Times and
Opera Now and word to the wise to keep a watch on her career from
Opera News.
It all began in Spring 2003 as she stepped in for one performance
of Ariadne in Philadelphia and received this review from Opera
Now: "In one of those dramatic twists that are the stuff of opera,
the soprano covering the title role in ARIADNE AUF NAXOS at
the Metropolitan Opera got her chance to sing it — at the
Opera Company of Philadelphia. The young American soprano Angela
Brown took over one performance... She (Ms. Brown) has a powerhouse
of an instrument, shimmering with colour and imaginatively used,
and she knows how to take centre-stage."
Then, in the fall of 2004, Angela sang an unexpected performance
and her debut of Leonora in Opera Company of Philadelphia's Il
Trovatore. In January of 2004, she made her role debut as
Elisabetta in Don Carlo with Opera Company of Philadelphia
receiving this praise from The New York Times: "Angela Brown, a
soprano, brought dignity and shimmering pianos, and hit a bull's-eye
with her final aria," Opera News: "Angela Brown revealed herself
as a soprano to watch. Brown displayed good command of Verdi style,
imaginative phrasing and a warm, expressive voice," and Opera Now: "Angela
Brown's beautiful lyric soprano voice was ideal for Elisabetta.
She floated pianissimos that seemed to hang in space, shimmering,
and she had plenty of power for her last big scene."
March of 2004 had her singing Cassandra in Taneyev's Agamemnon in
Poland and she reprised it in June of 2004 for the American premiere
of the work at Carnegie Hall as her debut in that revered space.
The New York Times, again, honored her performance reporting that
the role of Cassandra was: "performed by Angela Brown with an opulent
soprano tone and a fine tragic sense." Opera News reported: "Rising
soprano Angela Brown made the most of it, singing with refulgent
tone and deep feeling... Her lovely, accomplished soft singing
bodes well for her upcoming Met and Philadelphia Aidas."
Following the Carnegie success, Miss Brown was a featured guest
soloist in a concert of opera arias and ensembles with Opera Pacific's
Opera Under the Stars and stepped in as Aida for Shaker Mountain
Opera's concert version of the opera. The critics spoke again: "Angela
M. Brown, who stepped into the title role after original casting
was announced, is a major discovery. Her soprano is one of those
too rare instruments capable of spinning exquisitely beautiful
legato lines, in phrasing that often is breathtaking in its security...
We shall hear more from this fine singing actress." (The Berkshire
Eagle)
In addition to these accomplishments and engagements in the past
year, she performed a concert of Strauss and Wagner arias with
the Auckland Philharmonia, as soloist for the Verdi Requiem with
Louisville Orchestra, and as soloist with The Gibraltar Philharmonic
garnering critical praise for each performance.
A 1997 National Metropolitan Opera Council Auditions Winner, Ms.
Brown's previous solo appearances include: Teatro La Fenice, Opera
Company of Philadelphia, Cincinnati Opera, Indianapolis Opera,
Michigan Opera Theatre, Tulsa Philharmonic, Long Island Philharmonic,
Auckland Philharmonia, Indianapolis Symphony, Cincinnati Pops,
Brevard Festival Orchestra, Roanoke Symphony, El Paso Symphony,
Knoxville Symphony, Hendersonville Symphony, Chautauqua Institution,
the Kimmel Center in Philadelphia and the Kennedy Center's 25th
Anniversary Celebration. Ms. Brown has performed in recital throughout
the United States, Canada, New Zealand and Africa.
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