Download Mezzo Soprano Donna Olson: Biography

Mezzo Soprano Donna Olson
rd
2104 23 Avenue, Oakland, CA 94606 . 408.394.6216 . [email protected] . www.singdonna.com
“Mezzo-soprano Donna Olson gave a charming turn as Sarah’s Mother”
Joshua Kosman, SF Chronicle
“Mezzo-soprano Donna Olson blended vocal allure and blowsy humor as Sarah's desperate
mother, Mrs. Bertram“ San Jose Mercury
“Splendid supporting performance by Donna Olson as David’s Sweetheart, Magdalena in
Berkeley Opera’s Die Meistersinger” Joshua Kosman, SF Chronicle
“Olson’s Mistress Quickly was a comic and vocal delight” SF Classical Voice
“They were Excellent…Olson, as Butterfly’s faithful servant Suzuki, won richly deserved
ovations second only to Makerov’s Butterfly.” San Jose Mercury
“Olson used her rich voice to dramatic effect in Mad Bess…” Oregonian
“Vashti was so sensational. Olson was wonderful. Her voice, theatricality and musicality
were indeed a triumph…she sang and acted out the seven roles with humor, vocal strength
and warmth.” David Schiff, Composer
‘
Most recently Donna sang the role of Mrs. Bertram in the Bay Area Premier of Jake
Heggie’s The End of the Affair. She sang the roles of Mother and Grandmother in Seymour Barab’s (Little Red Riding Hood)with
Merced Opera and Marcellina with both Sacramento and Livermore Operas. Ms. Olson sang Marcellina (Figaro) and Dorabella
(Cosi fan tutte) with Mendocino Music Festival and was invited back to sing Mercedes (Carmen). She sang Mary (Flying Dutchman),
Mrs. Peachum (The Threepenny Opera) and Mamma Lucia (Cavalleria) with West Bay Opera, Public Opinion (Orpheus in the
Underworld) with Pocket Opera and her first Verdi Requiem with Tulare County Symphony. Donna sang Flora (La Traviata) with
Sacramento, Martinez and Nevada Opera Companies, and Mistress Quickly (Falstaff) and Magdalena (Die Meistersinger) with
Berkeley Opera. She sang with Ruth Ann Swensen on the 30th Anniversary Fund Raising Program for the Berkeley Opera doing
scenes from Die Meistersinger and Tales of Hoffman.
Ms. Olson was a resident artist with Opera San José for two seasons; she sang the roles of Meg Page (Falstaff), Dorabella (Così fan
tutte), Suzuki (Madama Butterfly), Rosette (Manon, Tisbe (La Cenerentola), Siébel (Faust), and Second lady (Die Zauberflőte). In the
same season she sang Ulrica (Un ballo in maschera) and a solo engagement at the Star Fundraiser Concert with West Bay Opera.
Composer David Schiff wrote, “…Vashti was so sensational. Olson was wonderful. Her voice, theatricality and musicality were
indeed a triumph…she sang and acted out the seven roles with humor, vocal strength and warmth.” To critical acclaim, Ms. Olson
sang the seven roles in David Schiff’s Vashti, with Old Church Opera both staging and originating the creative concepts. With
Washington East Opera, she sang Second Lady (The Magic Flute) and was invited back to perform in their “Greatest Hits” concert,
singing excerpts from Carmen, Rigoletto, Werther, and La traviata, under the baton of Dean Williamson. Ms. Olson has performed
Prince Orlofsky (Die Fledermaus) with the Columbia Symphony, Marquise of Berkenfeld (The Daughter of the Regiment and Flora
(La Traviata) with the Nevada Opera, where she was invited back for their “Members’ Choice” concert, singing excerpts from
Rigoletto and Tales of Hoffman. With the Portland Chamber Orchestra, she performed the role of Ramiro (La finta giardiniera).
Ms. Olson made her Northwest debut with the Portland Opera as Karolka (Jenůfa); Eugene Opera as Third Lady (The Magic
Flute); and with Opera Idaho as Mercédès (Carmen).
A popular “artist of great expression” in recital as well as opera, Ms. Olson is a frequent performer of oratorio and recital work. She
performed with the Fremont Symphony’s production of Handel’s Messiah, and two performances of Mozart’s Requiem with the San
Francisco Midsummer Mozart Festival under the Baton of George Cleve. Ms. Olson sang Duruflé’s Requiem and Handel’s Messiah
with both the Seattle Northwest and Bravo Vancouver Symphonies, performances that she repeated with the Los Gatos Symphony
in California. Soon after arriving in Portland, she worked with the Oregon Symphony performing Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and
Handel’s Messiah, the Portland Chamber Orchestra in de Falla’s El amor brujo, the Newport Symphony in Mozart’s Requiem; and
the Bravo Vancouver Symphony in Handel’s Messiah (cd). With the Portland Orchestra, Ms. Olson sang the world premier of local
composer Jim Day’s From the Heart of the Artist.
Ms. Olson was the Metropolitan Opera National Council District Winner and Regional Finalist. She won finalist position in the Ellen
Faull Gordon Vocal Competition. Donna has performed with Boston Children’s Opera, Boston Conservatory Opera Theater,
Pioneer Opera, Stockton Opera, Sierra Opera, and Auburn City Opera singing roles in La nozze di Figaro, Die Fledermaus, The
Magic Flute, Help! Help! The Globolinks, Il signor Bruschino, Amahl and the Night Visitors, and L’enfant et les sortilèges. In
addition to performing, Donna currently enjoys teaching voice at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, The Vocal Studio in Oakland and
The Pease Conservatory in Sacramento
Mezzo Soprano Donna Olson: Roles
Composer
Opera
Role
Company
Conductor
Director
Date
Heggie
Bizet
The End of the Affair
Carmen
Mrs. Bertram
Mercedes
West Edge Opera
Mendocino Music Festival
Jonathan Khuner
Allan Pollack
Mark Streshinsky
Allan Pollack/Cast
2015
2010
Barab
Little Red Riding Hood
Mother& GMother
Merced Opera
Jenny Samuelson
Jenny Samuelson
2010
Mozart
Marriage of Figaro
Marcellina
Sacramento Opera
Timm Rolek
Richard Harrell
2009
Mozart
Marriage of Figaro
Marcellina
Livermore Opera
Alex Katsman
Jose Maria Condemi
2009
Mozart
Marriage of Figaro
Marcellina
Mendocino Music Festival
Allan Pollack
Allan Pollack
2008
Wagner
Der Fliegende Hollander
Mary
West Bay Opera
Jose Luis Mascovich
David Ostwald
2008
Offenbach
Orpheus in the Underworld
Public Opinon
Pocket Opera
Donald Pippen
Donald Pippen
2008
Mascagni
Cavalleria Rusticana
Mamma Lucia
West Bay Opera
Jose Luis Mascovich
Jose Maria Condemi
2007
Mozart
Cosi fan tutte
Dorabella
Mendocino Music Festival
Allan Pollack
Allan Pollack/Cast
2007
Verdi
La traviata
Flora
Martinez Opera
Alex Katsman
Ceaser Curzi
2006
Verdi
Falstaff
Quickly
Berkeley Opera
Jonathan Khuner
Jason Sherbundy
2006
Weill
The Threepenny Opera
Mrs. Peachum
West Bay Opera
Barbara Day Turner
Kenneth Tigar
2005
Wagner
Die Meistersinger
Magdalena
Berkeley Opera
Jonathan Khuner
Juval Sharon
2005
Mozart
Die Zauberflöte
Second Lady
Opera San José
David Rohrbaugh
Michael McConnell
2003
Verdi
La traviata
Flora
Sacramento Opera
Timm Rolek
Richard Harrell
2003
Verdi
Un ballo in maschera
Ulrica
West Bay Opera
Alex Katsman
David Ostwald
2003
Gounod
Faust
Siébel
Opera San José
David Rohrbaugh
David Cox
2002
Rossini
La Cenerentola
Tisbe
Opera San José
Anthony Quartuccio
Bodo Igez
2002
Puccini
Madama Butterfly
Suzuki
Opera San José
Alex Katsman
Lorna Hayward
2002
Massenet
Manon
Rosette
Opera San José
Bob Woodward
Olivia Stapp
2002
Mozart
Così fan tutte
Dorabella
Opera San José
George Cleve
Michael Edwards
2001
Verdi
Falstaff
Meg
Opera San José
David Rohrbaugh
Michael McConnell
2001
Strauss
Die Fledermaus
Prince Orlofsky
Columbia Symphony
La traviata
Flora
Nevada Opera
Cast
Stan Garner
2001
Verdi
Hew Edwards
Martin Edwards
Dean Williamson
Dean Williamson
2000
2001
Mozart
Die Zauberflöte
Second Lady
Washington East Opera
Schiff
Vashti
Vashti
Old Church Opera
David Schiff
Donna Olson
2000
Gounod
Faust
Martha
Nevada Opera
Timm Rolek
Nelson Sheeley
1998
Bizet
Carmen
Mercedes
Opera Idaho
Timothy Lindberg
Stephen Terrell
1998
Janàček
Jenůfa
Karolka
Portland Opera
Carol Crawford
Jonathan Pape
1996
Concert Performances/Recitals
Composer(s)
Concert/Recital/Work
Company
Conductor
Date
Varied
Varied
Halloween Fundraiser
30th Anniversary Fund Raiser
West Edge Opera
Berkeley Opera
Jonathan Khuner
Jonathan Khuner
2014
2009
Hans C Anderson
The Little Mermaid
San Jose Ballet
Voice of the Sea Witch
2009
Verdi
Requiem
Tulare County Symphony
David Andre
2007
Mozart
Missa Brevis
San Ramon Valley Symphony
Mark Purcell
2006
Varied
Duet Recital
Westminster Presbyterian
Music at Noon
2004-05
Hans C Anderson
The Little Mermaid
San Jose Ballet
Voice of the Sea Witch
2005
Varied
Concert Performance
Varied
Prince Orlofsky’s Party
Martinez Opera
Martinez Opera
Handel
Messiah
Mozart
Handel
Sons of Italy
2004
pOpening Event
2004
Fremont Symphony
David Sloss
2003
Requiem
Midsummer Mozart Festival
George Cleve
2002-03
Anthony Quartuccio
2001
Messiah
San José Choral Society
Duruflé
Requiem
Los Gatos Symphony
Barbara Christmann
2001
Beethoven
Ninth Symphony
Willamette Falls Symphony
Anthony Armore
2000
Handel
Messiah
Oregon Symphony
Murry Sidlin
1996
Beethoven
Ninth Symphony
Oregon Symphony
Murry Sidlin
1996
Education
Bachelor of Music, Opera Preparation; Boston Conservatory of Music & Opera Theater/Studio of the Boston and New England Conservatories
Currently holds the position of Professor of Voice at Saint Mary’s College in Moraga, CA