Marie-Adele McArthur (Aida)
Soprano Marie-Adele McArthur, “possesses a striking voice - unified in its pleasing color, capable of tremendous range, strong enough to easily soar over the combined sonic mass of the orchestra and chorus, and used with acute intelligence.
Her blend with the other soloists was admirable, and her sense of the dramatic in her solos was unerring,” (Verdi Requiem with Syracuse Symphony: The Post-Standard). This New Zealand native has been hailed by the Sarasota Herald-Tribune as “the perfect Verdi heroine, richly musical and emotionally touching.” A frequent performer of lesser-known Verdi works, she recently triumphed in the role of Lina in Stiffelio. Her Verdi repertoire includes Leonora in Le Trouvere (the composer’s own French rewrite of Il Trovatore), Abigaille in Nabucco, Odabella in Attila, Amelia in Un Ballo in Maschera and Aïda. Other significant roles include Tosca, Fiordiligi in Cosi Fan Tutte, and Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni. Loved by audiences and the press alike, Deseret News wrote, “Her clear, strong, rich voice is - by itself - worth the price of the ticket.” Australia’s Opera Magazine wrote, “a splendid Donna Elvira: well in command of the technical challenges, possessed of a rich voice with just a hint of steel behind it, and blessed by a personality that communicates effortlessly across the footlights.” Recognized as “the sort of voice that the orchestra loves, fitting into its texture with an easy warmth” by Opera News, McArthur regularly appears on the symphony stage. Recent concert performances include Verdi’s Requiem with the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra, Knoxville Symphony, New Hampshire Music Festival, and American West Symphony, Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with the Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra and the San Jose Symphony, Fiordiligi in Cosi Fan Tutte with the Brooklyn Philharmonic, and her European debut with Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona in a special concert featuring the works of opera librettist, Victorien Sardou. Born in Gisborne, Ms. McArthur is a direct descendent of paramount Maori chief, Te Hapuku. She holds dual citizenship in New Zealand and the United States, and resides in New York City.