Last week, soprano Cecilia Lopez made her Virginia Opera debut as Violetta, the fallen woman of Verdi’s “La Traviata,” which opened in Norfolk to resounding applause. This weekend, the company brings the work to George Mason University’s Center for the Arts in Fairfax before traveling to Richmond, the final stop in this 40th anniversary season.
The winner of the 2012 Metropolitan Opera National Council Utah District Auditions, Miss Lopez devoted her early years to mariachi music in her native Idaho and in Mexico.
“My family views me as the odd sheep in the family because performing with live mariachi bands was my life until I discovered opera,” Miss Lopez told The Washington Times.
Nothing in her background predicted her conversion from mariachi to opera. In truth, her exposure to the genre was limited to watching cameo appearances by Beverly Sills on “Sesame Street” as a child.
“I connected early in life to mariachi because of my mom’s love of it,” she said, “so I traveled all over singing at weddings, rodeos and quinceaneras, wherever mariachi took me.
“My trajectory changed while I was attending the University of Nevada Las Vegas, [where I] was asked to cover a role in an opera the music department was staging. When the girl singing the role dropped out, I had to go on in her place.”
That impromptu introduction changed her goals. After completing her undergraduate degree at UNLV in classical training, she joined Opera San Jose as one of the company’s soprano resident artists. There, her roles included Leila in “Les Pecheurs de Perles,” Rosalinde in “Die Fledermaus,” Gretel in “Hansel and Gretel,” Cio-Cio San in “Madama Butterfly” and Donna Anna in “Don Giovanni.”
Miss Lopez made her professional debut in 2012 in the title role of “Suor Angelica” with Opera San Luis Obispo.
“Those two seasons with Opera San Jose came about because someone on the staff happened to be at my audition for graduate studies,” she said. “They invited me to San Jose, so I took a chance and went. Two weeks later, I had a callback to sing two more pieces and [received] the offer of a resident position. My experience with that company gave me valuable stage time.”
Miss Lopez studied in New York for six weeks with Martina Arroyo’s Prelude to Performance, a school for emerging opera singers. She was thrilled to work with various mentors there, and the Kennedy Center honoree helped Miss Lopez develop the voice and personality behind Violetta, which seemed all the more prophetic because that is her middle name.
“The role of Violetta is not easy to penetrate,” she said. “Ms. Arroyo helped me focus on technique and taught me that the role is like a marathon. In Act 1, the character displays her vocal agility, but the emphasis of Acts 2 and 3 is on long, lush lines. I am so much more confident in this role since working with her.”
Miss Lopez went on to study at the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria, a stint she credits with helping build her stamina and hone her skills.
“While I was there, I enjoyed taking in the culture of Graz, and I tried to learn as much German as possible,” she said, “but I didn’t get much farther than ordering Diet Coke and fries.”
Good fortune and solid preparation account for the achievements that mark Miss Lopez’s career. In addition to winning the Met auditions, she was a semi-finalist in the 2011 Loren L. Zachary Competition, took first place and audience favorite in the 2014 Irene Dalis Vocal Competition and won first and second place in the National Association of Teachers of Singing competition.
Soon after Opera News praised her “sumptuous, flexible soprano,” she learned of Virginia Opera’s interest during a call from her management.
“Virginia Opera is a wonderful company both on stage and off,” she said. “Lillian Groag, the director of this opera, makes us think about the characters. I always thought of Violetta as one not afraid to be coy, but she helped me see that she is strong. Although she puts up with the world about her, she desperately wants to be happy. It’s fun to dig into her feistiness in Act 1 and not let her give in to Alfredo.
“I will sing this role next with Opera Idaho and Opera Tampa, and I anticipate that Violetta and I will become best friends in years to come.”
IF YOU GO
WHAT: Virginia Opera’s production of Verdi’s “La Traviata”
WHERE: George Mason University’s Center for the Arts in Fairfax
WHEN: Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.
INFO: Tickets $44 to $98 by calling 888/945-2468 or visiting CFA.GMU.edu
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