Author Archive

“Fidelio” in Zurich

To end what has been a fantastic performing year, Elza van den Heever returns to the Zurich Opera to sing Leonore in Beethoven’s Fidelio, opposite Klaus Florian Vogt as Florestan and Mélissa Petit as Marzelline. Ms. van den Heever debuted the role at Caramoor last year, and received high praise from critics and the audience alike. The “Berkshire Fine Arts” wrote: “While the cast was superb throughout, Elza Van Den Heever shone, even shocked, as Lenore … All attention is on her superb acting and particularly the voice. It floats totally supported by the breath. Huge and resounding, it seems effortless to produce, although perfection often does sound deceptively simple.”

The Andreas Homoki’s production will see Simone Young on the podium on November 26 and 30, and December 3, 8 and 13.

For more information and tickets, visit the Zurich Opera’s website.

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Brahms in Helsinki

On October 25 and 26 Elza van den Heever travels to Helsinki to sing the soprano solo in Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem, sharing the stage with baritone Daniel Schmutzhard. The first part of the program features Berg’s Sieben frühe Lieder.  Simone Young will conduct these two performances,

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Elza van den Heever sings Leonora at Oper Frankfurt

Ms. van den Heever opens her 2017/2018 season in Germany, singing Leonora in Oper Frankfurt’s new production of Il Trovatore. One of Verdi’s most popular operas, the work is full of beautiful arias and stirring ensemble pieces. Ms. van den Heever has performed this demanding soprano role several times, and was hailed as “spellbinding” (Concertonet) and having a “voluptuous tone and luxurious vocal line.” (Sud Ouest) This season at Oper Frankfurt, Elza performs in a David Bösch production, and sings opposite Piero Pretti as Manrico, Brian Mulligan as Conte di Luna, and Tanja Ariane Baumgartner as Azucena. Conducted by Jader Bignamini, the production opens on September 10, 2017 with additional performances in September and October. Tickets are available here.

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Leonora at Oper Frankfurt

Once the last performance of Alcina is over at Santa Fe Opera on August 23, Ms. van den Heever moves on to singing Leonora in Verdi’s masterpiece Il trovatore, five years after debuting the role at the Canadian Opera Company, where she was said to “achieve controlled fragility and vocal splendour” (Bachtrack). This new production by David Bösch will bring an exciting young cast on the stage of Oper Frankfurt, with Brian Mulligan as Conte di Luna, Tanja Ariane Baumgartner as Azucena, Piero Pretti as Manrico, and Kihwan Sim as Ferrando.

Conductor Jader Bignamini will lead all performances, September 10, 14, 17, 23 and 30 and October 3 and 7.

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Alcina at Santa Fe Opera

After performing Verdi’s Requiem with the Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine, Ms. van den Heever travels to the Santa Fe Opera to sing the title role in Handel’s Alcina. She made her Santa Fe debut in 2009 as Donna Anna in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, and is delighted to perform again at this prestigious American summer festival. For this occasion Santa Fe has selected the production which was created at the Opéra National de Bordeaux by David Alden. Mr. Alden places the story in an abandoned theater, inspired by the architecture of the Bordeaux Opera House. Elza sang the title role at its 2012 premiere, where she was hailed as “the dominant vocal presence of the evening” (Opera News). In Santa Fe, Ms. van den Heever is joined by Anna Christy as Morgana, and Paula Murrihy as Ruggiero, with conductor Harry Bicket leading from the pit. Alcina premieres on July 29, with additional performances on August 2, 11, 17, and 23.

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Verdi’s Requiem in Bordeaux

On June 9 & 11, Elza van den Heever is the soprano soloist for Verdi’s Requiem at the Opéra National de Bordeaux. Ms. van den Heever sings this masterwork alongside an international roster of soloists, including mezzo-soprano Aude Extrémo, tenor Gwyn Hughes Jones, and baritone Wenwei Zhang, conducted by Paul Daniel. The performances also feature the talents of the Chœur de l’Opéra National de Bordeaux, Chœur de l’Armée française, and Orchestre National Bordeaux Aquitaine.

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‘Norma’ at Dallas Opera

Following her tremendous success in New York as Elettra in Idomeneo, Elza van den Heever travels to Dallas to star in the title role of Bellini’s Norma. In a production by Nic Muni, Ms. van den Heever is joined by Yonghoon Lee as Pollione and Christian van Horn as Oroveso. Maestro Emmanuel Villaume leads the cast from the podium for all performances April 21, 23, 26, 29 and May 7. Visit dallasopera.org for additional information and tickets.

“…van den Heever makes a very beautiful sound, without a cutting edge. She is also a very fine actress, her Act 2 very moving. Her more lyric sound is closer in timbre and volume to the Adalgisa of Isabel Leonard, and the two blended very beautifully in “Mira, o Norma.” – Joseph So, Musical Toronto

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‘Idomeneo’ at the Metropolitan Opera

Elza van den Heever stars in the virtuosic role of Elettra in Mozart’s Idomeneo at the Metropolitan Opera. She is joined by a stellar cast including Matthew Polenzani as Idomeneo, Nadine Sierra as Illia, and Alice Coote as Idamante in Jean–Pierre Ponnelle’s classic production. Under the baton of the Metropolitan Opera’s famed Music Director Emeritus James Levine, performances take place on March 6, 10, 13, 17, 21 & 25. Visit the metopera.org for additional information and tickets.

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