Emily Fons
Vocalists
— Mezzo-Soprano
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Manager: Michael Benchetrit
Management Territory: Worldwide
“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
"Fons offered a remarkably flexible account of the rondo finale to Rossini’s La Cenerentola that was a genuine show-stopper." —Chicago Classical Review, Dennis Polkow, September 12, 2010
About
Mezzo-soprano Emily Fons is currently a member of the Ryan Opera Center at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Last season, she performed the roles of Mercedes in Carmen, Peep-bo in The Mikado, and one of the Pages in Lohengrin. Ms. Fons 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. Her responsibilities for the 2011-12 season include: Nicklausse . . . in Les contes d’Hoffmann and Fyodor in Boris Godunov. In the spring of 2012 she makes her debut with Chicago Opera Theater as Masha in Moscow, Cheremushky by Dimitri Shostakovich.
Recently 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
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, Gianetta 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 September 2011
