Gwendolyn Brown, contralto

A Few Words About me

For the 75th Anniversary of the Gershwin's PORGY AND BESS, contralto Gwendolyn Brown performed her highly acclaimed signature role Maria in the Francesca Zambello production for Washington National Opera, Grand Rapids Opera (Michigan) and with PAB Productions (Michael Capasso, Producer). Her recent performances with the Seattle Opera and Boston Symphony at Tanglewood in 2011 have received much critical acclaim. Gwendolyn Brown "was a Maria with an ample voice to match her vivid personality" (Tim Smith, Opera News). As Maria, "Gwendolyn Brown was gutsiness personified" (Steven Brown, Charlotte Observer). In the 2010 season Ms. Brown performed the role with BB Productions (New York Harlem) in Germany (July-August 2010) and with the New Orleans Opera in October 2010. Ms. Brown has also performed the role in Amsterdam and Brussels. Gwendolyn Brown "brings a large helping of sass to the role of Maria" says the Tulsa World of her premier of the role with Tulsa Opera in 2007. Gwendolyn Brown was a "fabulously vivacious Maria," says LA Times of her recent performance at the Hollywood Bowl.

In the 2012 season, engagements for Ms. Brown include the Lyric Opera of Chicago for the production of Show Boat, and The Industry (Los Angeles, CA) performing as the lead character of Marie LaVeau in “Crescent City,” an opera written by Anne LaBaron.

Ms. Brown has also received critical acclaim for her work in opera, concert and symphonic works. To hear Gwendolyn Brown "is to experience that primal thrill which comes in the presence of a singer whose fusion of soul with a vast, resonant instrument is total" (Saugerties Post Star). "Her dusky voice inhabited the music so completely, we were spellbound" (The Oregonian). Her "stirring, solo voice can rise above the crowd and harness audience attention” (Andrew Beck, Hartford Arts Examiner). As one critic states, her singing is simply "Stunning" (Andrew Patner, Chicago Sun Times). Other performed work in her operatic repertoire includes the roles of Baba THE MEDIUM, The Mother AMAHL AND THE NIGHT VISITORS, Fricka DAS RHEINGOLD, Kabanicha KATYA KABANOVA and Filippyevna EUGENE ONEGIN.

 
Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, Gwendolyn Brown obtained her Bachelor of Arts in Music at Fisk University, Nashville, TN, and pursued the Master’s degree in Vocal Performance at the University of Memphis. Her young artist development included the Des Moines Metro Opera Young Artist Program and The Ryan Center for American Artists of Lyric Opera of Chicago. Ms. Brown currently resides in Chicago, Illinois, and has performed for many of the top opera companies and symphonies in the United States and overseas in Germany, Italy, Spain, Amsterdam and Brussels.

Ms. Brown's awards include Regional Winner with the Metropolitan Opera Council in Memphis; Finalist with the Metropolitan Opera Council for the Central Region in Chicago; finalist for the Altamura/Caruso International Voice Competition Study Grants, semi-finalist for the New York Oratorio Society Solo Auditions and the National Opera Association.