TOSCA
CAST BIOS

KARA SHAY THOMSON, soprano
Recognized for the natural beauty of her voice and her sense of dramatic insight, American soprano Kara Shay Thomson is proving herself a versatile and essential artist on the operatic and concert stages. As the Longboat Observer acclaimed of her Floria Tosca, "'Vissi d'arte' began as a plaintive, quiet act of desperation and grew to an ardent, fervent plea that was both luminous and luxurious in sound, while maintaining the nuanced vocalism of a true diva. In fact, there wasn't a moment in the evening when Thomson came even close to over-singing or pushing. Her enormous voice resonated throughout the house yet she never abused her abilities and, by passionate restraint, was able to build a character who was, in every sense, a Great Woman."
Engagements for Ms. Thomson during the 2009-10 season include Santuzza in CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA with Sarasota Opera, the title role in TOSCA with Opera Delaware, a return to New York City Opera for Hugo Weisgall's critically acclaimed ESTHER, and performs the role of Zemphira in ALEKO with the Cincinnati May Festival. In summer of 2010 she sings Donna Anna in DON GIOVANNIwith Opera North and in season 2010-11 sings The Woman in Schoenberg's ERWARTUNG with New York City Opera, Santuzza with Kentucky Opera, and the title role in TOSCA with Opera on the James.
Recent engagements have included TOSCA with Sarasota Opera, Central City Opera, and Opera North; Marietta in DIE TODE STADT with Washington, DC's Summer Opera Theatre Company; the Countess in LE NOZZE DI FIGARO with Toledo Opera, Utah Festival Opera, and Pensacola Opera; the title role in MADAMA BUTTERFLY with Colorado's Emerald City Opera; and Musetta in LA BOHEME with Glimmerglass Opera. Her successful debut as Female Chorus in THE RAPE OF LUCRETIA with Chicago Opera Theater was followed by her return as Miss Jessel in THE TURN OF THE SCREW and as Fortuna in Monteverdi's IL CORONAZIONE DI POPPEA.
Other recent engagements have included DIE TODE STADT with New York City Opera; Adina in L’ELISIR D’AMORE with Dicapo Opera Theatre; Mimi in LA BOHEME with Emerald City Opera; Fiordiligi in COSI FAN TUTTE with Opera Domani; the title role in IRIS with Teatro Grattacielo; Micaëla in a fully-staged production of CARMEN with the Amherst Symphony; the title role in REGINA with Bronx Opera; Violetta in a fully-staged production of LA TRAVIATA with the Sioux City Symphony; Arminda in Mozart's LA FINTA GIARDINIERA at Amherst College; the Daughter in a touring production of STRAWBERRY FIELDS with Glimmerglass Opera; First Lady in THE MAGIC FLUTE with Opera Festival of New Jersey; Marietta in the world stage-premiere of Chadwick's THE PADRONE; Rosalinde in DIE FLEDERMAUS with Boston's Commonwealth Opera; and a staged interpretation of Schubert's “Die Winterreise”with the Jacques Thibaud Trio.
Concert engagements have included Beethoven's SYMPHONY NO. 9 with the National Chorale at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall; Barber's “Knoxville: Summer of 1915” with the Muncie Symphony; Mahler's SYMPHONY NO. 4 with the Green Bay Symphony; Mozart's REQUIEM with Albany Pro Musica; both Brahms' REQUIEM and CARMINA BURANA with the Lynchburg Symphony; Strauss' “Vier letzte Lieder” with the Amherst Symphony; a Wagner Concert with the Wagner Society of Washington, DC; an Opera Gala with the Green Bay Symphony; Violetta in LA TRAVIATA (concert) at Wisconsin's Fox Cities Performing Arts Center; and her Carnegie Hall debut in Bach's MAGNIFICAT with the Manhattan Philharmonic. Ms. Thomson resides in Cincinnati, Ohio, and received her Graduate Diploma in Performance from the New England Conservatory of Music.