Siân Davies
Vocalists
— Soprano
-
Manager: Michael Benchetrit
Management Territory: Worldwide
As Elcia in “Mosč in Egitto” with Chicago Opera Theatre: “American soprano Sian Davies' emotionally conflicted Elcia was equal to the heroine's ornate coloratura flights and darting forays above the staff, as well as the tender lyricism of the love duets with Taylor Stayton's admirable Osiride. She's one to watch.” —John von Rhein, Chicago Tribune, April 19, 2010
As Elcia in “Mosč in Egitto” with Chicago Opera Theatre: “As Elcia, Siân Davies was persuasive musically and dramatically. Her vocal facility was remarkable from the start, and it was impressive to have such a talent in this unusual work. She already has credit for some major roles in Mozart’s operas, including Elvira in Don Giovanni and has also performed in Handel’s oratorios Messiah and Israel in Egypt. With this production Ms. Davies had the opportunity to explore that rarely heard music, her cabaletta after the death of Osiride. “Tormenti, afanni,” was impressive, especially in the context of its place near the end of the opera. She also brought finesse to her duet with Osiride in the first act, when Elcia is still consumed by her love, and not yet persuaded to forego it in deference to her loyalty to her people and faith in her deity. Her impassioned performance demonstrated all of the conflicts her character experiences in deciding between love and duty.” —James L. Zychowicz, Seen and Heard International, April 23, 2010
As Elcia in “Mosč in Egitto” with Chicago Opera Theatre: “As [Osiride’s] lover Elcia, Sian Davies was on the same level, bringing a touching purity of tone and expressive sensitivity to her aria with chorus La pace mia smarrita, and blending beautifully with Stayton in their duets.” —Lawrence A. Johnson, Chicago Classical Review, April 18, 2010
About
Soprano Siân Davies is showing promise as an up and coming lyric soprano on both the operatic and concert stages. She made her professional debut with Chicago Opera Theatre singing the role of Elcěa from Rossini’s Mosč in Egitto and was described as “persuasive musically and dramatically. Her vocal facility was remarkable from the start, and it was impressive to have such a talent in this unusual work.”
This season Ms. Davies joins the Met roster for covers of Miranda in Ades’ The Tempest and makes two notable debuts, first as Elcia . . . in Mosč in Egitto with New York City Opera and later, for her first European performances, as Anna Erisso in Maometto Secondo with Garsington Opera.
Last season Ms. Davies made her debut with Michigan Opera Theatre as Countess Almaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro; a role she performed with Indiana University and covered as an apprentice with the Santa Fe Opera. Later in the season, Ms. Davies covered the role of Antonia in Les contes d’Hoffmann with Lyric Opera of Chicago under Emmanuel Villaume.
On the concert stage, Ms. Davies performed the soprano solos in Handel’s Israel in Egypt with the Bel Canto Chorus of Milwaukee and made her European debut as the soprano soloist in Mozart’s Requiem with the Rome Festival Orchestra. Additional credits include Handel’s Messiah, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Mozart’s Mass in C Major,
Bach’s Magnificat in D Major, Mozart’s Vesperae Solennes de Confessore, and Vivaldi’s Gloria in D Major.
In the summer of 2009, she returned to the Santa Fe Opera to cover the role of Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni. Other engagements with Indiana University include Donna Anna in Don Giovanni and Madame Pompous in Edwin Penhorwood’s Too Many Sopranos. Prior to her studies at Indiana University, Ms. Davies performed in Bluebeard’s Castle (Bel Canto Northwest), Puccini’s La Bohčme (Michigan State Opera Theatre), and Maury Yeston’s Nine (Michigan State Opera Theatre).
In competition, Ms. Davies was a finalist in the 2010 Denver Lyric Opera Guild competition. She was a regional 3rd place winner for the 2010 Rocky Mountain Region Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, as well as a Colorado/Wyoming District winner. Ms. Davies was a 2008 Indiana Regional winner for the National Society of Arts & Letters Competition in voice. She continued on to win third place at the national competition with the Mrs. Granville Wells Memorial Award. The Santa Fe Opera awarded her with the Agnes M. Canning Memorial Award for Singers after her summer apprenticeship in 2008. The Judith Raskin Memorial Award also recognized Ms. Davies for Singers in 2009. In 2006, she won the Mr. & Mrs. Raymond M. Cracchiolo Award at the Detroit District Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.
Ms. Davies has participated in several young artists programs including the Santa Fe Opera (2008 & 2009) and Central City Opera (2006). She is a student of Costanza Cuccaro with a Master of Music in Voice degree from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, as well as Bachelor of Music degrees in voice performance and music education from Michigan State University.
Updated September 2012
