ABOUT
"Mezzo-soprano Lisa Chavez tore into the part in a standout performance.”
- James L Paulk , Classical Voice North America
“Ms Chavez is as bold and commanding as she is alluring and conniving. She brings a depth and grace to her lusty character."
- Carolan Trbovich, Broadway World
“commanding the stage at every moment she was on it."
- Francisco Salazar, Opera Wire
Lisa Chavez, has been described as possessing a “plush storm of a voice”, “graceful stage presence” as well as being “a powerhouse both vocally and emotionally”. The 22/23 season Ms. Chavez returned to Sarasota Opera for the title character of Massenet's Thérèse, and Fidalma in Cimarosa's Il matrimonio segreto. This marks 10 roles, 8 role debuts with Sarasota Opera. Lisa also made her role and company debut as Adalgisa in Opera Tampa's Norma in Februrary. In April Lisa returned to Knoxville Opera as Marcellina in the company's Le nozze di Figaro.
This season started with a role debut of Prince Orlofsky with Opera in Williamsburg followed by the 75th Anniversary Gala Concert with Shreveport Opera. Lisa also joined Opera San Jose for a reading of Zheng, a new opera composed by Shinji Eshima with libretto by Tony Asaro delving into the life of Zheng Cao. In May she will join the Savannah Philharmonic as the Mezzo soloist in Verdi's Requiem.
Chavez was seen with New York City Opera in a “star turn” as Maggie in the premiere of Bell/Campbell's Stonewall commissioned for the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising. Other roles performed with the company include the title role in Carmen, Dolores in Dolores Claiborne, Paula in Florencia en el Amazonas, Maddalena in Rigoletto, and was also involved in the Hal Prince production of Candide.
For the 2013-2015 seasons Chavez was a principal resident artist with Opera San Jose. Roles sung in her tenure; Isabella in L’Italiana in Algeri, Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, Hansel in Hansel and Gretel, Maddalena in Rigoletto, Harriet Herriton in the premiere of Where Angels Fear to Tread, Suzuki in Madama Butterfly, Meg Page in Falstaff, Third Lady
in Die Zauberflöte.
Other memorable roles include; Federico García Lorca in Ainadamar, Dinah in Trouble in Tahiti, Secretary in The Consul, Dorabella in Così fan tutte, Marquise de Berkenfield in La Fille de régiment and Madame Volanges in Dangerous Liaisons.