Angela Gilbert
Angela Gilbert made her professional debut as Sandrina in La finta giardiniera in her native Cape Town where she has also performed a variety of roles including Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro, Hanna Glawari in The Merry Widow and Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi. A graduate of the South African College of Music in Cape Town, Angela Gilbert was the recipient of numerous awards and prizes including the VITA award, the Oudemeester Music Prize, the Adcock Ingram Music Prize and the Chiappini Opera Trust. Angela now lives in Philadelphia, USA and studies with Bill Schuman.
In the 2000/2001 season, Angela Gilbert joined the Lindemann Young Artist Development Program at the Metropolitan Opera New York where she has appeared in several Young Artist Gala Concerts under James Levine and where her operatic roles have included Unborn Die Frau ohne Schatten (Christian Thielemann and Philippe Auguin), Dew Fairy Hänsel und Gretel (Sir Charles Mackerras), Peasant Le Nozze di Figaro (Donald Runnicles) and Shepherdess L’Enfant et les Sortilèges (James Levine) - Angela also covered the roles of Queen of the Night and Olympia Les Contes d’Hoffmann.
Operatic repertoire includes her debut with San Diego Opera in the title role Lucia di Lammermoor (Richard Bonynge), Lucia for Kentucky Opera and for Connecticut Grand Opera, Honeggar Le Roi David in Atlanta, Antonia/Olympia and Giulietta Les Contes d’Hoffmann, Norina Don Pasquale, Violetta La Traviata and title role Lucia di Lammermoor for Cape Town Opera, Micaela in Peter Brook’s La Tragédie de Carmen (which toured South Africa and Namibia), Morgana Alcina at the Handel Festival in Germany, title role Adelia, Inez La Favorita and Elena La Donna del Lago for the Opera Orchestra of New York at Carnegie Hall, Madame Hertz Der Schauspieldirektor, Norina and a recital with Steven Blier for Wolf Trap Opera, title role Lucia for Palm Beach Opera, Violetta for the Spiers Festival in Cape Town and in Pretoria, Queen of the Night Die Zauberflöte at the Lyrique en Mer Festival in Belle Ile, France, Gilda Rigoletto for Opera Africa and Die Entführung aus dem Serail for Icelandic Opera.
Concert engagements include extensive concerts with the Cape Town Philharmonic and the Natal Philarmonic in South Africa, a series of opera concerts at the Hanover Festival in Germany, Cunegonde in highlights of Bernstein’s Candide at the Met (James Levine), Konstanze in highlights of Die Entführung aus dem Serail (James Levine) at the Danny Kaye Playhouse, Carnivale (Gala Concert) for Kentucky Opera, Opera Gala with Richard Hickox and City of London Sinfonia at Mansion House, London, Messiah in Cape Town and a Song recital at the Klein Karoo Festival in South Africa. A keen recitalist Angela has performed for both NYFOS and is a frequent collaborator with SEFoS (Southeastern Festival of Song), who sponsor her in the US. Angela has also made appearances at the New York Festival of Song with Steven Blier and was chosen to represent South Africa at the Cardiff Singer of the World Competition in 2003.
Engagements in 2007/2008 include Violetta La Traviata for the Bar Harbor Festival in Maine, title role Lucia di Lammermoor for the Anna Livia International Opera Festival in Dublin, Queen of the Night Die Zauberflöte for Cape Town Opera and an Opera Gala for KZN Philharmonic in Durban, title role Maria Stuarda for San Diego Opera and covering Natalie Dessay in Lucia di Lammermoor for San Francisco Opera.
Promoters please note: if you wish to include this biography in a concert programme etc, please contact Hazard Chase to ensure that you receive the most up to date version.
Email: Lucy Goddard
