biography
January 30th, 2008 | RSS Feeds | Posted In:
Valda Wilson (soprano)
[English/ Deutsch]
Soprano Valda Wilson is a member of the Junges Ensemble der Semperoper Dresden. Valda attended the National Opera Studio London as the recipient of Opera Foundation Australia’s prestigious Rockend Scholarship in 2008-9. She holds a first class Science Honours degree from Sydney University and a Diploma of Opera from Sydney Conservatorium. During 2009 Valda Wilson was a finalist in the Concours de Genève International Singing Competition and a semifinalist in Placido Domingo’s Operalia International Competition. She has been awarded the 2011-12 Marten Bequest Scholarship for Singing. Her voice teachers and coaches include Stephen Yalouris, Sharolyn Kimmorley, Yvonne Kenny, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Lillian Watson and Christiane Hossfeld.
During her first season with the Dresden Semperoper, Valda performed Pamina in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte , Inez in Verdi’s Il trovatore, Jennie Hildebrand in Kurt Weill’s Street Scene, ‘Judith’ in a modern production of Purcell’s Dido & Aeneas, Princess in Cesar Cui’s Der gestiefelte Kater (Puss in Boots) and the cover of Musetta La Bohème. This season she reprises these roles and adds the title role in Hartmann’s Simplicius Simplicissimus and the female lead, Mutter/Eichhörnchen/Magdalena, in the world premiere of Jakub Flügelbunt by Czech composer Miroslav Srnka.
Valda Wilson’s other operatic engagements include Laodice in Hasse’s Il Siroe (Ensemble Serse, London Handel Festival), Susanna Le nozze di Figaro (Weimar Volkstheater), Mlle Silberklang Der Schauspieldirektor, Adina L’elisir d’amore, Elsie The Yeoman of the Guard (London), Rosina Il barbiere di Siviglia (Opera Australia Touring Company). Other roles she has performed include Rosina La vera costanza, Geraldine A Hand of Bridge, Amore Paride ed Elena, Susan A Dinner Engagement, Norina Don Pasquale, Ilia Idomeneo, Manon Manon, Giulietta I Capuleti e i Montecchi, Cleopatra Giulio Cesare, Morgana Alcina, Aline The Sorceror, Mabel/Edith Pirates of Penzance, and Yum-Yum/Pitti-Sing The Mikado.
Valda Wilson’s oratorio performances cover many Bach Cantatas, including Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen, Bach Mass in B minor, St Matthew Passion and St John Passion, Handel Messiah and Samson, Mozart Exsultate, jubilate!, Mass in C minor and Coronation Mass, Vivaldi Gloria, Rossini Petite Messe Solennelle and Australian Paul Paviour’s Mass of the Southern Cross. She was soprano soloist in the premiere of Australian Anne Boyd’s cantata Dreams for the Earth. Valda has several radio recordings, including Three Poems of Byron by Australian Graeme Koehne. She has sung in several Liederabend at the Semperoper and presented recitals in many prestigious venues throughout Australia and the UK.
Valda Wilson was chosen by Richard Bonynge to be the featured soloist at the Service of Thanksgiving for Dame Joan Sutherland at Westminster Abbey with the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, under Antonio Pappano.
Valda has been selected for the Young Singers Project of the Salzburg Festival during July-August. Engagements for later in 2012 include the title role in Handel’s Rodelinda with the Sydney Lyric Orchestra conducted by Richard Bonynge, performances in France and Italy of Mozart’s Mass in C minor with the Orchestre des Champs Elysées conducted by Philippe Herreweghe, and the Barrandov Opera Christmas Gala concerts.
(press)