Emily Fons
Vocalists
— Mezzo-Soprano
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Manager: Michael Benchetrit
Management Territory: Worldwide
“… It was Emily Fons in the difficult role of Megacle who shone. [...] Technically absolutely secure, with a flexible warmth to her tone, she’s a mezzo to sway even the most ardent of countertenor devotees.” —Alexandra Coghlan, The Arts Desk, June 4, 2012
“In Lyric's staging, the roles of the Muse of Poetry and her earthly incarnation as Nicklausse, Hoffmann's sidekick, take on greater musical and dramatic presence. This is the breakout part those of us who have been following the ascent of Emily Fons have been waiting for. Not only does the Ryan sophomore look suitably androgynous, she invests Nicklausse's "china doll" and "violin" arias with a warm, pliant mezzo, secure throughout its range.” —John von Rhein, Chicago Tribune, October 3, 2011
"Mezzo-soprano Emily Fons sang resplendently..." —Timothy Mangan, OC Register, May 6, 2011
About
Mezzo-soprano Emily Fons is impressing audiences and critics alike through her remarkable versatility as an interpreter of Mozart and baroque music as well as of Rossini and more modern composers.
Current projects include the Wisconsin native’s first Sesto in Handel’s Giulio Cesare (a role she will cover at the Met later in the season), Christmas concerts with the Madison Symphony and a return to the Santa Fe Opera as Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro. Future projects include a debut with the Dallas Opera and a return to the Lyric Opera of . . . Chicago, both in leading roles.
In the spring of 2012 Emily Fons made her debut with Chicago Opera Theater as Masha in Moscow, Cheremushky by Dimitri Shostakovich followed by a personal triumph as Megacle in Vivaldi’s L’Olimpiade with the Garsington Opera.
Earlier, Ms. Fons completed her second summer as an apprentice with the Santa Fe Opera. While in Santa Fe she portayed Flora in a new production of La Traviata, and covered the roles of Meg Page in Falstaff, and performed the roles of Dorabella and Cendrillon in scenes from Così fan tutte, and Cendrillon. She also appeared as the Sandman (Hänsel cover) in Hänsel und Gretel, and Kate in The Pirates of Penzance with the Indianapolis Opera. Additionally, she has participated in the University of Miami’s Summer Program in Salzburg, the Oberlin Baroque Performance Institute, and the Masterworks’ Festival. A former member of the Ryan Opera Center at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Ms. Fons performed Nicklausse in Les Contes d’Hoffmann and Fyodor in Boris Godunov, Mercedes in Carmen, Peep-Bo in The Mikado, and one of the Pages in Lohengrin. She also performed the role of Angelina in the Ryan Opera Center’s production of La Cenerentola; as well as covered Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Pitti-Sing in The Mikado, and Dejanira in Handel’s Hercules.
Ms. Fons was a 2010 semi-finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and has also received awards from Polanki; the Milwaukee Polish Women’s Organization, the National Association of Teachers of Singing, the Milwaukee Civic Music Association, and the Santa Fe Opera.
A native of Wisconsin, Ms. Fons completed her Master’s Degree in Opera and Music Theatre at Southern Illinois University. Opera roles sung at Southern Illinois include:
Hansel in Hansel and Gretel, Giannetta in The Elixir of Love, and Angelica in Suor Angelica. She received her undergraduate degree from Luther College where she was awarded the Brudos Prize and was heard in performances of The Merry Wives of Windsor, and Britten’s Albert Herring.
Updated Ocotber 2012
