Ariana Chris
Mezzo-soprano
New England Finalist, 2004

Mezzo Soprano, Ariana Chris, is heralded by Canada’s National Post as “a rising opera star” who is “on the right track.” Ms. Chris is currently a member of Young Artist’s Program L’Atelier Lyrique de L’Opéra de Montréal with whom she started in 2002.

In her apprenticeship with L’Opéra de Montréal, Ms. Chris was featured in main stage productions as Zweite Knabe in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, Zulma in L’Italiana in Algeri, and most recently as Myrtale in Thaïs. With the Atelier Lyrique Ariana has toured as Zweite Dame in Die Zauberflöte, as Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel as well as 55 performances of alternating between Carmen and Mercedes in Bizet’s Carmen.

Other roles include Angiolina in La Cenerentola at the Orford Arts Centre where the Montréal Gazette said she applied a “light” and “handsome mezzo voice and firm technique to the title role.” Last year, Ariana sang Davide Penitente (from Mozart Mass in C minor) with La Chapelle of Montréal under the direction of Yannick Nézet-Seguin. Her summer of 2001 was spent at the Aspen Music Festival where in addition to her operatic performances, she was invited to sing a gala concert with pianist Leon Fleisher.

Ariana Chris is a graduate of the University of Toronto’s Opera division. During her time there she was well-featured in a number of productions including L’Enfant et les Sortilèges after which the press deemed her performance “Outstanding.” In her final year, she played Nancy, in Albert Herring, La Reine, in Thomas’ Hamlet, Giannetta in L’Elisir d’Amore, and the lead role, Boulotte, in their spring production of Offenbach’s Barbe Bleue under the baton of Maestro Raffi Armenian.

This summer Ariana will be an apprentice at Lake George Opera singing Giannetta in L’Elisir d’Amore in addition to added orchestral concerts. Coming up next season, she will be recording a solo Début recital for national broadcast on Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) Radio.

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