Sarah Nordin
Praised by Opera News for the “clear beauty” of her voice and her “spot-on comic timing,” mezzo-soprano Sarah Nordin brings an exquisite blend of vocal artistry and strong dramatic instincts to a variety of repertoire across opera and concert stages. Ms. Nordin’s 2017-2018 season features several role debuts including Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Geneva Light Opera, Dama in Macbeth at Opera Tampa, and The Conductor – a role written specifically for her – in the world premiere of Dan Montez’s In bocca al lupo! at Taconic Opera.
An accomplished Mozartean, Ms. Nordin has garnered critical acclaim for her interpretation of several of the composer’s most memorable roles. Recently, she made her debut as Zerlina in Don Giovanni at Opera Orlando and Geneva Light Opera. She has sung Dorabella in Così fan tutte a number of times, including at Opera Tampa, Winter Opera of St. Louis, and Opera Orlando. The St. Louis Post praised her “rich mezzo-soprano that fit Mozart’s music like a glove” and Ladue News called her singing “uniformly splendid.” She has also appeared as Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro at Opera del West and Long Island Opera, as Marcellina at Hubbard Hall Opera Theatre, and as Third Lady in the The Magic Flute with Salt Marsh Opera. Her upcoming Mozart roles are Cherubino in Le nozze di Figaro with Geneva Light Opera and Second Lady in The Magic Flute with The Imperial Symphony Orchestra.
Other notable recent engagements for the mezzo-soprano include Charlotte in Werther with Gulfshore Opera, the title role in Carmen with Livingston Symphony Orchestra, Komponist in Ariade auf Naxos with St. Petersburgh Opera, Alma March in Little Women at Opera North, Flora in La Traviata at Missouri Symphony and Opera Tampa, Zita in Gianni Schicchi at Hubbard Hall Opera Theatre, and both Meg in Falstaff and Isabella in L’Italiana in Algeri at Taconic Opera. The Finger Lakes Times praised her recent portrayal of Prince Orlofsky with Geneva Light Opera as “lush-voiced” and “outstanding.” Additionally, Ms. Nordin created the role of Mary Eden Thompson in the regional three-year tour of the new musical The Circuit Rider’s Wife and can be heard on its original cast recording.
On the concert stage, Ms. Nordin has appeared as alto soloist in Handel’s Messiah with Church of the Guardian Angel Manhattan, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with Ocala Symphony Orchestra, and Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 with Orlando Philharmonic, among others. She has appeared in The Metropolitan Opera’s productions of Les Troyens, Parsifal, Otello, Boris Godunov, Nabucco, and Turandot as a member of their professional ensemble. She has been featured in three HD Live Broadcasts and toured with The Met to Japan in 2012. She has also toured internationally as a soloist with the American Spiritual Ensemble.
Ms. Nordin has participated in several prestigious Young Artist programs, among them Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Central City Opera, Caramoor, Opera North, and Opera Orlando. She is also an award-winning ballroom dancer, accomplished french horn player, and costume designer. She received her B.M. from Lee University and her M.M. from University of Tennessee.