Michelle Areyzaga, soprano
Following a “Stunning” (Opera Magazine) debut in The Kaiser of Atlantis for Chicago Opera Theatre, Michelle Areyzaga has demonstrated her vocal diversity in a variety of opera roles. Recent engagements include Adina in L’elisir d’amore with DuPage Opera Theatre and Mozart’s Susanna with Opera Birmingham. She has performed with Chicago Opera Theater, Lyric Opera of Chicago’s "In the Neighborhoods," Opera Theatre North, Chicago Light Opera Works, and Orquesta Sinfónica del Estado de México. Her Pamina, part of Chicago's Silk Road Initiative, was aired on public television. Additional favorite roles include Cunegonde, Sophie (Werther), Musetta, Adele, and Belinda.
Ms. Areyzaga’s busy concert schedule includes New York City Opera’s annual Composer’s Showcase, Brahm’s Requiem with Andrew Sewell and the Wichita Symphony Orchestra, appearances with the Rhode Island Philharmonic and a return engagement with John Nelson for Soli Deo Gloria.
One of Chicago’s favorite sopranos, she returns this season to the Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Master Singers, the St. Charles Singers, and the Evanston and Lake Forest Symphonies. She also appears with the Pilgrim Chambers Players, the Canterbury Music Society and Music in the Loft.
Recent highlights include her fourth appearance at The New York Festival of Song, Poulenc’s Gloria with the Flint Michigan Symphony, Gustavo Leone’s Mundo at the Grant Park Music Festival, and “Bernstein on Broadway” with both the Cleveland Orchestra at the Blossom Festival and at the Tilles Center in Long Island, NY.
A busy recording artist, Ms. Areyzaga's CD of the Song Cycles of Gwyneth Walker, The Sun IsLove, inspired The American Record Guide to state: "This album's appeal owes much to thesinging of Michelle Areyzaga, who has a sweet, unaffected voice and meticulous diction just right for these appealing tunes." Two additional CDs, Songs from Spoon River, songs of Lita Grier and The Small Hours, songs of William Ferris,were recently released. A frequent recitalist for the live programs of Classical Radio WFMT, Ms.Areyzaga was named by Pioneer Press as Chicago's"Artist of the Year" for 2006. 