 | | American mezzo-soprano Jennifer Dudley is a compelling performer both as a singer and an actress.
Her recent performances as "Jo" in Mark Adamo's Little Women for Glimmerglass Opera and New York City Opera (NYCO) have been definitive and greeted with unanimous raves. In a typical review, Richard Taubner of American Record Guide wrote "Jennifer Dudley's impressive impersonation of this central character in American literature remains in my viewfinder, challenging even Katharine Hepburn in her famous film portrayal." She is an audience favorite at both Glimmerglass and NYCO, where she has also been heard in such crowd-pleasing roles as "Rosmira/Eurimene" in Handel's Partenope and "Bradamante" in his Alcina; the delightful "Geraldine" in John Philip Sousa's The Glassblowers, and "Pitti-Sing" in The Mikado.
Ms. Dudley's appearances at the Metropolitan Opera have included "Flora" in La Traviata, "Schoolboy/Page" in Lulu, and "Javotte" in Manon, and she created the role of the "Tango Singer" in the world premiere of John Harbison's The Great Gatsby.
A former member of the Lyric Opera Center for American Artists, Ms. Dudley returns often to the Lyric Opera of Chicago. She was highly lauded by critics for her performances there as "Myrtle Wilson" in The Great Gatsby, as well as for roles including "Dryade" in Arianna auf Naxos, "Maddalena" in Rigoletto, and "Lola" in Cavalleria Rusticana. She returns to Lyric Opera in the 2005-06 season as "Annina" in Der Rosenkavalier.
Recent and upcoming roles also include the title role in Carmen for Opera Theatre of St. Louis, "Isabella" in L'Italiana in Algeri and "Jo" in Little Women for the Fort Worth Opera, "Ma Moss" in Copland's The Tender Land for Opera Omaha, and "Isabella" for Lake George Opera. She has also sung "Sesto" (La Clemenza di Tito), "Dorabella" (Così fan tutte), and "Irene" in Handel's Tamerlano.
Ms. Dudley's orchestral engagements have included the American Symphony Orchestra, Cape Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Houston Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, San Francisco Symphony, Rockville Symphony, and the Spoleto Festival Orchestra in repertoire ranging from Handel to Mahler to Dukas to De Falla.
Born and raised in Portland, Maine, Ms. Dudley received her B A. from New York University in French Language and Culture, and her M.M. from the Manhattan School of Music. She has trained extensively in theatre and dance. For a change of pace, Ms. Dudley enjoys singing music of the American musical theatre, particularly the works of Kurt Weill and Cole Porter. |
