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DONNA CONNOLLY soprano Telephone: (201)-200-2018 |
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New York —
Donna Connolly, a Metropolitan Opera National Council Audition winner, earned quick acclaim from the operatic public following this Met debut as La Contessa di Folleville in Opera Theatre of St. Louis’ heralded production of Rossini’s Il Viaggio A Reims. Since then the soprano has been singing to standing ovations in opera houses and concert halls in the United States and throughout the world. She delighted in Cairo as Micaela in Bizet’s Carmen, opposite Isola Jones as Carmen, under the direction of Rosalind Elias. The year continued with a debut concert tour through the Middle and Far East where she thrilled audiences as La Traviata's Violetta, a performance brava’d at an ambassadorial gala with the Taipei City Symphony. The soprano offered a stunning Rosalinda in a gala version of Strauss’ Die Fledermaus in New Orleans and Tampa. Ms. Connolly was invited to return to Florida for Liù in Puccini’s Turandot with an international cast, reviewed as “a feast for the eyes and ears.” This was followed by an eagerly anticipated appearance with Florida Orchestra in Handel’s Messiah. The year also included a reprise of her Micaela in the Pacific Northwest. Ms. Connolly made her Avery Fisher Hall and Lincoln Center debut with the St. Louis Symphony in Janácek’s Danube, Leonard Slatkin conducting. Other notable career highlights include engagements as Agnese in an anxiously anticipated production of Bellini’s Beatrice di Tenda by Opera Orchestra of New York, conducted by Eve Queler. This was followed by a national tour with the New York City Opera National Company as Violetta in La Traviata, then a Carnegie Hall concert with John Rutter conducting his Requiem. Other engagements have included a return to Opera Theatre of St. Louis as Clorinda in Rossini’s La Cenerentola; as Fiordiligi in Mozart’s Così fan tutte with Western Opera Theatre’s Merola program of the San Francisco Opera; New Jersey’s June Opera Festival; as Constanza in Mozart’s Die Entfuhrung aus dem Serail with Bronx Opera. Ms. Zapola returned to the New Jersey June Opera Festival as the Countess in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro. Ms. Connolly began 1999 as Mrs. Henley in the world premiere performance of the late Jerome Moross’ (Academy Award nominee, The Big Country) Sorry, Wrong Number, an opera based on Lucille Fletcher’s play and the admired movie of the same name. Critics called her lead performance in this role a “tour de force,” saying, “She utterly held the stage...capturing the increasing tension and fear with unforced, quite natural acting.” The performances were recorded for an international label. In the concert repertoire, Ms. Connolly has sung Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 2., “Lobgesang”, with the Brevard Symphony; in Janácek’s Danube, Leonard Slatkin conducting; with the Pittsburgh Oratorio Society in Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis; with the Albany Symphony Orchestra in Mozart’s Requiem, Paavo Järvi conducting; with the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra in Orff’s Carmina Burana; and with the Cayuga Chamber Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Carl St. Clair in Mozart’s Requiem and Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass. The soprano was specifically chosen for gala and anniversary concerts with the New Jersey State Symphony Orchestra, the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra, and the Nittany Valley Symphony Orchestra. Donna has traveled around the world earning critical praise from exotic locations such as the Cairo opera, Bangkok, Hong Kong, Manila, Seoul, Singapore and many more under the auspices of the Ambassadors of Opera. Ms. Connolly won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, appearing with the Met Orchestra in an internationally broadcast, enthusiastically received concert. Shortly after she took first place in the National Foundation of Music Club Young Artists and the Liederkranz Foundation competitions. The artist also has received a Contemporary Opera Award, Puccini Foundation Award and a Sullivan Foundation Grant. A Metropolitan Opera National Council Audition winner, as well as a first prizewinner in the Liederkranz Foundation Competition, and the National Federation of Music Clubs National winner, the soprano is also a recipient of the Sullivan Foundation Grant and the Puccini Foundation Award. In addition, Ms. Connolly was presented with the “Distinguished Alumni” award from Seton Hill University and most recently had the honor of being selected for the distinguished Voice Internship at Mount Sinai’s Grabschied Voice Center in New York City under the leadership of Dr. Peak Woo. Most recently Ms. Connolly led an Ambassadorial troupe of Opera singers to the Middle East to perform Mozart’s Così fan tutte. In addition Ms. Connolly has presented Vocal Master Classes at the University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, The American University in Cairo and the Abu Dhabi Cultural Foundation in the United Arab Emirates. Born in Johnstown, PA, Ms. Connolly apprenticed at Chautauqua and Merola and was a member of the acclaimed Opera Music Theater International, Jerome Hines, Director. Ms. Connolly was an Artist-in-Residence at the internationally admired Ruth Eckerd Hall and Performing Arts Center in Florida. She is currently an active member of the National Teachers of Singing, Inc., Music Teachers National Association, NYSTA, Music Educators National Conference, and the New Jersey Educator’s Association. The artist holds a Master’s Degree in vocal performance from Carnegie-Mellon University and is currently pursuing a DMA in vocal performance from Rutgers University. | |