Heralded for her “superb vocal and dramatic chops” by Opera News, with “stunning vocal beauty and absolute sincerity of expression” in Chicago Classical Review, mezzo-soprano Amanda Lynn Bottoms will return to the Santa Fe Opera this summer as a member of their world-renowned Apprentice Artist program, followed by her mainstage debut with LA Opera as the Mother in Omar and Mahler Symphony No. 3 with the Akron Symphony. Recent prominent debuts include Paquette in Candide with Philadelphia Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin and Mercedes in Carmen with the Buffalo Philharmonic. Ms. Bottoms is a recent graduate of the Cafritz Young Artist Program at Washington National Opera.
Susanne Burgess, British-American soprano described as “a unique combination of precision and wonder (Opera Wire)” with “lyric splendor, and a rich, even legato (Parterre Box),” makes her Metropolitan Opera debut next season as Countess Ceprano in Verdi’s Rigoletto, also joining the company covering in Cherubini’s Medea. Susanne spends the summer of 2022 at Des Moines Metro Opera to debut the role of Helena in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She kicked off the year performing the leading role of Mabel in Gilbert & Sullivan’s classic Pirates of Penzance at the Atlanta Opera.
Since his professional debut in 2019 at the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Louis Lohraseb is establishing himself as an exciting young conductor of both symphonic and operatic repertoire. His performances have garnered praise from Opera News, The Wall Street Journal, and others, with Classical Music Daily writing: “Teatro dell’Opera’s good orchestra was conducted with ability by Louis Lohraseb, who has, no doubt, a merit in making this premiere vibrant and full of tension.” Engagements in the 2021-2022 season include debuts with the Komische Oper Berlin conducting La traviata and with Semperoper Dresden leading performances of Carmen, as well Indiana University for IU Opera Theatre’s production of La rondine, where he will return in September to conduct Don Giovanni. Mr. Lohraseb is a recipient of the 2022 Solti Foundation Career Assistance Award.