Lauded for her “theatrical magnetism” American mezzo-soprano Olivia Vote is continuing to garner success across opera and concert stages. She was recently called upon last minute to sing the Komponist in Ariadne auf Naxos at The Metropolitan Opera. Since joining the roster of the Metropolitan Opera in 2018, Olivia performed Neferneferuaten in their Grammy-winning recording of Ahknaten by Philip Glass, debuted in Rigoletto as Countess Ceprano, covered Charlotte in Werther, and Waltralte in Die Walküre. Last spring saw a return to Washington Choral Arts in D.C. to sing Brahms’s Alto Rhapsody at the National Cathedral.
This season Ms.Vote will sing Zweite Dame in the Metropolitan Operas’ new production of Die Zauberflöte conducted by Natalie Stuztmann and Dorabella in Cosi Fan Tutte with Cedar Rapids Opera. Olivia will be performing with Opera Southwest on a New Years’ Eve Gala, on a concert of operatic favorites with the Las Vegas Symphony, and in a highly anticipated workshop of The Righteous by Gregory Spears and Tracy K. Smith for Santa Fe Opera. She began the season returning to the Metropolitan Opera to sing two performances of Neris in the opening production of Medea staring Sondra Radvanosky and conducted by Carlo Rizzi.
The 2020-2021 season would have seen Ms. Vote as Ottavia in L’incoronazione di Poppea at Opera Delaware, the 2nd Lady in a new production of The Magic Flute (rescheduled for 2022-23) and covering Fenena in Nabucco for The Metropolitan Opera. In previous seasons, Ms. Vote made multiple house debuts including Komponist in Ariadne auf Naxos with Cincinnati Opera, Maddalena in Rigoletto with Florentine Opera and North Carolina Opera, Mary in a new production by Tomer Zvulum of The Flying Dutchman with Atlanta Opera, Mère Marie in the Dialogues des Carmélites with Sarasota Opera, Adalgisa in Norma with Opera Southwest, and Nicklausse in Les contes d'Hoffmann with Hawaii Opera Theater. On the concert stage, she was heard in Rossini’s Stabat Mater with Washington Choral Arts in D.C. under the baton of Antony Walker, and in Durefle’s Requiem at The Kennedy Center. In a more chamber setting, Olivia has joined the world-renown Hugo Wolf Quartet from Vienna and performed Respighi's Il Tramonto and selections from Wolf's Italienisches Liederbuch in Massachusetts and New York. She has also collaborated with pianist Brain Ganz to perform multiple song recitals throughout Maryland and Virginia.
Ms. Vote returned to Opernhaus Zürich to sing Dryade in Ariadne auf Naxos with Fabio Luisi and Flora in a new production of La traviata under Maestro Armiliato. She first came to Switzerland from 2012-2014 for the Internationales Opernstudio at Opernhaus Zürich. Highlights of her performances during this period included singing Fidalma in Il Matrimonio Segreto, Philomene in Martinů's Zweimal Alexandre, and as a soloist in Hans Neuenfels's new production, Wie ich Welt wurde, a co-production with the Zürich Shauspielhaus about the life of Richard Wagner. In addition, she performed roles in Rinaldo, Meistersinger, Salome, and Rigoletto and covered roles in Madame Butterfly, Alcina, La Straniera, and Falstaff.
Passionate about new works Olivia has enjoyed working with Santa Fe Opera and Opera Philadelphia, on Jennifer Higdon's exciting premiere of Cold Mountain. Also with Santa Fe Opera, she participated in the workshop of the premiere of The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs, by Mason Bates and Mark Campbell in San Francisco. She sang the role of his wife, Laurene Powell. While at the Academy of Vocal Arts Ms. Vote co-created the title role of Hester Pryne in The Scarlet Letter by Margaret Garwood and enjoyed premiering the work Colors passing through us by composition teacher and composer David Froom.
Prior to beginning her time in Zürich, Ms. Vote participated as a Filene Young Artist with the Wolf Trap Opera Company. Vote completed her musical studies at Yale University, North Carolina School for the Arts, and the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia.
