Cheryl Evans
Biography

Possessing a voice that has been described as "opulent, with a brilliant top extension," soprano Cheryl Evans has won acclaim for her "beautiful voice and dramatic fervor" in roles ranging from the bel canto heroines to her world premiere performances in opera and Off-Broadway.

The music of Mozart plays a central role in Ms. Evans' repertoire. In 2006 Ms. Evans debuted with San Diego Opera, singing her signature role of the Queen of the Night in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte, a role she has also performed with New York City Opera, Syracuse Opera and Lyric Opera of San Antonio to enthusiastic acclaim. She debuted at Kennedy Center as soprano soloist with the Master Chorale performing Mozart's Requiem under the baton of Maestro Donald McCullough, and has performed the Mozart Requiem and Haydn's Paukenmesse at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall with the National Chorale. The Mozart opera heroines in her repertoire include Konstanze in Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Donna Anna and Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro, Sandrina and Arminda in La finta giardiniera and Mme. Herz in The Impresario.

This season Ms. Evans debuts with Atlanta Opera singing the role of Gertrude (The Mother) in a new production of Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel. She returns to Bohème Opera in Trenton NJ to sing her first performances of Gilda in Verdi's Rigoletto and will join Frederica Von Stade as a featured artist in a gala opera concert Frederica Von Stade and Friends for Lyric Opera of San Antonio. In 2008 Ms. Evans joins Pensacola Opera to sing the Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute.

Ms. Evans has enjoyed an active association with New York City Opera since her debut in 2001 in The Ballad of Baby Doe. Other roles at NYCO have included Madame Cortese in Rossini's opera Il viaggio a Reims, the Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute, and Gertrude in Hansel and Gretel in both 2002 and 2006. She has covered many leading roles for NYCO including Mimi in La Bohème, Armida in Rinaldo, Mme. Lidoine in Dialogues of the Carmelites, Lavinia Mannon in Mourning Becomes Electra and Arminda in La finta giardiniera.

Versatility has long been Cheryl Evans’ calling card with roles that have included Konstanze in Die Entführung aus dem Serail for Opera Ontario, Rokujo and the Akashi Lady in the world premiere of Miki’s The Tale of Genji for Opera Theatre of Saint Louis (directed by Colin Graham, Steuart Bedford cond.), Violetta in La Traviata with Cedar Rapids Opera Theatre (directed by Bodo Igesz), Queen Tye in Akhnaten with Boston Lyric Opera (directed by Tony Award-winner Mary Zimmerman), Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni with Boheme Opera and Opera North, the title roles of both Lucia di Lammermoor and Barber's Vanessa, as well as Tatyana in Eugene Onegin with the Pittsburgh Opera Center, singing opposite tenor Rolando Villazòn in all three operas and in numerous concerts.

Ms. Evans is a proud member of the Actors Equity Association, having made her Off-Broadway debut creating the role of opera legend Adelina Patti in the world premiere of John Guare's play A Few Stout Individuals at the Signature Theatre (opposite Donald Moffat, William Sadler, and Polly Holliday; directed by Michael Greif). She is featured on the Grammy-Nominated cd Kelis Was Here, singing the Queen of the Night on the track, “Like You.” The song “Like You” was heard at the recent Louis Vuitton Spring/Summer 2007 Fashion Show in New York City.