Isabel Leonard
Encyclopedia
Isabel Leonard is an American mezzo-soprano. She is of Argentinean ancestry on her mother's side.
For five years, Leonard sang with the Manhattan School of Music Children’s Chorus. She also attended the Joffrey Ballet
School. She is a graduate of the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts
. She earned her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees at the Juilliard School
, where she was a pupil of Edith Bers. She has also studied with Marilyn Horne
, Brian Zeger, Warren Jones, and Margo Garrett. She is a 2005 winner of a Marilyn Horne
Foundation award. She is a recipient of a 2006 Licia Albanese
-Puccini Foundation Award. She was also chosen as a recipient of a "Movado Future Legends" award in 2006.
In New York, Leonard has performed with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and with the Juilliard Opera Center. Her first appearance with the New York Philharmonic
was in a concert version of Leonard Bernstein
's Candide, and she later sang the part of the Squirrel in L'enfant et les sortilèges
in concert with the orchestra and Lorin Maazel
. In February 2007, Leonard made her professional operatic stage debut as Stéphano in Roméo et Juliette
. In September 2007, she made her Metropolitan Opera
debut in the same role. Leonard made her debut with Santa Fe Opera
as Cherubino in 2008. Her commercial recordings include a DVD recording for Euroarts as Dorabella in the 2009 Salzburg Festival
production of Così fan tutte
. In February 2011, Leonard made her Vienna State Opera
debut singing Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro.
Leonard married bass-baritone Teddy Tahu Rhodes
in December 2008. Now based in New York City, the couple have a son, Teo, born 17 May 2010.
For five years, Leonard sang with the Manhattan School of Music Children’s Chorus. She also attended the Joffrey Ballet
Joffrey Ballet
The Joffrey Ballet is a dance company in Chicago, Illinois, founded in 1956. From 1995 to 2004, the company was known as The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago. The company regularly performs classical ballets including Romeo & Juliet and The Nutcracker, while balancing those classics with pioneering modern...
School. She is a graduate of the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts
Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts
Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts is a high school specializing in teaching visual arts and performing arts, located near Lincoln Center and the Juilliard School in the Lincoln Center district of Manhattan, on Amsterdam Avenue...
. She earned her Bachelor and Master of Music degrees at the Juilliard School
Juilliard School
The Juilliard School, located at the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York City, United States, is a performing arts conservatory which was established in 1905...
, where she was a pupil of Edith Bers. She has also studied with Marilyn Horne
Marilyn Horne
Marilyn Horne is an American mezzo-soprano opera singer. She specialized in roles requiring a large sound, beauty of tone, excellent breath support, and the ability to execute difficult coloratura passages....
, Brian Zeger, Warren Jones, and Margo Garrett. She is a 2005 winner of a Marilyn Horne
Marilyn Horne
Marilyn Horne is an American mezzo-soprano opera singer. She specialized in roles requiring a large sound, beauty of tone, excellent breath support, and the ability to execute difficult coloratura passages....
Foundation award. She is a recipient of a 2006 Licia Albanese
Licia Albanese
Licia Albanese is an Italian-born American operatic soprano. Noted especially for her portrayals of the lyric heroines of Verdi and Puccini, Albanese was a leading artist with the Metropolitan Opera of New York from 1940 to 1966...
-Puccini Foundation Award. She was also chosen as a recipient of a "Movado Future Legends" award in 2006.
In New York, Leonard has performed with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and with the Juilliard Opera Center. Her first appearance with the 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"...
was in a concert version of 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...
's Candide, and she later sang the part of the Squirrel in L'enfant et les sortilèges
L'enfant et les sortilèges
L'enfant et les sortilèges: Fantaisie lyrique en deux parties is an opera in one act, with music by Maurice Ravel to a libretto by Colette. It is Ravel's second opera, his first being L'heure espagnole...
in concert with the orchestra and Lorin Maazel
Lorin Maazel
Lorin Varencove Maazel is an American conductor, violinist and composer.- Early life :Maazel was born to Jewish-American parents in Neuilly-sur-Seine in France and brought up in the United States, primarily at his parents' home in Pittsburgh's Oakland neighborhood. His father, Lincoln Maazel , was...
. In February 2007, Leonard made her professional operatic stage debut as Stéphano in Roméo et Juliette
Roméo et Juliette
Roméo et Juliette is an opéra in five acts by Charles Gounod to a French libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré, based on The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. It was first performed at the Théâtre Lyrique , Paris on 27 April 1867...
. In September 2007, she made her Metropolitan Opera
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...
debut in the same role. Leonard made her debut with Santa Fe Opera
Santa Fe Opera
The Santa Fe Opera is an American opera company, located north of Santa Fe in the U.S. state of New Mexico, headquartered on a former guest ranch of .-General history:...
as Cherubino in 2008. Her commercial recordings include a DVD recording for Euroarts as Dorabella in the 2009 Salzburg Festival
Salzburg Festival
The Salzburg Festival is a prominent festival of music and drama established in 1920. It is held each summer within the Austrian town of Salzburg, the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart...
production of Così fan tutte
Così fan tutte
Così fan tutte, ossia La scuola degli amanti K. 588, is an opera buffa by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart first performed in 1790. The libretto was written by Lorenzo Da Ponte....
. In February 2011, Leonard made her Vienna State Opera
Vienna State Opera
The Vienna State Opera is an opera house – and opera company – with a history dating back to the mid-19th century. It is located in the centre of Vienna, Austria. It was originally called the Vienna Court Opera . In 1920, with the replacement of the Habsburg Monarchy by the First Austrian...
debut singing Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro.
Leonard married bass-baritone Teddy Tahu Rhodes
Teddy Tahu Rhodes
-Early life:Teddy Tahu Rhodes was born in Christchurch, New Zealand, on 30 August 1966, to a British mother and a New Zealand father. The Maori word "Tahu", which means "to set on fire", was added to the family name soon after they settled in New Zealand...
in December 2008. Now based in New York City, the couple have a son, Teo, born 17 May 2010.
External links
- IMG Artists biography
- Columbia Artists Management page
- Music Academy of the West page, information on 2005 award
- Jazz News, "Movado Future Legends" page
- New York Philharmonic biography
- http://www.operatoday.com/content/2010/12/mozart_at_salzb.phpOpera Today review of Euroarts 2072538 DVD of Così fan tutteCosì fan tutteCosì fan tutte, ossia La scuola degli amanti K. 588, is an opera buffa by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart first performed in 1790. The libretto was written by Lorenzo Da Ponte....
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