Volksoper Wien Debut

What a night! Yesterday marked my professional operatic debut as Barbarina in Mozart’s commedia per musica Le nozze di Figaro at the Volksoper Wien. With Mozart’s birthday just a few of days ago, it was such a joy to be able to perform this cheeky little fanciulla in this production with such an amazing cast and team, led by Assistant Director Susanne Sommer and Maestro Julian Rachlin.

The lead up to the premiere has been wild: I started learning the role while the semester at Juilliard was still in session, flew into Vienna in the New Year, and had just one month of rehearsals before putting the show on the stage! Being back in Vienna felt like coming home, and it’s been wonderful to reconnect with old friends, teachers and colleagues. I have had to juggle a couple of graduate classes with coachings and rehearsals in the last few weeks, but luckily for me, the pandemic introduced the magic of Zoom! Overall, this experience has been entirely fulfilling and I am so grateful to be a part of it all.

I want to use this space to thank the cast and leading team for their support and encouragement, and for welcoming me like family; Nicolò Sbuelz at Juilliard and Chie Ishimito at the Volksoper for helping me bring Barbarina to life; my teacher Darrell Babidge for reminding me of the importance of singing Mozart (in your full voice); and finally, Malte Puls and Lotte de Beer for blessing me with this opportunity and to mark my debut at this dream of a house. I am so excited for my future with Volksoper, and eternally grateful that I can share this milestone with the people at this house.

For now, three more shows!