Sandra Piques Eddy
Isabella
Mezzo-Soprano Sandra Piques Eddy has been praised by the Boston Globe as "a charismatic mezzo with future star written all over her," with a voice possessed of "extraordinary richness of timbre and expressiveness." Her combination of beautiful tone, artistic sensitivity, and superlative stagecraft have served to make Ms. Eddy one of North America's most highly acclaimed singing actresses.
Sandra Piques Eddy's engagements in the 2010-11 season include the title role in Carmen for both Opera North (UK) and Lyric Opera of Kansas City; Isabella in L'italiana in Algeri with Austin Lyric Opera, also Boston Midsummer Opera; Zerlina in Don Giovanni with Opera Omaha; and Hänsel in Portland Opera's production of Hänsel und Gretel. Her 2009-10 season included her return to the Metropolitan Opera as Mercédès in a new production of Carmen (also broadcast nationally on PBS and theatrically live in HD) and to Boston Lyric Opera as Idamante in Idomeneo. She also appeared in recital at Amherst College. In summer of 2010 she performed the role of Dinah in Bernstein's Trouble in Tahiti with Boston Midsummer Opera.She sings Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Lyric Opera of Kansas City in season 2011-12.
Among Ms. Eddy's most recent successes are performances as the title role in La Tragédie de Carmen with Chicago Opera Theater; the title role in La Cenerentola with Austin Lyric Opera, also at Spoleto Festival (USA); Charmian in Antony and Cleopatra with New York City Opera; the roles of Juno and Ino in Semele with Florentine Opera; Romeo in I Capuleti ed i Montecchi at Glimmerglass Opera; Cherubino with both Canadian Opera Company and Atlanta Opera; Isabella in L'italiana in Algeri with Vancouver Opera; Stephano in Roméo et Juliette with Hawaii Opera Theatre; the title role in La Cenerentola, and soloist in Beethoven's Mass in C at Spoleto Festival (USA); Dorabella in Così fan tutte with New York City Opera; Béatrice in Béatrice et Bénédict with Chicago Opera Theater; and Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Austin Lyric Opera and the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra.Since her Metropolitan Opera debut in 2002 Sandra Piques Eddy has returned to the legendary stage to perform such roles as Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro, Lola in Cavalleria rusticana, Zulma in L'italiana in Algeri, Rosette in Manon, Third Naked Virgin in Moses und Aron, Olga in The Merry Widow, Countess Ceprano in Rigoletto, The Dragonfly in L'Enfant et les sortilèges, the Third Handmaiden in Sly, the Flower Maiden in Parsifal, and Mercédès in Carmen. Other career highlights include appearing as Don Ramiro in La finta giardiniera at Florida Grand Opera and New York City Opera; Meg in Little Women with Glimmerglass Opera, Fort Worth Opera, and Kentucky Opera; Dorabella in Così fan tutte with Pittsburgh Opera; Isabella in L'italiana in Algeri with Arizona Opera; and Cherubino with Los Angeles Opera and Chicago Opera Theater.
A Boston native, Ms. Eddy's professional concert debut was with Boston Baroque in Vivaldi's Gloria at Sanders Theater and Portsmouth Music Hall. She has since had several reengagements, including Messagiera and Speranza in L'Orfeo, and Valletto and Amore in L'incoronazione di Poppea. Boston audiences have also heard her in various roles with Boston University's Opera Institute, including her signature Cherubino, Nancy in Albert Herring, Tieresias in the staged premiere of Merryman's Antigone, and, most memorably, as Sesto in La clemenza di Tito. Ms. Eddy made her Avery Fisher Hall debut singing Messiah with the National Chorale, and has performed as soloist with Granite State Opera Orchestra and at Monadnock and Manchester music festivals.
Sandra Piques Eddy was the first place New England Regional Winner of the 2000 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and a National Semifinalist. She has won competitions at both Opera Lirica and at the Boston Conservatory. Ms. Eddy graduated from Boston University's School for the Arts with a master's degree in Vocal Performance, and was an apprentice artist at the Boston Opera Institute. Additionally, she is a 2002 recipient of the Shoshana Foundation Richard Gold Career Grant.
