About
American Soprano Amanda Zory returns for her fourth season with The Metropolitan Opera Guild as Ortrud in the Lohengrin Showcase. Past seasons include excerpts as Turandot, Minnie, Tosca, Abigaille, Aida, Senta, and Lady Macbeth. This fall, she sang Isolde with the New York Chamber Music Festival in collaboration with the Wagner Society of New York, and is singing two world premieres with her new music group Duo Chux. The 2020-2022 seasons included the title role in Strauss’ Elektra with the New York Chamber Music Festival, “Puccini Showcase”, “Viva Verdi” and “A Royal Day at the Opera” with The Metropolitan Opera Guild, solo debut at Carnegie Weill Hall with Association of Classical Musicians and Artists (ACMA), guest artist on PBS Television’s “Poetry in America”, recital with the Santa Cruz Foundation for the Performing Arts at the Benderly-Kendall Opera House, winner of the Wagner Society of New York’s Ursula Springer Award, recording and a world premier with pianist Walter Aparicio and composer David Pearson, and guest lecturing with Macaulay Honors College, City College, Baruch College, Brooklyn College, Lehman College, Queens College, John Jay, College of Staten Island and Hunter College. 2018-2019 engagements included a Wagner fellowship with The Miami Music Festival, as Ortrud in Lohengrin, under the direction of Maestro Michael Rossi with a 95-piece orchestra at the New World Center, Santuzza in Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana in Philadelphia, and the title role in Puccini’s Turandot at the National Opera Center.
Additionally, Amanda made her Carnegie Zankel Hall debut with ACMA, won a grant from the Wagner Society of New York, won second place in the New Jersey State Opera – Alfredo Silipigni Vocal Competition, and gave guest lectures throughout 8 of the CUNY campuses. Additional roles performed: Maddalena de Coigny in Giordano’s Andrea Chenier, Elisabeth in Verdi’s Don Carlo, Amelia in Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera, Leonora in Verdi’s Il Trovatore, Brünnhilde in Wagner’s Götterdammerung, Donna Anna in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, Female Chorus in Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia, Lady Bird in Mollicone’s Lady Bird: First Lady of the Land, Alida Slade in Ward’s Roman Fever, and excerpts as Brünnhilde from Wagner's Die Walküre and Lady Macbeth in Verdi’s Macbeth. An avid performer of new music, Ms. Zory has premiered several roles with New York Opera Fest, Hunter Opera Theatre at the Kaye Playhouse, soloist with the Nouveau Classical Project (NCP), and Metropolis Opera Project. Noted television appearances have been with MTV Network, PBS Television “Poetry in America”, MNN.org “The Manhattan Classical and Opera Series”, and CUNY Television. Ms. Zory is an alumna of the Juilliard School, Ithaca College, and CUNY Hunter College. She serves on the board of Association of Classical Musicians and Artists, and performs with Walter Aparicio in their new music group Duo Chux.
Reviews
"Of the singers, the most impressive was the soprano Amanda Zory as Ortrud. With powerful high notes and an easy legato, she gave a subtle performance of coiled evil in a role that can inspire campy exaggeration. With a glance at her weak-willed husband, she established who was in charge."
"Big beautiful voice! ...what we liked about Ms. Zory, other than her richly textured instrument, was her total commitment to whatever role she sang. As the seduced and abandoned Santuzza in Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana, she was totally convincing in her revenge seeking aria (O Signore vi mando)"
“...a stunning voice and amazing use of facial expressions...Zory contributed yet another outstanding performance!!.”
"In Lohengrin, soprano Amanda Zory brought a strong physical presence to her role of the vengeful sorceress, Ortrud!"
"...Amanda Zory as Ortrud, delivered standout performances in the semi stage encircling the orchestra below..."
"Amanda Zory has a well-placed voice with a solid chest register. She plants herself solidly and delivers!" "...holds the listener's attention from beginning to end with magnetism and presence."