ANNE TORMELA

Founder and Artistic Director

biography
A native New Yorker, Ms. Tormela specializes in bel-canto, operatic and early music style.  She has been noted for her “secure technique, unfailing intonation and expression and clear and sensitive text.” (Ulrik Cold, Royal Danish Opera), her “ringing and strongly expressive voice with extraordinary vocal control.” (Leif Kramp,Critic/Lübecker Nachtrichten) and “negotiating the upper reaches (of her voice) with dazzling security” (David Syrus, Head of Music, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden).

In October of 2009 she made her debut performance of the role of Mamette in Maestro Anton Coppola’s world premiere of (La Coupe et les Lèvres) “In her big scene, her urgent phrasing conveyed Mamette's passionate nature.” (Fred Cohn, Opera News Magazine), and covered the role of Lucia with Opera Tampa also under the baton of Maestro Coppola.  In August of 2009, Ms. Tormela performed the role of Lauretta under the baton of Maestro Anton Coppola at the Altamura Music Festival’s production of (Gianni Schicchi) “Anne Tormela was lovely as Lauretta, singing and acting with the grace and vocal charm of the American Metropolitan soprano Nadine Conner.  And, of course, she sang the aria “O Mio Babbino Caro” perfectly.” ( John Paul Keeler, Hudson-Catskill Newspapers).  She performed the roles of  Frasquita  and Kate Pinkerton with Maestro Coppola in the Metro Lyric Opera’s  July 2008 productions of (Carmen) and (Madama Butterfly). In May of 2007 she debuted with The Natchez Music Festival as Nanetta in their production of (Falstaff) under the baton of Maestro David Blackburn. “Anne Tormela was just about perfect in her beautifully sung “Sul fil d’un soffio” aria of Nanetta.” (John Paul Keeler, Hudson-Catskill Newspapers).    Other roles Ms. Tormela has performed are: Hanna Glawari in (The Merry Widow), Adina in (L’Elisir D’amore), Amalia in Verdi’s (I Masnadieri), The Queen of the night and First Lady, in (The Magic Flute), Zerbinetta in (Ariadne auf Naxos), Rosalinda and Adele in (Die Fledermaus), Ophélie in (Hamlet), Violetta in (La Traviata), Gilda in (Rigoletto), Frasquita in (Carmen), Rosina in (The Barber of Seville), Cherubino and Barbarina in (Le Nozze di Figaro), Sophie in (Werther), Norina in (Don Pasquale), Musetta in (La Bohème).  In August 2010 and March of 2011 she performed the role of Serpina in the Inter-Cities Arts production of Pergolesi’s (La Serva Padrona) under the baton of international conductor Michel Brousseau.

Ms. Tormela is an accomplished concert recitalist and has performed all over the world  in Germany, Italy, France, Sweden, Israel and the United States.  She made her debut recital at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall and received a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation to perform a solo recital in their Fall concert series in Bellagio, Italy.   In Germany she made her concert debut at Thronsaal auf Schlo§ in Schwerin; Stidtstheater, Wohnstift Augustinum in Bad Neuenahr, and Kammermusiksaal der Stadthalle Mülheim in Mülheim an der Ruhr. She has appeared as a guest soloist with the Lake Placid Sinfonietta Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Mark Laycock and in December of 2008 toured the United States as a soloist with The Sigmund Romberg orchestra’s program “A Viennese Christmas” under the baton of Maestro Jason Altieri.  In May of 2012 she will be a guest soloist in Italy with the Civitanova Marche Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Lorenzo Di Bella.

In  2004 and 2005 she was a two time recipient of a full scholarship to perform at the International Vocal Arts Institute in Israel under the auspices of Joan Dornemann.  In December of 2009 she performed excerpts of Zerbinetta and Sophie  in the Metropolitan Opera  Guild’s “Spinning Strauss” Master Class taught by Metropolitan Opera star Jane Marsh. This October 30th, 2011 she won Third prize and Audience Award in the Altamura/Caruso International Vocal Competition.

 In a pioneering effort to introduce classical music to the masses, she has performed in the past on a regular basis with a city sponsored program called Music Under NY in designated permitted spots in the subway.    In addition to opera, Ms. Tormela has a fourth degree black belt in Taekwon Do, is an avid swimmer, practices yoga and plays the clarinet.