Vocal Recital: Heidi Stober

Stunning audiences with her sterling lyric soprano voice and incisive stage personality, American soprano Heidi Stober has established herself as a house favorite at leading companies on both sides of the Atlantic.

Since her critically acclaimed debut at Deutsche Oper Berlin in the fall of 2008, Ms. Stober has cultivated a long standing relationship with the company, going on to appear in a variety of leading roles including Pamina in Die Zauberflöte,Micaëla in Carmen, Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro, Adina in a new production of L’elisir d’amore, Gretel in Hänsel und Gretel, Oscar in Un ballo in maschera, Nannetta in Falstaff, Zerlina in Don Giovanni and Princess Ninette in Robert Carsen’s new production of Prokofiev’s L’Amour des Trois Oranges.

The current 2015-16 season includes a role debut of Johanna in Sondheim’sSweeney Todd at San Francisco Opera conducted by Patrick Summers, followed by a debut at the Lyric Opera of Chicago as Valencienne in The Merry Widow, directed by Susan Stroman and led by Sir Andrew Davis, and a return to Houston Grand Opera for Susannah in Le Nozze di Figaro conducted by Harry Bicket.  The soprano makes her company and role debut at Dresden Semperoper singing the title role in Handel’s Alcina, as well as performances of Micaëla in Carmen.  She continues her relationship with the Deutsche Oper Berlin, peforming Pamina, Adina, and Micaela.  Concert appearances include a debut with the New York Philharmonic as the soprano soloists in Handel’sMessiah conducted by Jane Glover, and a joint recital with her husband, baritone Simon Pauly in Berlin.

Highlights of the last season include returns to the Metropolitan Opera for Gretel in Hansel and Gretel conducted by Sir Andrew Davis in an international radio broadcast and Oscar in Un ballo in maschera conducted by James Levine, the role also saw her return to San Francisco Opera in a production led by Nicola Luisotti.  She made a return to Santa Fe Opera for her role debut as Sandrina in La Finta Giardiniera, and debuted with Opera Philadelphia, reprising the role of Ada in Theodore Morrison’s Oscar, based on the life of Oscar Wilde. She also returned to Deutsche Oper Berlin for further performances of Pamina, Adina, Micaela and Ninette.  Concert appearances included a solo recital in Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall, a return to her alma mater of Lawrence University for a recital and master class, both with pianist Craig Terry, and a return to the Los Angeles Philharmonic for the world premiere of Stephen Hartke’s Symphony No. 4, conducted by Gustavo Dudamel.

The 2013-14 saw critically acclaimed performances at San Francisco Opera and the Metropolitan Opera as Nannetta in Falstaff and Pamina in The Magic Flute, respectively. She was also seen with Deutsche Oper Berlin as Pamina inDie Zauberflöte and Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro. Role debuts included Adina in a new production of Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore at Deutsche Oper Berlin and Magnolia in a San Francisco Opera production of Showboat. On the concert stage, the soprano performed Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915 andMahler’s 4th Symphony with Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin under the baton of Mark Wigglesworth.

Having already taken to the stages of the world’s most important opera companies, Ms. Stober made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera during the 2011-2012 season as Gretel in Hansel and Gretel conducted by Robin Ticciati as well as a role debut as Zdenka inArabella conducted by Sir Andrew Davis with the Santa Fe Opera. In 2010 she debuted with the San Francisco Opera to great critical acclaim as Sophie in Werther which was followed by performances of Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro, Atalanta in Xerxes and a highly acclaimed Pamina in a new production of Die Zauberflöte of which Mercury News wrote “Consider going to this new Flute simply to see Stober. Every time she arrives on stage, Mozart re-emerges in all his richness. In the end, we go to the opera to hear singing; this woman can sing.” 

Solidly established as a house favorite at Houston Grand Opera, in addition to Atalanta in Xerxes, Ms. Stober has appeared as Susanna, Blondchen in Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Drusilla in L’incoronazione di Poppea, Norina inDon Pasquale, and Musetta in a new production of La bohème.  Her 2007 debut as La Folie in Plateé with the Santa Fe Opera was a particular success leading to a continuing relationship with that company in such roles as Tigrane in Handel’s Radamisto, Musetta in La Boheme, Zdenka in Arabella and Ada in the world premiere of Theodore Morrison’s Oscar.

She made her role debut as Leïla in Les pêcheurs de perles with Opera Colorado, her South American debut with Teatro Municipal in Santiago as Morgana in Alcina, and role and house debuts with Opera Theatre of St. Louis as Aminta in Mozart’s Il re pastore.  The New York Times wrote of her New York City Opera debut that she “contributed some remarkable singing” as Poppea in Handel’s Agrippina.  Ms. Stober made early appearances with Boston Lyric Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, Central City Opera, and Utah Opera.

Highlights of concert engagements include Mozart’s Requiem with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 (Edo de Waart, conductor) with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, and the role of Anne Trulove in The Rake’s Progress with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra. Additional concert work includes soprano soloist in concert performances of Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915 with the Oslo Philharmonic, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the Baltimore Symphony, Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem with the Houston Symphony, Handel’s Messiah with the Hong Kong Philharmonic, and Carmina Burana with Houston Ballet.

Heidi Stober’s professional training took place at the Houston Grand Opera Studio, and she holds degrees from Lawrence University and the New England Conservatory.  She and her husband, baritone Simon Pauly, currently make their home in Berlin with their son.

http://www.heidistober.com/