VERA SAVAGE

American mezzo-soprano Vera Savage has earned praise from critics for her “thrilling power” (Limelight magazine) and “rich, mellifluous, mezzo voice.” (Charleston Post and Courier) Vera’s singing has been described as “a dream; supple and powerful with a deep velvet shimmer” (Houston Press) and “heart-stoppingly gorgeous.”(Boston Music Intelligencer)

 

Vera’s past season included a “cold and gleaming” (Opera News) portrayal of handmaid New Ofglen in Boston Lyric Opera’s highly acclaimed production of The Handmaid’s Tale,  a workshop of Boston composer Joseph Summer’s opera Hamlet, Salieri’s Requiem and the Kuhnau Magnificat with the Commonwealth Chorale, Leonard Bernstein’s Jeremiah Symphony and Arias and Barcarolles with the Glens Falls Symphony Orchestra, and the Verdi Requiem with the Metropolitan Chorale.

 

Vera recently made her debut at the Spoleto Festival USA as Bice in Donizetti’s rarely performed opera Pia de’ Tolomei, a revival of Amy Beach’s Grand Mass with the New England Philharmonic and Commonwealth Chorale, Mercédès in Bizet’s Carmen with the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra, Meg Page in Verdi’s Falstaff with Opera Saratoga and Opera on the James, Madame Larina in Eugene Onegin with the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra, Tisbe in La Cenerentola at Opera Saratoga, Sesto in La Clemenza di Tito at Opera in the Heights, and a “thoroughly intimidating” Mrs. Baines in Elmer Gantry with Florentine Opera in Milwaukee Wisconson.

 

A frequent soloist with Boston Lyric Opera, Vera was the 2016 winner of BLO’s annual “Stephen Shrestinian Award for Excellence.”  Recently, Vera placed fourth in Shreveport Opera’s “Singer of the Year” competition, was a finalist in the Bel Canto Scholarship’s annual competition, and was a semi-finalist in the "Joy of Singing” art song competition.

 

Vera’s 2019/2020 highlights include the premiere of seven commissioned songs on the theme of immigration with White Snake Projects, the world premiere of the new Spanish opera En la Ardiente Oscuridad, and a workshop and performance of The Opposable Thumb and Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Fallen Giant and with American Lyric Theatre.  In addition, Vera will be featured on the upcoming albums Music to Hear and Who is Sylvia by the Shakespeare Projects, scheduled for release in May of 2020.