In 2016, Mexican mezzo-soprano Claudia Chapa returned to Winter Opera St. Louis to perform the role of Azucena (Il trovatore), where she previously appeared as Dame Quickly (Falstaff) and Alisa (Lucia di Lammermoor). In 2015, Ms. Chapa performed the role of Flora (The Medium) at Opera in the Heights and returned to Distinguished Concert International New York (DCINY) as the mezzo-soprano soloist in Beecham/Goosens’ re-orchestration of Handel’s Messiah. She also made her Carnegie Hall debut as the mezzo-soprano soloist in Verdi’s Requiem with DCINY after performing the Requiem with Gulf Coast Symphony.
Ms. Chapa returned to The Glimmerglass Festival in the summer of 2015 as a Young Artist to sing Third Lady (The Magic Flute) and cover The Old Lady (Candide). The prior summer at Glimmerglass she covered the role of Dryade (Ariadne auf Naxos). She previously sang in The Magic Flute with Portland Opera’s educational tour. At the International Vocal Art Institute in Tel Aviv, Israel, she received the prestigious Silverman Award after singing Madame de Croissy in Dialogues des carmélites. She made her debut as Azucena with Opera In Williamsburg and debuted Dame Quickly at Opera in the Heights, where she also sang The Witch (Hansel and Gretel). As a member of the Des Moines Metro Opera Apprentice Program Ms. Chapa covered the role of Gertrude (Roméo et Juliette).
She made her professional debut as Dritte Dame (Die Zauberflöte) with Austin Lyric Opera. She subsequently appeared with Opera Fayetteville as Aunt Cecilia (Little Women) and then with Indianapolis Opera as Marthe (Faust).
Ms. Chapa received her training at the Butler School of Music at University of Texas-Austin, where she performed the role of Beatriz in the world premiere of the new orchestration of La Hija de Rappaccini with late composer Daniel Catan. There she also sang Zia Principessa in Suor Angelica, the title role in Rodriguez’s La Curandera, Gertrude in Hansel and Gretel, and Mrs. Herring in Albert Herring.
This is her St. Petersburg debut.