Cynthia Jansen has earned critical praise for her performances in both the U.S. and Europe. Possessing a “rich, warm mezzo” (Los Angeles Times) noted for its “individual timbre and lively dramatic range” (Financial  Times), she recently made an impressive appearance with Munich’s Bavarian State Opera in the title role of Arnaldo de Felice’s Medusa (world premiere); the Neue Zürcher Zeitung hailed her performance as “unbelievably well sung” and described her voice as “wide-ranging, multi-faceted, with enormous tonal scale”. ~ Ms. Jansen recently completed a three-year engagement with the Bavarian State Opera, during which time her roles included the aforementioned Medusa, Eduige

in Rodelinda, Annina in Der Rosenkavalier, the Duchess in the world premiere of Unsuk Chin’s Alice in Wonderland, Mary in Der Fliegende Holländer, Marcellina in Le nozze di Figaro, Ulrica in Un Ballo in Maschera (cover), Dritte Dame in Die Zauberflöte, Berta in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Clotilde in Norma opposite Edita Gruberova, Hata in Die Verkaufte Braut, Grimgerde in Die Walküre, the Stallmagd in Königskinder, Blumenmädchen II/3 in Parsifal, and Eine Kranke, the Alt Solo Stimme and Nakte Jungfrau IV in Moses und Aron. She was also featured as the alto soloist in Haydn’s Paukenmesse in the Bavarian State Opera’s 2006 Festspiel Gottesdienst ceremony, conducted by Zubin Mehta. ~ In 2008-09, Ms. Jansen will make her Seattle Opera debut as the Erste Magd in Elektra, returning later in the season to cover multiple roles in Seattle Opera’s production of The Ring. In addition, she will be featured in the title role of Philippe Boesmans’ Julie with Italy’s Teatro Comunale Bolzano. In the spring she will make her Opera Pacific debut as Herodias’ Page in Salome and will also be featured in Opera Pacific’s “Opera Under the Stars” gala concert. Upcoming concert engagements include Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the American Youth Symphony and Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 Resurrection with both the Tucson Philharmonic and the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra. ~ Previous operatic appearances include Carmen with Mobile Opera and the New West Symphony, the title role in La Périchole, Juno in Semele and W.A. Mozart in Michael Nyman’s Letters, Riddles and Writs with Long Beach Opera, Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream with England’s Aldeburgh Festival, Nicklausse in Les Contes d’Hoffmann with Baltimore Opera, Fort Worth Opera and Tulsa Opera, Maddalena in Rigoletto with the San Francisco Opera Center and Opera Columbus, Lola in Cavalleria Rusticana with the Columbus Symphony, and Herodias’ Page in Salome with Finland’s Savonlinna Festival. ~ Ms. Jansen’s recent concert engagements include Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 Resurrection with the Orquestra Simfònica de Balears in Palma de Mallorca, Spain; Bernstein’s Symphony No. 1 Jeremiah with the Helsinki Philharmonic and Lisbon’s Gulbenkian Symphony Orchestra; excerpts from Carmen with the Los Angeles Philharmonic; Handel’s Messiah and Dvorák’s Stabat Mater with the Pacific Symphony and Chorale and the Angeles Chorale; Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the Florida Philharmonic, the New West Symphony, and the Pasadena Pops; Verdi’s Requiem with the Modesto and Redlands Symphonies and the Angeles Chorale; Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis with the Angeles Chorale, and the Bruckner Te Deum with the New West Symphony. She has also made multiple appearances as a recitalist with the Ventura Chamber Music Festival and has been featured in concert with the Russian National Orchestra Woodwind Quintet. ~ A native of Southern California, Ms. Jansen earned her Bachelors and Masters degrees in music from the University of Southern California. She received additional training from San Francisco Opera’s Merola Opera Program, England’s Britten-Pears School, and Glimmerglass Opera’s Young American Artist Program. She began her professional career as a member of Los Angeles Opera’s prestigious Resident Artist Program, performing the roles of Marcellina in Le nozze di Figaro, Tisbe in La Cenerentola, Siébel in Faust, and the High Priestess in Aïda. She was also featured as Octavian in the final trio and duet from Der Rosenkavalier in Los Angeles Opera’s Farewell Gala for General Director Peter Hemmings. She has made subsequent appearances with Los Angeles Opera as Zweite Dame in Die Zauberflöte, Antonia’s Mother in Les Contes d’Hoffmann, and Lilly in The Grand Duchess. Ms. Jansen was a national semi-finalist in the 2000 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, and a finalist in the 2000 Loren L. Zachary Society National Vocal Competition.

More info and photos on Ms. Jansen’s website, www.cynthiajansen.com< ><-->