Sharon Azrieli

Sharon Azrieli

Sharon Azrieli (full name Sharon Rachelle Azrieli) is a Canadian Soprano and Cantor from Montreal, Quebec.^[1] Azrieli performs classical and operatic works, playing parts such as; Juliet in Charles Gounod's operatic adaptation, Roméo et Juliette, Mimi in La Bohème and Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro.She attended Juliard performing arts school, and has performed with; the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, the Israel Chamber Orchestra and the Canadian Opera Company.^[2][3] Reviews of her performances have genrally been positive, with Allan Kozinn of the New York Times stating; "Sharon Azrieli sang Laurette with a lovely soprano that had weaknesses at the very top but was agile and well-regulated elsewhere."^[4]

Early life and education

Azrieli was born in Montreal, Quebec to Iseili architect, phrilanthropist and holocaust survivor, David Azrieli. Azrieli moved to New York City where she attended Vassar College, graduating with a degree in Art History, and an Associate Degree in Illustration from the Parsons School of Design. After studying the arts she undertook a Diploma in Vocal Performance under Ellen Faull at Juilliard School of music, where her mentors included; Joan Dornemann, Principal Prompter at the Metropolitan Opera, and the late Herbert Breslin. Dornemann invited Sharon to attend her Vocal Arts Institute in Israel, over three successive summers where she learned how to play a number of leading roles^[5] including Norina in "Don Pasquale" and Musetta in "La Boheme." She was also the recipient of a Metropolitan Opera study grant.

Early career

Azrieli's career began when she was headhunted by the Canadian Opera Company's artistic director, the late Richard Bradshaw. Barshaw hired her as an understudy for the part of Juliet in a mainstage production of Gounod's Roméo et Juliette, and later as Mimi in a small-stage production of Puccini's La Bohème. ^[6] She was spotted by artist manager Matthew Laifer who introduced her to Marcello Giordani. Under Lafier's management she would go on to perform with the likes of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra, the Israel Chamber Orchestra, the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra and the Haifa Symphony Orchestra in their production of Rossini's Stabat Mater and Beethoven's Mass in C Minor.^[7] Other works include a concert of Puccini arias and Leonard Bernstein's Songfest. She has also worked with Alexander Brott of McGill Chamber Orchestra^[8], and understudied for Mirella Freni as Adrienne Lecouvreur with l’Opéra de Paris.^[9] The highpoint of Azrieli's career came when she played the part of Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro which was conducted by Marco Armiliato.^[10]

Cantorial work

Azrieli put her opera career on hold after the birth of her two sons to focus on her opera career and her Jewish faith. To support her family she enrolled at the Academy for Jewish Religion in New York,^[3] and began her first job as a Cantor for Temple Adas Israel in Sag Harbor with the late Rabbi Paul Steinberg. Sharon and her sons moved back to Montreal in 2000, and in 2001, where she became a full-time Cantor at Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom until 2003.^[11][12]

Return to the Stage and Higher Education

After her sons had grown up, Sharon Azrieli returned to opera. Azrieli enlisted the help of Bill Schuman, a vocal coach who had previously worked with Celine Dion, Aprile Millo, and taught at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia. With Schuman's help Azrieli primed her voice for Verdian soprano roles.^[13] Azrieli performed Leonora in Il trovatore and Aida (Aida) with the New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera.^[14] She performed the roles of The Prioress in Dialogues des carmélites, and Leonora in La forza del destino with One World Symphony Orchestra. Upon her return to opera Arieli has performed at several major festivals including; Brott Music Festival in Hamilton, Ontario,^[15] and Festival Sefarad in Montreal.^[16]

Whilst touring and performing Azrieli completed a Master of Music degree and a Doctor of Music in Vocal Performance at the Université de Montréal. She wrote her thesis on the use of cantorial modes in the works of composer, Giuseppe Verdi.^[17][13] Azrieli went on to perform the soprano solo in the Verdi Requiem with the New Jersey State Opera conducted by Jason Tramm having previously performed the same part with the New West Symphony and Boris Brott.^[18]

Mainaining a close relationship with the Jewish community, Azrieli regularly performeds with the Israel Chamber Orchestra in Tel Aviv, and has performed several premieres of Jewish works^[19][20]

Philanthropy

Azrieli sits on the board of directors for The Azrieli Group, and the Azrieli Foundation. Azrieli created the Foundation's $100,000 composition and commission competition; the Azrieli Music Prize, which promotes new Jewish music.^[21]She also sits on the board of directors for; the Azrieli Amutah (the Azrieli Foundation's Israeli equivalent) the America Israel Cultural Foundation (AICF) and the McCord Museum.

Operatic Repertoire

Concert Repertoire

Awards

• District winner: Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, New York, 1993
• Finalist: American Opera Auditions, 1990

References

External links

• Official website