With extraordinary vitality, Sydney Gabbard is infusing a fresh presence into the opera world, establishing herself as a young artist on the rise. Sydney has performed both in Europe and throughout the United States. Her captivating energy brings characters to life in ways seldom seen before on the operatic stage. Critics adored Sydney’s portrayal of Musetta in Puccini’s La Bohème, with Local Reference suggesting she “seized her scenes with vocal strength and projected a different comically energetic, occasionally erotic, view of the character.” Sydney’s clarity of tone coupled with her natural rich sound fuels her versatility as an artist. Sydney has performed the roles of Emily Webb in the Pacific Northwest debut of Ned Rorem’s Our Town, Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, Lucia in the The Rape of Lucretia, and most recently Despina in Cosi fan tutte. Press appreciated Sydney’s Despina, for her blazing, almost manic energy, that she brought to the stage.
In addition to her contagious energy on stage, Sydney has been sought after for her concert and recital work. Performing with the Chattanooga Symphony, Sydney presented snippets of characters ranging from Gilda to Violetta. She will return to Chattanooga to perform the soprano solos in Handel’s Messiah in 2015. Sydney’s vocal clarity and ease of sound were stunning in her performance of the Mozart Vespers K. 339 with the Cincinnati Chamber Ensemble.
In addition to the canonic oratorios, Sydney is an avid lover of new music. She has been praised for her ability to perform this genre with accuracy and ease. She brings the lyricism of Puccini to works by contemporary composers such as Wolfgang Rihm and John Duke. The brilliance of her presence on stage invites the audience to experience the music for the first time.
Sydney received her bachelor’s degree from Willamette University in 2011 and her Masters of Music degree from University of Tennessee in 2014.