Bard College Appoints Renowned Opera Singer Stephanie Blythe New Director Of Graduate Vocal Arts Program

Bard College announces the appointment of celebrated opera singer and recitalist Stephanie Blythe as artistic director of the Bard College Conservatory of Music Graduate Vocal Arts Program (VAP) beginning in July 2019. One of the most highly respected and critically acclaimed artists of her generation, mezzo-soprano Blythe possesses a repertoire ranging from Handel to Wagner and from German lieder to contemporary and classic American song. Blythe has performed on many of the world's great stages, such as Carnegie Hall; the Metropolitan Opera; Covent Garden; Paris National Opera; and San Francisco, Chicago Lyric, and Seattle Operas. She was named Musical America's Vocalist of the Year, received an Opera News Award, and won the Richard Tucker Award. Blythe recently released her first crossover recording on the Innova label with pianist Craig Terry.

"Life is full of extraordinary journeys. Some are planned, some are hoped for, and some are joyful surprises. My appointment to this wonderful institution is a bit of all three," said Blythe.

"I have dreamed of joining the academic world for some time, but assuredly, becoming part of the VAP at Bard is beyond my wildest dreams," she said. "I look forward to continuing the legacy created by Dawn Upshaw-to upholding the musical and educational values of the VAP, while looking ahead to the future development of this marvelous and singular program."

Bard College President Leon Botstein said, "Bard is privileged to have a singer of Stephanie Blythe's accomplishments, skill, and creativity leading our Conservatory's Vocal Arts Program. The spirit and excellence established by our outstanding founding director will continue to flourish under Blythe's leadership."

Blythe is taking over the position from current VAP director and founder Dawn Upshaw, who will continue her role as a faculty member. Since 2006, illustrious soprano Upshaw has built this master's degree program to reflect her unique career and artistry. Upshaw's mission to plant the seeds of the highest artistic values in the next generation has been wildly successful, as evidenced by the richly varied musical lives of VAP alumni/ae. The program has combined a visionary curriculum with a committed and inspiring faculty, which continues the work of bringing these high musical values to future students. Botstein, the Bard Conservatory board, and College administration honor Upshaw's work and look forward to the next phase of VAP's evolution under Blythe's direction.

About Stephanie Blythe

Stephanie Blythe has sung in many of the renowned opera houses in the United States and Europe, such as the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Seattle Opera, Royal Opera House Covent Garden, and Opera National de Paris. Her many roles include the title roles in Carmen, Samson et Dalila, Orfeo ed Euridice, La Grande Duchesse, Tancredi, Mignon, and Giulio Cesare; Frugola, Principessa, and Zita in Il Trittico; Fricka in both Das Rheingold and Die Walküre; Waltraute in Götterdämmerung; Azucena in Il Trovatore; Ulrica in Un Ballo in Maschera; Baba the Turk in The Rake's Progress; Ježibaba in Rusalka; Jocasta in Oedipus Rex; Mere Marie in Dialogues des Carmélites; Mistress Quickly in Falstaff; and Ino/Juno in Semele. She created the role of Gertrude Stein in Ricky Ian Gordon's 27 at the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and sung performances of Ms. Lovett in Sweeney Todd at the San Francisco Opera and Nettie Fowler in Carousel at the Houston Grand Opera and with the New York Philharmonic.

In concert, Blythe has appeared with many of the world's finest orchestras, including the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Ensemble Orchestre de Paris, and the Concertgerbouworkest. She has also appeared at the Tanglewood, Cincinnati May, and Ravinia festivals, and at the BBC Proms. The many conductors with whom she has worked include Harry Bicket, James Conlon, Charles Dutoit, Mark Elder, Nicola Luisotti, Sir Charles Mackerras, John Nelson, Antonio Pappano, Mstislav Rostropovitch, Robert Spano, Patrick Summers, and Michael Tilson Thomas.

A frequent recitalist, Blythe has appeared in recital in New York at Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium and Zankel Hall, Lincoln Center in both its Great Performers Series at Alice Tully Hall and its American Songbook Series at the Allen Room, Town Hall, the 92nd Street Y, and Metropolitan Museum of Art. She has also been presented by the Vocal Arts Society and at the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., Cleveland Art Song Festival, University Musical Society in Ann Arbor, Philadelphia Chamber Music Society, Shriver Hall in Baltimore, and San Francisco Performances.

Blythe starred in the Metropolitan Opera's live HD broadcasts of Orfeo ed Euridice, Il Trittico, Rodelinda, Cendrillon, and the complete Wagner Ring Cycle. She also appeared in PBS's Live from Lincoln Center broadcasts of the New York Philharmonic's performance of Carousel and her acclaimed show, We'll Meet Again: The Songs of Kate Smith. Her recordings include her solo album, as long as there are songs (Innova), and works by Mahler, Brahms, Wagner, Handel, and Bach (Virgin Classics). She was named Musical America's Vocalist of the Year for 2009. Other awards include the 2007 Opera News Award and 1999 Richard Tucker Award. She is also artistic director of the Fall Island Vocal Arts Seminar at the Crane School of Music."