Elizabeth Blancke-Biggs

Elizabeth Blancke-Biggs is rapidly establishing herself in the lirico-spinto repertoire. Her Italian debut was in the title role of Maria Stuarda at the Teatro Regio di Torino. She made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Violetta in La Traviata. She made her Washington National Opera Debut as Fedora opposite Placido Domingo; Previously New York audiences heard her as Mimi n La Boheme and Tosca at the New York City Opera, and as Ginevra in the world premiere of Un Racconto Fiorentino at Alice Tully Hall; and Desdemona in Otello for Utah Opera where critics said... "[She] possesses a dramatic soprano that is at the same time tender, lyrical and expressive." Future engagements include: Musetta for the Baltimore Opera; and Ortlinde in Die Walkure, and Violetta (cover) for the MET on tour in Japan with Tenor Placido Domingo and Maestro James Levine; and Tosca with Opera Omaha.

Recently she was heard as Minnie in La Fanciulla del West for Florida Grand Opera where critics described her as... "a veritable powerhouse. Her gorgeous lyrico-spinto soprano gleamed in Puccini's stratospheric flights. Blancke-Biggs' rapturous sound literally enveloped the stage." Other recent appearances include: a return to the MET for Mimi in La Boheme and Violetta in La Traviata; Verdi's Requiem for the LA Master Chorale; Leonora in Il Trovatore for NJ Opera Theater; her London debut singing Minnie in La Fanciulla del West and Norma for the Holland Park Opera Festival; Elena (cover) in I Vespri Siciliani for WNO; Helmwige (cover) in Die Walkure for the MET; and Aida (cover) for the Los Angeles Opera. Other roles include: Cio Cio San in Madama Butterfly, Liu in Turandot, Giorgetta in Il Tabarro, Nedda in I Pagliacci, Micaela in Carmen, and La Countessa in Le Nozze di Figaro. On the Concert stage she sang Honneger's Le Roi David with the Phiharmonic de Nice, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with the Orquestra Sinfonica National, Costa Rica and the NZ Symphony Orchestra, Verdi's Requiem at the Orange County Performing Arts Centre, and Carmina Burana with the NZSO under Sir David Wilcox. Also with the NZSO: An Evening, in Vienna; Ortlinde in Die Walkure with Sir Donald McIntyre; and Mozart's Mass in C Minor. Other concerts include: Beethoven's Mass in C, Mozart's Vesparae Solennes, Stravinsky's Mass and the Faure Requiem along with two acclaimed recitals for the NZ International Festival of the Arts and many recitals and concerts as a Concert Artist for Radio NZ.