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photo: John Hart |
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Tracy Watson continues to be praised for her "rich, shimmering voice" and for her "dynamic stage presence." At home on the opera stage, in concert and recital or in the recording studio, she performs regularly throughout the United States and Europe. She began her career as a member of Chicago's prestigious Lyric Opera Center for American Artists. At her first audition in Germany, the intendand at the Städtische Bühnen Dortmund immediately engaged her to sind Dorabella. Shortly, this led to her first Nicklausse in Les Contes d'Hoffmann. At the Theater Oberhausen, Ms. Watson's leading roles including Cherubino and Stéfano, and Mrs. Cratchit in the German premiere of Thea Musgrave's A Christmas Carol, which was later featured at the opening night of the Nordrhein-Westfalen Festival of New German Theater - Stadttheater Aachen. She has appeared multiple times with the Europera Festival and has in various operatic roles in concert including Carmen and Händel's Cornelia.
Ms. Watson's 2007-08 season includes appearances with Chicago Master Singers, a live WFMT broadcast (Mar 9) of Songs of the Wayfarer, a special appearance as guest soloist at the American Opera Society's Gala (Apr 14), Messiahs with the Richmond Symphony Orchestra (Nov 30 - Dec 3) and Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 with Lake Forest Symphony. She returns to South Bend Symphony Orchestra as alto soloist in Prokofiev's Alexander Nevsky (Apr 18, 2008).
This summer she will be heard as soloist in "Pops with Park Ridge Symphony" on July 13 and the Dance for Life Benefit Gala with the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago on August 18. The 2007-08 season begins with a performance of Copland's Emily Dickinson Songs with James Morehead at Chicago's Ganz Hall (Sep 25) and Bruckner's Te Deum with Chicago Master Singers (Nov 9 & 11). Her season continues in Messiah with the Richmond Symphony Orchestra (Nov 30 - Dec 1, '07), the Bach St. John Passion (Mar) and the Bach Society of St. Louis, Prokofiev's Alexander Nevsky (Apr 18 '08) with Maestro Yeh and South Bend Symphony Orchestra and in Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 to celebrate Lake Forest Symphony's 50th Anniversary Season (May 30, 31 & Jun 1 '08).
Ms. Watson's live performances and recordings are featured regularly on Public Radio's WFMT. She recently in a gala duo recital with Samuel Ramey and débuted with Musica Sacra as soloist in Messiah at Carnegie Hall. She continues to début new solo repertoire including El amor brujo and Les Chants d'Auvergne. She appeared as soloist with the Bach Society of St. Louis in the St. Matthew Passion and with the Virginia Chamber Music Society in Beethoven's Mass in Cand in Mozart's Waisenhausmesse with Music of the Baroque. She received rave reviews for her début with Portland Opera as "The Secretary" in Menotti's The Consul and as alto soloist in Haydn's Theresienmesse conducted by Jane Glover also with MOB.
Other appearances as soloist include Beethoven's Choral Fantasy and Haydn's Creation Mass, the Verdi Requiem in Barcelona (début), Haydn's Mass in Time of War at the Grant Park Music Festival, débuts with Madison Opera (Musetta) and as soloist with the Duluth-Superior Symphony, Rosina in her triumphant return to Chicago Opera Theater, Intimate Händel at Chicago's Händel Week, and with the Grant Park Music Festival in Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. Long a GPS favorite, she has also performed in Borodin's Prince Igor with Zdenek Macal, Janáček's Glagolitic Mass with Hugh Wolff, Bruckner's Te Deum with Jesus Lopez-Cobos, and Beethoven's Mass in C with Christof Perick.
She has appeared as soloist with Princeton Pro Musica, West Suburban Choral Union, Theater Oberhausen Orkester, International Song Festival with Martin Katz, in the North American premiere of Britten's World of the Spirit at Carnegie Hall, a Prague concert début with I Virtuosi Pragenses, with the Classical Symphony Orchestra, Lake Geneva Opera Festival, Bach Society of St. Louis, and the Evanston and Flagstaff symphonies.
Colleagues and friends for many years, Ms. Watson and pianist Dana Brown have formed an exciting recital duo, OPUS 2. Programs include Elgar's Sea Pictures, songs of Reynaldo Hahn, selections from Cantaloube's Chants Auvergne, Britten's Canticle II with tenor William Watson, Argento's Diary of Virginia Woolf, song literature of Brahms, Fauré, Duparc, Strauss and Gershwin, and selections from opera. Ms. Watson and Mr. Brown were first heard together on WFMT Radio as part of the station's 50th anniversary celebrations.
GUEST VOCAL SOLOIST | Postcards | The Joffrey Ballet | Oct 15, 17, 18, 19, |
SOLOIST | Beethoven's Ninth Symphony | The Virginia Consort | Mar 1, 2009 |
Recital Tour | with Dana Brown | Novo Artists Presents | TBA |
Tracy Watson as The Secretary in Menotti's The Consul - Portland Opera
As Alto Soloist in Prokofiev's Alexander Nevsky: |
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"SBSO magnificent with epic work" "Watson joined the orchestra for 'The Field of the Dead,' and the rich tone and color of her voice and her expressive, in-character delivery highlighted the mourning nature of this lament but also contained resilience and pride." |
Andrew S. Hughes - South Bend Tribune - April 12, 2008 |
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Dance for Life revisits the 'classics' |
Lucia Mauro, Special to the Chicago Tribune |
"In excerpts from 'Carmen,' Watson was a similar force of nature. Slim and sexy in a long red velvet sheath, she poured out equal parts hauteur and seduction." |
Wynne Delacoma, Classical Music Critic - Chicago Sun-Times |
Tracy Watson as soloist in Bach's Mass in b minor with The Tampa Chorale and the Florida Orchestra: |
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"The orchestra pounced on the 'Gloria' with a joyful burst from trumpets and timpani, and mezzo-soprano Tracy Watson spun a creamy 'We Praise You' aria before the full chorus - brilliant in the upper registers - offered a soaring response of thanks." |
Kurt Loft - Tampa Tribune |
The Secretary in Menotti's The Consul: |
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" … the finest performance of the evening belonged to Tracy Watson as the Secretary. Her clear, rich mezzo soprano commanded the stage, and her aria, 'Oh, Those Faces,' was both powerful and moving." |
Steffen Silvin - The Williamette Week |
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"Mezzo soprano Tracy Watson is vocally and visually vibrant, almost fooling you into thinking she's a high soprano, as the Secretary, who presents the front of an unfeeling functionary but gradually reveals her underlying humanity." |
Mark Mandel - The Oregonian |
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Alto soloist in Haydn's Theresienmesse with Music of the Baroque: |
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"Tracy Watson brought a warm yet agile mezzo soprano to her MOB solo début." |
John von Rhein - Chicago Tribune |
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Rosina in Rossini's Il Barbiere di Siviglia: |
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"Tracy Watson's Rosina is the very model of a spunky, empowered, feminist-era heroine who's clever enough to get her way. Singing in the original mezzo soprano keys, she sails securely through her florid passages." |
Chicago Tribune |
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"With her agile, creamy voice, mezzo soprano Tracy Watson brought unflagging energy to the role of Rosina." |
Chicago Sun Times |
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Alto soloist in Messiah: |
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"The program biography for mezzo soprano Tracy Watson credits her 'dynamic stage' and her animation indeed made her performance, in addition to her smooth and seamless voice. The alto solos in Messiah are low for a female voice, but Ms. Watson displayed virtually no trouble through the vocal registers, including in the low runs of 'O thou that tellest good tidings to Zion' and 'He was despised.' Her dramatic approach was gentle and lyrical." |
Town Topics-Princeton |
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Cherubino in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro: |
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"Tracy Watson was Cherubino, with his/her roguish traits and a voice full of charm - she is simply a treasure!" |
Orpheus Magazine |
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"…a dream casting of Tracy Watson as Cherubino, her acting ranged from quiet whimpering to ardent imploring." |
WZ Düsseldorf |
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"Quite best of all was the Cherubino of Tracy Watson, a 'spit-fire' with charm in appearance and voice, with an unmistakable affinity for Mozart." |
Opera und Konzert |
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"The Cherubino, Tracy Watson, with her rich mezzo, is a real 'Stürmer und Dränger'" |
WAZ Oberhausen |
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"Superior was Tracy Watson as the young/fresh, vocally flexible Cherubino." |
NRZ Oberhausen |
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"An equally excellent transformation of a role was demonstrated by Tracy Watson as Cherubino. She was quite free and easy." |
Ruhrnachnichten |
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Stefano in Gounod's Roméo et Juliette: |
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"A very positive surprise was Tracy Watson who, through her brilliant realization of Stefano, raised it to the high point of the evening." |
Opernglas |
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" Best of all was the Stefano of Tracy Watson." |
Opera und Konzert |
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The Muse and Nicklaus in Offenbach's Les Contes d'Hoffmann: |
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"As the Muse and Nicklaus Tracy Watson, with shimmering voice, was distinctive." |
Westfalenpost |
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"After her Dortmund début at the Sckellstrasse Theater two weeks ago, Ms. Watson is now in the main house portraying the poet Muse and the student Nicklaus, and will remain for all time in the hearts of the public." |
Wochenkurier (Dortmund) |
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"Tracy Watson as the Muse and Nicklaus, respectively, brings great zeal to this double role." |
Opern Welt |
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Musetta in Puccini's La Bohème: |
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"As Marcello and Musetta, baritone David Little and mezzo soprano Tracy Watson were an excellent pair. Watson has an excellent voice that is just right in the role. She also has a tart, often blazing personality that allows her to make Musetta the fiery, fun-loving but truly good person she is." |
Paul Sweitzer, Arizona Daily Sun |
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"The other two leads, baritone David Little as Marcello and mezzo soprano Tracy Watson as Musetta were both a visual and aural delight. They were the perfect couple, acting and singing their roles with vigor, humor and total involvement." |
Flagstaff live! |
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Dorabella in Mozart's Così fan tutte: |
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"…and the young and very talented Tracy Watson as Dorabella…" |
Marabo |
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"Tracy Watson as Dorabella and Marion Henseler as Despina ventured an exceedingly successful installment of the Dortmund celebration and we recommend them for further engagements." |
Wochenkurier (Dortmund) |
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Mrs. Cratchit in Musgrave's A Christmas Carol: |
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"The most beautiful voices of the evening (Musgrave's A Christmas Carol) belonged to the baritone Mark Morouse and the mezzo soprano Tracy Watson." |
Aachner Volkszeitung |
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Polovtsian Maiden in Borodin's Prince Igor: |
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"Tracy Watson sang a sensuous Polovtsian Maiden." |
Chicago Tribune |
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"The local singers who were involved in this performance did a superb job, notably Tracy Watson with her spectacular soaring soprano, intoning the beautiful Polovtsian music of act two." |
The Reader |
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Musetta in Puccini's La Bohème: |
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"Tracy Watson as Musetta rolls the show like a hoop whenever the pathos becomes a bit too strong." |
The Capital Times |
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"Anyone lamenting the supposed scarcity of talent among the relatively recent influx of young opera singers across the United States just hasn't been listening. The Madison Opera production of Puccini's La Bohème Friday night stunningly demonstrated the wealth of ability in this group of high quality young singers…Marcello and his Musetta, Tracy Watson, were fiery in their on-and-off lovers' relationship. Watson was fine in her central waltz aria." |
Wisconsin Journal |
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"The Madison Opera's production of Puccini's La Bohème was a triumph worthy of any world culture center, thanks to amazing young singers, fine acting, wonderfully subtle stage direction, inspired orchestral playing, and out-and-out lyrical genius on the podium…the free-spirited Musetta (Tracy Watson) placed more emphasis on rebellion than guile…her voice was bright and clear." |
Isthmus |
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Alto soloist in Mahler's Symphony No. 3: |
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"…mezzo soprano Tracy Watson…her voice soaring over the audience. Watson's presence through the fourth and fifth movements gave the concert the boost it needed to become memorable for the right reasons." |
The Sheboygan Press |
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GUEST VOCAL SOLOIST | Postcards | The Joffrey Ballet - Ravina Music Festival |
GUEST VOCAL SOLOIST | Postcards | The Joffrey Ballet |
SOLOIST | Beethoven's Symphony No.9 | Lake Forest Symphony |
SOLOIST | Alexander Nevsky | South Bend Symphony |
SOLOIST | St. John Passion | Bach Society of St. Louis |
SOLOIST | A. Copland's Emily Dickinson Songs | Ganz Hall, Roosevelt University, Chicago |
SOLOIST | Messiah | Richmond Symphony |
SOLOIST | Bruckner's Te Deum | Chicago Master Singers |
Guest Artist | Bernstein on Broadway | San Antonio Symphony |
SOLOIST | Dance for Life Gala | Joffrey Ballet |
SOLOIST | Pops Concert | Park Ridge Symphony |
SOLOIST | Songs of the Wayfarer | WFMT Live Broadcast |
Guest Artist | various | American Opera Society Gala |
SOLOIST | Excerpts from Carmen | University of Chicago Orchestra |
RECITAL |
| Chicago Singing Teachers Guild |
RECITAL |
| Ganz Hall, Roosevelt University, Chicago |
SOLOIST | Mozart Mass in c minor | Carnegie Hall |
SOLOIST | Verdi Requiem | University Park w/ Jane Glover |
RECITAL | Schumann Maria Stuart Lieder | Fazioli Live Concert Series - WFMT Radio, Chicago |
SOLOIST | Mahler Symphony No.2 | South Bend Symphony |
SOLOIST | Bach b minor Mass | Bach Society of St. Louis |
SOLOIST | Haydn Mass in Time of War, and | Virginia Consort |
SOLOIST | Händel Messiah | Apollo Chorus of Chicago |
SOLOIST | Händel Messiah | Naperville Symphony |
SOLOIST | Bach St. Matthew Passion | Bach Society of St. Louis |
SOLOIST | Beethoven Mass in C | Virginia Chamber Music Society |
SOLOIST | de Falla El Amor brujo | Oak Park River- Forest Symphony |
SOLOIST | Gala Duo Recital w/ Samuel Ramey | Roosevelt University, Chicago |
SOLOIST | Händel Messiah | St. Clement, Chicago |
SOLOIST | Händel Messiah | Musica Sacra - Carnegie Hall |
SOLOIST | Mozart Waisenhausmesse | Music of the Baroque w/ Jane Glover |
SOLOIST | Mahler Symphony No.3 | Elmhurst Symphony |
SOLOIST | Beethoven Mass in C | Roosevelt University, Chicago |
SOLOIST | Bach St. John Passion | West Suburban Choral Union |
SOLOIST | Mozart Mass in c minor | Evansville Symphony |
SOLOIST | Mozart Requiem | Carnegie Hall |
RECITAL | Dame Myra Hess Concert Series | Live Broadcast WFMT Radio |
SOLOIST | Bach St. Matthew Passion | Princeton Pro Musica |
SOLOIST | Bach St. Matthew Passion | West Suburban Choral Union |
SOLOIST | Bach Mass in b minor | Bach Society of St. Louis |
SOLOIST | Bach St. Mark Passion | Bach Society of St. Louis |
SOLOIST | Barber Despite and Still | International Song Festival w/ Martin Katz |
SOLOIST | Beethoven Choral Fantasy | North Shore Choral Society |
SOLOIST | Beethoven Ninth Symphony | Grant Park Music Festival w/ Carlos Kalmar |
SOLOIST | Beethoven Mass in C | Carnegie Hall w/ Jonathan Wilcocks |
SOLOIST | Beethoven Mass in C | Grant Park Music Festival w/ Christof Perick |
SOLOIST | Beethoven Missa Solemnis | Elgin Choral Union |
SOLOIST | Bernstein Jeremiah Symphony | Richmond Symphony |
SOLOIST | Britten World of the Spirit | Carnegie Hall (New York premiere) |
SOLOIST | Bruckner Te Deum | Grant Park Mus. Festival, Jesus Lopez-Cobos |
SOLOIST | Dvořák Te Deum | Richmond Symphony |
SOLOIST | Copland Dickinson Songs | International Song Festival w/ Martin Katz |
SOLOIST | Dvořák Requiem | Elgin Choral Union |
SOLOIST | Elgar Sea Pictures | DuPage Symphony |
SOLOIST | Händel Alto Cantatas | Chicago's Händel Week 2000 |
SOLOIST | Händel Messiah | Duluth-Superior Symphony |
SOLOIST | Händel Messiah | Fox Valley Symphony |
SOLOIST | Händel Messiah | Princeton Pro Musica |
SOLOIST | Haydn Theresienmesse | Music of the Baroque, Jane Glover |
SOLOIST | Haydn Lord Nelson Mass | Richmond Symphony |
SOLOIST | Haydn Lord Nelson Mass | St. Charles Music Festival |
SOLOIST | Haydn Creation Mass | North Shore Choral Society |
SOLOIST | Haydn Mass in Time of War | Grant Park Music Festival, Karlos Kalmar |
SOLOIST | Janáček Glagolitic Mass | Grant Park Musica Festival, Hugh Wolff |
SOLOIST | Mahler Symphony No. 3 | Richmond Symphony |
SOLOIST | Mahler Symphony No. 4 | New Philharmonic Orchestra |
SOLOIST | Mendelssohn Symphony No.2 Lobgesang | Eastern Connecticut Symphony |
SOLOIST | Mozart Requiem | I Virtuosi Pragenses (Rudolfinum and Prague) |
SOLOIST | Mozart Requiem | Duluth Symphony |
SOLOIST | Mozart Mass in c minor | Carnegie Hall |
SOLOIST | Rossini Stabat mater | Theater Oberhausen Orchester |
SOLOIST | Verdi Requiem | Palau de la Musica, Barcelona |
Bizet | Carmen | Carmen | Elgin Choral Union |
R. Strauss | Der Rosenkavalier | Octavian | Grant Park Music Festival |
Opera Gala |
| SOLOIST | Lake Geneva Opera Festival |
Bizet | Carmen | Carmen | DuPage Symphony, Evanston Symphony |
| Carmen | Mercedes | Hawaii Opera Theater |
Borodin | Prince Igor | Polovtsian Maiden | Grant Park Music Festival, Zdenek Macal |
Gounod | Romeo et Juliette | Stefano | Theater Oberhausen |
Händel | Giulio Cesare | Cornelia | Concert Version-Curtis Hall, Chicago |
Humperdinck | Hänsel und Gretel | Hänsel | Chicago Opera Theater, Lyric Opera Center |
| Hänsel und Gretel | Hänsel | Whitewater Opera |
Menotti | The Consul | The Secretary | Portland Opera |
Mozart | Così fan tutte | Dorabella | Städtische Bühnen Dortmund |
| Le Nozze di Figaro | Cherubino | Theater Oberhausen |
| Opera Arias & Duets | SOLOIST | Europera Festival (France), Martin Merry |
Musgrave | A Christmas Carol | Mrs. Cratchit | Theater Oberhausen (German premiere) |
| A Christmas Carol | Mrs. Cratchit | Nordrhein-Westfalen Festival of New German |
Offenbach | Les Contes d'Hoffmann | Nicklaus | Städtische Bühnen Dortmund |
Puccini | La Bohème | Musetta | Madison Opera, Flagstaff Symphony |
Rossini | Il Barbiere di Siviglia | Rosina | Chicago Opera Theater |
R. Strauss | Ariadne auf Naxos | Dryade | Chicago Opera Theater |
| Der Rosenkavalier | Octavian | Oak Park/River Forest Symphony |
Weisgall | Six Characters | Lust | Lyric Opera Center for American Artists |
WINNER - Farwell Award (Twice) |
WINNER - Lynne Harvey Award |
FINALIST - Metropolitan Opera Regional Auditions (Chicago) |
Lyric Opera Center for American Artists | |
M.M. | Northwestern University |
B.A. | Mount Holyoke College |
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photo: John Hart |
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Bach, J.S. | Mass in b minor |
| Magnificat |
| St. John Passion |
| St. Mark Passion |
| St. Matthew Passion |
Berlioz | Les nuit d'été |
| Roméo et Juliette |
Beethoven | Choral Fantasy |
| Mass in C |
| Missa Solemnis |
| Symphony No. 9 |
Bernstein | Jeremiah Symphony |
Brahms | Alto Rhapsody |
Britten | World of the Spirit (New York Premiere) |
Bruckner | Te Deum |
Canteloupe | Les Chants D'Auvergne |
Chausson | Poème de l'amour et de la mer |
| Chanson perpétuelle |
Copland | Old American Songs |
De Falla | El Amor brujo |
Debussy | La damoiselle élue |
Dvořák | Requiem |
Händel | selected arias |
| cantatas: |
| "Clori, degli occhi miei" |
| "Qualor, crudele si ma vaga Dori" |
| "Siete rose ruggiadose" |
| Messiah |
Haydn | Creation Mass |
| Lord Nelson Mass |
| Mass in Time of War |
| Theresienmesse |
Janáček | Glagolitic Mass |
Mahler | Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (Songs of a Wayfarer) |
| Symphonies Nos. 3 & 4 |
Mendelssohn | Lobgesang - Symphony No. 2 |
Mozart | Coronation Mass |
| Mass in c minor |
| Requiem |
| Concert Aria: "Ombra felice…Io ti lascio," K.255 |
Pergolesi | Stabat Mater |
Prokofiev | Alexander Nevsky (début 4/08) |
Rossini | Petite messe solennelle |
| Stabat Mater |
Saint-Saens | Christmas Oratorio |
Schubert | Mass in A-flat |
| Mass in G |
Vivaldi | Gloria |
Verdi | Requiem |
Barber | Vanessa | Erika | 3 |
Berlioz | Béatrice et Bénédict | Béatrice | 3 |
Bizet | Carmen | Carmen | 1 |
Borodin | Prince Igor | Polovtsian Maiden | 1 |
Debussy | Pelléas et Mélisande | Mélisande | 3 |
Gluck | Orfeo ed Euridice | Orfeo | 3 |
Goldstein | The Fan | Nina | 2 |
Gounod | Faust | Siébel | 2 |
| Roméo et Juliette | Stefano | 1 |
Händel | Alcina | Ruggiero | 3 |
| Ariodante | Ariodante | 3 |
| Giulio Cesare in Egitto | Giulio Cesare | 3 |
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| Cornelia | 1 |
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| Sestus | 2 |
Humperdinck | Hänsel und Gretel | Hänsel (in English and German) | 1 |
Massenet | Cendrillon | Cendrillon | 3 |
| Werther | Charlotte | 3 |
Menotti | The Counsul | The Secretary (role début Portland Opera 03-02) | 2 |
Mozart | Così fan tutte | Dorabella | 1 |
| Don Giovanni | Donna Elvira | 3 |
| Idomoneo | Idamante | 3 |
| Le Nozze di Figaro | Cherubino | 1 |
Musgrave | A Christmas Carol | Mrs. Cratchit | 1 |
Offenbach | Les Contes d'Hoffmann | Niklaus | 1 |
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| Muse | 1 |
Puccini | La Bohème | Musetta | 1 |
Rossini | Il Barbiere di Siviglia | Rosina (in English and Italian) | 1 |
| La Cenerentola | Angelina | 3 |
Strauss, R. | Ariadne auf Naxos | Composer | 3 |
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| Dryad | 1 |
| Der Rosenkavalier | Octavian | 3 |
Tchaikovski | Eugene Onegin | Olga | 3 |
Verdi | Rigoletto | Maddalena | 1 |
Weisgall | Six Characters in Search of an Author | Lust | 1 |
1 | performed |
2 | completely prepared |
3 | future role |
Ms. Watson as Dorabella in Mozart's Così fan tutte
Mvt.4 "Urlicht" - Symphony No.2 (Mahler).mp3