When her Russian grandmother first heard her cry as a baby she exclaimed 'What a big rich voice she has!' and soprano Rebecca Carr has been using her voice to express herself ever since. She has been hailed in the press for singing 'radiantly' and 'brilliantly' with her 'big vibrant soprano voice' matched with 'remarkable' and 'touching' portrayals. She brings her exuberance for singing and love of performing to the opera concert and recital stage in repertoire that is in keeping with her Russian heritage - the more romantic and melancholic the better.
Miss Carr divides her life between singing jewelry design and a deep commitment to introducing the Art of Opera to today?s youth and in the community. She currently coordinates programs with a number of organizations and is thrilled to be the first operatic voice that thousands of young people will have had the opportunity to hear. She has been invited to Chautauqua Institution again this summer to present her class 'What?s all the Screaming About: Opera for the Uninitiated' to adults.
Miss Carr has also combined her love of opera and beautiful things to launch a line of handmade artisan jewelry Belle Pietre (Beautiful Stones) Jewelry - Stone Jewelry of Operatic Proportions. Each piece is inspired by and named for an operatic heroine.
Carr's repertoire of operatic roles includes the title roles of Carlisle Floyd?s Susannah and Puccini?s Madama Butterfly. Verdi roles include Violetta in La Traviata Alice Ford in Falstaff and Desdemona in Otello. She has performed Mozart?s Fiordiligi in Cosi fan tutte Donna Elvira and Donna Anna in Don Giovanni as well as First Lady in Die Zauberfl?te along with Marie in The Bartered Bride and Musetta in La Boheme. In the world of operetta Miss Carr has excelled as Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus the title role in Kalman's Countess Maritza and Anne Elise in Lehar?s Paganini. Always seeking to expand her repertoire she added the role of Chrysothemis in Elektra as an Alumni Artist at The Academy of Vocal Arts inspiring her on to other Strauss roles including Arabella. Critics raved that her portrayal was 'shining' and that she 'sang radiantly' highlighting her 'virginal blonde beauty.' She has had the great honor of studing the early operas of Verdi with renowned diva Renata Scotto.
She has performed with Central City Opera Chautauqua Opera Opera Festival of New Jersey Harrisburg Opera Association Mozart & Friends Opera Festival ArtPark/Greater Buffalo Opera Ashlawn-Highland Summer Opera Festival and she sang extensively in France Germany and Spain with the touring company Teatro Lirico di Europa. With Aiken Productions Miss Carr performed Amahl & The Night Visitors in over half the United States under the direction of original cast member tenor David Aiken. She has appeared in concert with the Ohio Valley Symphony Evansville Philharmonic the Chautauqua Symphony Bridgeton Symphony and the Old York Road Symphony.
Miss Carr?s concert repertoire includes the most beautiful of soprano literature: the 'Vier Letzte Lieder' of Strauss Barber?s 'Knoxville: Summer of 1915' the Fourth Symphony of Mahler and Beethoven?s 'Ah perfido!' Oratorio works recently performed include Brahms? Ein Deutsches Requiem Haydn?s Lord Nelson Mass with Philadelphia?s highly acclaimed Choral Arts Society the Creation and H?ndel?s Messiah among others.
Most recently Miss Carr debut made her Carnegie Hall debut as soloist in Vivaldi's Gloria in 2009. Other debuts were made at Philadelphia?s Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts as a featured artist on the Family Concert series and in concert with the Ocean City (NJ) Pops and in recital on the Bucks County Performing Arts Center Concert Series.
Other recent performances include a number of concerts at Philadelphia?s historic First Baptist Church soprano soloist in Ursinus College?s annual performance of the complete score of Handel's Messiah a Gala Performance of the music of Verdi with the Harrisburg Opera soprano soloist in Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass and featured soloist at the Graystone Mansion in Coatesville PA in an operetta gala.
Beginning in her hometown of Auburn New York Miss Carr played mandolin violin and piano before starting the vocal training that led her to Ithaca College (BM) The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (MM) and to be granted the Artists' Diploma from Philadelphia's prestigious Academy of Vocal Arts.
Miss Carr is known to be a solid musician consistent performer as well as a remarkably quick study. Because she has been frequently called upon to defend herself against the reputation of a stereotypical blonde soprano Miss Carr chose to qualify for membership in American Mensa rather than change her hair color.
