Faith Esham

Voice

Soprano Faith Esham has garnered critical acclaim for her outstanding performances in the leading opera houses of the United States and Europe. Since her successful Metropolitan Opera debut as Marzelline in Fidelio, she has returned to the company to sing Nedda and Mélisande. In the USA, other roles include Mimi with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Pamina at the Kennedy Center, Micaela and Juliette in Cincinnati, the heroines in Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Manon and Gilda in Pittsburgh. At the New York City Opera, she performed Cherubino, Musetta, Manon, Cendrillon, Marguerite, Baby Doe, Gilda, and Carlisle Floyd's Susannah. As Micaela, Ms. Esham appeared opposite Placido Domingo and Julia Migenes in the highly acclaimed Gaumont film, Carmen. This project garnered Faith a Grammy Award as Principal Soloist and Best Opera Recording in 1984. In Europe, Miss Esham performed Cherubino and Marzelline at Italy's leading opera house, La Scala. She sang Micaela at the Vienna State Opera and the Opera de Caracas; Zerlina and Cendrillon at Paris' Chatelet Theatre; Musetta in Cologne; and Mélisande in Geneva, as well as other leading roles throughout Europe.

The soprano also has been featured in two New York City Opera "Live from Lincoln Center" broadcasts as Pamina and Gilda. Uniquely, Ms. Esham appeared as both Susanna and Cherubino in the Peter Hall production of Le Nozze di Figaro at the Glyndebourne Festival. Her portrayal of Cherubino was preserved on an EMI recording conducted by Bernard Haitink. Other recordings of Ms. Esham include a Charles Griffes' song collection and Villa-Lobos' Maddelena. Ms. Esham is a gifted song interpreter and was awarded recitals with both the Walter W. Naumberg Competition and the Concours International de Chant de Paris.Recent engagements feature a solo recital appearance at Weill Recital Hall (NY). Upcoming recitals will be at West Liberty College (WV) and High Point University (NC).