Rochelle Bard

Rochelle Bard Biography …………………………………………… Soprano Rochelle Bard has been described as an ‘exquisite’ and ‘poignant’ singing actress. Prestigious U.S. and International vocal competitions have recognized Ms. Bard, who was recently awarded First Place and Audience Choice in the Classical Singer Competition. She was also a winner in the George London Competition, the Metropolitan Opera National Council Awards in San Francisco, the Gerda Lissner Competition, and the Licia Albanese-Puccini Competition. Subsequently, she had her Lincoln Center debut in Alice Tully Hall at the annual Puccini Gala. Ms. Bard was also the United States Representative and Finalist in the Seoul International Music Competition in Korea. Ms. Bard’s current season includes Micaëla in Carmen with Ash Lawn Opera, Musetta in La Boheme with Sacramento Opera, the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor with Opera Idaho, the Foreign Princess in Rusalka with Boston Lyric Opera, and the title role in The Merry Widow with St. Petersburg Opera, Florida. She completed her Artist Residency with Opera San José last season with much acclaimed performances of Lucia di Lammermoor, Gilda in Rigoletto, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, Violetta in La Traviata, and Juliette in Roméo et Juliette.

Opera critics hailed ‘Rochelle Bard is a sensational Lucia. The young lyric soprano lent her incomparable phrasing and acting to a performance that brought out new levels in the title character's psychological undoing.’ The San Francisco Chronicle added, ‘Her account of the famous final mad scene was a knockout - fluid, precisely etched and marked by a haunting sense of vulnerability.’ For her most recent performance of Lucia with Opera Idaho: ‘Bard surprised the audience throughout the performance with her rich, flexible and fluid voice, and the depth of emotion and character she brought to Lucia. Her mad scene was a marvel. The duet with the flute was flawless and beautifully mesmerizing’.

As Gilda in Rigoletto, ‘It was Bard who owned the show with her opalescent lyricism and dramatic impact’. ‘With sweetness and purity, she negotiated ‘Caro nome’ with formidable breath control and dynamic range- her notes exquisitely suspended in air. Her portrayal of a young woman in love as both brave and ecstatic made the character’s sacrifice logical, even acceptable.’ For her performances of Violetta in La Traviata, Ms. Bard has been described as 'stunningly poignant' with ‘exquisite femininity’ and a 'powerful and creamy coloratura soprano voice.’

In 2005, Ms. Bard was engaged as a Studio Artist with the Baltimore Opera Company, where she sang Giannetta in L’Elisir d’Amore, Barbarina and Countess (cover) in Le Nozze di Figaro, and Antonia/Giulietta (cover) in Les Contes d’Hoffmann. Other credits include Gilda in Rigoletto in concert with Cape Cod Opera, Mrs. Maurant in Street Scene with Maine Grand Opera, the title role in The Merry Widow with New England Light Opera, Louise in La Vie Parisienne with Opera Boston, Antonia in Les Contes d’Hoffmann with Longwood Opera, and Cunegonde in Candide with the New England Conservatory of Music. As a fellow at Tanglewood, Ms. Bard created the role of Juana in the world premiere opera Rage d’Amours, commissioned by the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

Ms. Bard is originally from Worcester, MA, where she received a BA in Biology Premed from the College of the Holy Cross. She was trained as a pianist and accompanied singers before finding her own classical voice. She received her Master's Degree in Vocal Performance with Academic Honors from the New England Conservatory of Music. Ms. Bard is a sought-after concert artist as well with recent performances of Exsultate Jubilate, Carmina Burana, Mozart Requiem, Faure Requiem, Mozart Coronation Mass, Elijah, Bachianas Brasileiras, and the Poulenc Gloria.

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