| Mardi ByersSopranoA native of Boulder, Colorado, she studied at Arizona State University, before continuing her vocal development with Dale Fundling in Salzburg. Her debut as Tosca (Tosca) at the Theater Lubeck in 2003 earned her both critical and public acclaim, and was quickly followed by further successes including Amalia (I Masnadieri), Marguerite (Faust), Elisabetta (Don Carlo), Adriana Lecouvreur (Adriana Lecouvreur). She also sang Elisabetta (Don Carlo) for the Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden (in the 4-act Italian version, directed by Dietrich Hilsdorf) and Theater Basel (5-act French version, directed by Calixto Bieto). Particular highlights of her international engagements have included her debut for New York City Opera in 2007 as Donna Anna (Don Giovanni), Violetta (La Traviata) in Rome-L’Aquila, Tosca (Tosca) in Lund, Sweden, Marie (Wozzeck) in Bern, the Countess (Le Nozze di Figaro) in Rome, Georgette and Suor Angelica (Il Trittico) for New Orleans Opera, Marguerite (Faust) in Wiesbaden and Basel, and Margarete in Honegger’s Jeanne d’Arc au Bucher (conducted by Cornelius Meister) in Basel. Recent European highlights have included the role of Amelia in Simon Boccanegra for the Hamburg State Opera (conducted by Simone Young), the title role in Aida at the Bregenz Festival and Marietta in Korngold’s Die Tote Stadt at Staatstheater Nurnberg in 2009. As a concert and recital artist, Mardi Byers’ numerous appearances have included Verdi’s Requiem in Hamburg, Strauss’ Vier letzte Lieder with the Philarmonic Orchestra of the Hansestadt Lubeck, conducted by Marc Tardue, as well as recitals in San Francisco, Zurich, Munich and Salzburg. Her television appearances have included the Prix Wallo (the Swiss Grammies) and the Fete des Vignerons in Vevey, Switzerland. In 2009, she made her Bolshoi Theatre debut as Marie (Berg’s Wozzeck). | |