Gail Dubinbaum
Encyclopedia
Gail Dubinbaum is an American operatic coloratura mezzo-soprano and co-founder and Creative Director of the Phoenix Metropolitan Opera
.
.
As befits a background so balanced between operatic and concert singing, Dubinbaum has been equally at home on the opera stage and concert platform since winning the Western Region Metropolitan Opera National Auditions in 1981. Her operatic career, with a focus on works by Rossini and Mozart
, has included appearances in productions at various major houses across the United States, ranging from the Metropolitan
and Boston Lyric
opera companies on the East Coast to the Portland Opera
on the West, with appearances in Texas, Michigan, and Arizona in between. Internationally, she has sung with major companies in Israel, Austria, and Canada. Her concert appearances have ranged equally widely: in addition to performances at several US music festivals, she has performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra
and New York Philharmonic
, the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra and Los Angeles Philharmonic
, the Cleveland Orchestra
, and the Israel Philharmonic. Conductors with whom she has worked include the likes of Kurt Masur
, Michael Tilson Thomas
, Carlo Maria Giulini
, and Leonard Bernstein
; James Levine
presided over her appearances on television in the popular series In Performance at the White House and Live from the Met
and in the Met Centennial Gala. In 2007, Dubinbaum and her husband, conductor John Massaro
, founded the Phoenix Metropolitan Opera
, of which she is Creative Director. The company began with a single production of Puccini's La Boheme
but planned to expand to two productions for the 2008-2009 season. The company also planned educational programs for children and young singers. Besides her involvement with the Phoenix company, Dubinbaum maintains a private studio at which she teaches voice in Phoenix.
Phoenix Metropolitan Opera
The Phoenix Opera is a professional opera company located in Phoenix, Arizona and is an affiliate member of OPERA America. The company was founded under the name the Phoenix Metropolitan Opera in 2006 by Artistic Director John Massaro and Creative Director Gail Dubinbaum...
.
Career
A native of Phoenix, Arizona, Dubinbaum first studied with her mother, Ruth Dubinbaum, and then with operatic mezzo-soprano Herta Glatz. She also had a close association with Elisabeth SchwarzkopfElisabeth Schwarzkopf
Dame Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, DBE was a German-born Austrian/British soprano opera singer and recitalist. She was among the most renowned opera singers of the 20th century, much admired for her performances of Mozart, Schubert, Strauss, and Wolf.-Early life:Olga Maria Elisabeth Friederike...
.
As befits a background so balanced between operatic and concert singing, Dubinbaum has been equally at home on the opera stage and concert platform since winning the Western Region Metropolitan Opera National Auditions in 1981. Her operatic career, with a focus on works by Rossini and Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , baptismal name Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart , was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music...
, has included appearances in productions at various major houses across the United States, ranging from the Metropolitan
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
and Boston Lyric
Boston Lyric Opera
Boston Lyric Opera is an American opera company based in Boston, Massachusetts, founded in 1976.Each season, BLO produces three mainstage productions at the Citi Performing Arts Center Shubert Theatre in Boston and a fully staged, one-hour English language version of a popular opera for school...
opera companies on the East Coast to the Portland Opera
Portland Opera
Portland Opera is an American opera company based at The Hampton Opera Center in Portland, Oregon. Its mainstage performances take place in the Keller Auditorium, while the Portland Opera Studio Theater at the Hampton center is used for performances of chamber operas...
on the West, with appearances in Texas, Michigan, and Arizona in between. Internationally, she has sung with major companies in Israel, Austria, and Canada. Her concert appearances have ranged equally widely: in addition to performances at several US music festivals, she has performed with the Boston Symphony Orchestra
Boston Symphony Orchestra
The Boston Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra based in Boston, Massachusetts. It is one of the five American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1881, the BSO plays most of its concerts at Boston's Symphony Hall and in the summer performs at the Tanglewood Music Center...
and New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
, the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra and Los Angeles Philharmonic
Los Angeles Philharmonic
The Los Angeles Philharmonic is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California, United States. It has a regular season of concerts from October through June at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and a summer season at the Hollywood Bowl from July through September...
, the Cleveland Orchestra
Cleveland Orchestra
The Cleveland Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Cleveland, Ohio. It is one of the five American orchestras informally referred to as the "Big Five". Founded in 1918, the orchestra plays most of its concerts at Severance Hall...
, and the Israel Philharmonic. Conductors with whom she has worked include the likes of Kurt Masur
Kurt Masur
Kurt Masur is a German conductor, particularly noted for his interpretation of German Romantic music.- Biography :Masur was born in Brieg, Lower Silesia, Germany and studied piano, composition and conducting in Leipzig, Saxony. Masur has been married three times...
, Michael Tilson Thomas
Michael Tilson Thomas
Michael Tilson Thomas is an American conductor, pianist and composer. He is currently music director of the San Francisco Symphony, and artistic director of the New World Symphony Orchestra.-Early years:...
, Carlo Maria Giulini
Carlo Maria Giulini
Carlo Maria Giulini was an Italian conductor.-Biography:Giulini was born in Barletta, Italy, to a father born in Lombardy and a mother born in Naples; but he was raised in Bolzano, which at the time of his birth was part of Austria...
, and Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States of America to receive worldwide acclaim...
; James Levine
James Levine
James Lawrence Levine is an American conductor and pianist. He is currently the music director of the Metropolitan Opera and former music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Levine's first performance conducting the Metropolitan Opera was on June 5, 1971, and as of May 2011 he has...
presided over her appearances on television in the popular series In Performance at the White House and Live from the Met
Live from the Met
Live from the Metropolitan Opera is an American television program that presented performances of complete operas from the Metropolitan Opera, New York City, on the Public Broadcasting Service television network. The program began in 1977, and was telecast live for its first few seasons...
and in the Met Centennial Gala. In 2007, Dubinbaum and her husband, conductor John Massaro
John Massaro
John Massaro is an American conductor, opera director, composer, and pianist. Massaro is the co-founder and current Artistic Director of the Phoenix Metropolitan Opera.-Career:...
, founded the Phoenix Metropolitan Opera
Phoenix Metropolitan Opera
The Phoenix Opera is a professional opera company located in Phoenix, Arizona and is an affiliate member of OPERA America. The company was founded under the name the Phoenix Metropolitan Opera in 2006 by Artistic Director John Massaro and Creative Director Gail Dubinbaum...
, of which she is Creative Director. The company began with a single production of Puccini's La Boheme
La bohème
La bohème is an opera in four acts,Puccini called the divisions quadro, a tableau or "image", rather than atto . by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa, based on Scènes de la vie de bohème by Henri Murger...
but planned to expand to two productions for the 2008-2009 season. The company also planned educational programs for children and young singers. Besides her involvement with the Phoenix company, Dubinbaum maintains a private studio at which she teaches voice in Phoenix.
External links
- New York Times Article, October 1983
- New York Times Article, August 1983
- New York Times Article, September 1983
- New York Times Article, January 1984
- New York Times Article, September 1985
- New York Times Article, April 1986
- New York Times Article, November 1988
- New York Times Article, October 1998
- New York Times Article, February 2000