Nadine Sierra

"Nadine Sierra is truly sensational, both vocally and dramatically." Forum Opera, October 2021 American soprano Nadine Sierra is one of the best young artists of her generation and is in demand at the most prestigious opera houses. Critics and audiences praise her vocal agility and purity of tone, her flawless technique, and overwhelming stage presence. She possesses both the sparkling comedic timing required for roles like Susanna and the emotional intensity of tragic figures like Gilda or Lucia, both of which are now among her signature roles. With such vocal and dramatic versatility, she is able to constantly expand her repertoire. Watch concerts with Nadine Sierra on STAGE+ Nadine Sierra signed an exclusive recording contract with Deutsche Grammophon and Decca Gold in 2017. The yellow label released her first album, There’s a Place for Us, in August 2018, which included songs and arias by Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Foster, Douglas Moore, Igor Stravinsky, and Heitor Villa-Lobos, as well as works by Ricky Ian Gordon, Osvaldo Golijov, and Christopher Theofanidis. Opera News hailed the album as an "outstanding debut," noting Sierra's "shimmering, brilliant soprano is wonderfully showcased in various directions and moods." Her second DG solo album, Made for Opera, is dedicated to Verdi's Violetta, Donizetti's Lucia, and Gounod's Juliette, three unfortunate protagonists who cannot take control of their own destiny. The program selection is inspired, not least, by Sierra's memory of her maternal grandmother, who was from Portugal and was not allowed to pursue a career as a professional singer. "I hope," says Sierra, "that with my story and that of my family, I can help all those who are looking for inspiration – because they want to go their own way and take control of their destiny, to find out for themselves if they are 'made for' something." Made for Opera will be released on March 4, 2022. Highlights of recent years include Sierra's role debut as Juliette at the San Francisco Opera (September 2019) and her portrayal of this character at the Opéra National de Bordeaux (March 2020); Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro at the Metropolitan Opera (November 2019) and in Vincent Huguet's new production of the work at the Berlin State Opera under the direction of Daniel Barenboim (April 2021, the premiere was live-streamed; "[Sierra's] dark-timbered, luminous soprano, her energy and unadorned portrayal would undoubtedly have elicited ovations in a packed house," Bachtrack); her role debut as Sophie in Der Rosenkavalier, also at the Berlin State Opera (February 2020); Musetta in La bohème at the Ópera de las Palmas (November 2020); and Lucia in her house debut at the Liceu in Barcelona (July 2021; "a remarkable, vividly realized portrait of Lucia descending into madness," Forum Opera). Sierra began the current season with her house debut at the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino as Violetta ("With an extraordinary, clear, supple voice that she controls superbly, Nadine Sierra convincingly shapes every facet of the character," La Nazione). She then appeared as Gilda at the Paris Opéra before giving a series of acclaimed concerts with Andrea Bocelli in the USA. After performing as Lucia at the Teatro San Carlo in Naples in January, she will embody the role at the Bavarian State Opera in March and will star in the new production of Donizetti's masterpiece at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in April. Further engagements include Mahler's Symphony No. 2 in the Berlin Philharmonie with the Berlin Philharmonic and Gustavo Dudamel in February, and Gilda at La Scala in Milan (June/July). Nadine Sierra, born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in 1988, was six years old when her mother borrowed a video of Zeffirelli's La bohème from the local library. Nadine loved it so much that the family still owns it today. She dedicated her latest album, Made for Opera, to the stars of the video, Teresa Stratas and Renata Scotto, as well as her mentor Marilyn Horne. "Since childhood, I have cherished this love for opera, which grows stronger with age," Nadine notes. Sierra studied at the Mannes College of Music in New York City and at the Music Academy of the West. In 2007, she was the youngest winner in the history of the Marilyn Horne Foundation Award. Two years later, on Horne's advice, she participated in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions – where she also won as the youngest soprano ever. In 2011, she joined the prestigious Adler Program at the San Francisco Opera and gained invaluable professional experience in a number of roles for the house. Worldwide recognition followed in 2013 when she won three international singing competitions within 10 months: Veronica Dunne, Montserrat Caballé, and Neue Stimmen. When she won the prestigious Richard Tucker Music Award in 2017, one of the most important prizes for young singers in the opera world, and the Beverly Sills Artist Award for young singers at the Metropolitan Opera in 2018, her status as a rising star was assured. In Rigoletto, Sierra made several house debuts, including at the Seattle Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Teatro San Carlo in Naples, and the Metropolitan Opera. In January 2016, her first appearance at La Scala in Milan as Gilda alongside star baritone Leo Nucci as Rigoletto made headlines. At the premiere, at the audience's insistence, the two broke with a house tradition dating back to Toscanini's time as music director and repeated the duet "Sì, vendetta." Gilda, Sierra explains, is a young heroine of opera. "And that's what I want to be in my life – a heroine for young girls and women who strive to be strong and powerful." 2/2022