The power and sultry elegance that comes naturally to mezzo-soprano, Audrey Babcock, easily evokes such signature roles as Lucretia or Delilah, and Ms. Babcock is quickly gaining momentum as a fresh, vibrant interpreter of Carmen. However, it is her rich sound coupled with an instinctual sense of timing and physicality that has allowed the versatile young singer to weave in and out of sensuality, tragedy, comedy, and madness.
In the 2009, Ms. Babcock was named the artist of the year by Syracuse Opera for her portrayal of Jo in Mark Adamo's Little Women. The 2009-2010 season also features her as Dorabella in Cosi Fan Tutti (Opera Idaho), as Aldonza in The Man of La Mancha (Shreveport Opera), as Maddalena in Rigoletto (Nashville, Florentine, and Tulsa Opera), and on the international scene in Carmen at the Savolinna Festival in Finland.
Of her performance in Rigoletto (Florida Grand Opera), the Miami Herald wrote, "Audrey Babcock's dusky mezzo-soprano and sexy theatricality lit up the stage as Maddalena" and of her Carmen at San Antonio Opera, the SA Current said, “Babcock’s voice was sultry and pillowy…she screamed sex!" And of her performance in The Man of La Mancha (Utah Festival Opera), the Herald Journal wrote, “[Babcock’s] Aldonza/Dulcinea is gritty and real in her anger, and then in her tenderness toward Quixote. Vocally, she is right on the money, and physically, she is up to this very demanding role.”
From 2007-2008, Ms. Babcock appeared as Aldonza/Dulcinea in The Man of La Mancha (Lyric Opera of San Diego), as The Third Lady in The Magic Flute (Opera Pacific), as Flora in La Traviata (Cincinnati Opera), and as Carmen in Carmen (Toledo Opera and Intermountain Opera). She also played the role of Thérèse in the New York premier of Tobias Picker’s Thérèse Raquin (Dicapo Opera). In addition, she was featured in a televised concert series of Russian composers with opera legend, Regina Resnik, pianist Milos Repicky, and violinist Annaliesa Place.
In seasons prior, Ms. Babcock performed the title role in Carmen for the Westfield Symphony, as Lola in Cavalleria Rusticana (Washington Concert Opera), as Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd (Wolf Trap Opera), as Tisbe in La Cenerentola (Wolf Trap Opera), and as Lucretia in The Rape of Lucretia (Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Artists showcase).
In addition to performances with the New York City Opera, Seattle Opera, and The New World Symphony, Ms. Babcock is equally noteworthy in her symphonic concert and recital engagements, which have included Verdi’s Requiem with the Charleston Symphony and West Virginia Symphony, Viva Verdi! (Mobile Opera), Murder and other Operatic Mayhem with the National Symphony Orchestra and Where the Boys Are with musical director, Steve Blier. Of her recital at the Phillips Collection, the Washington Post noted “…[Ms. Babcock’s] diction is excellent and…she used language with extraordinary power and dramatic impact…[Kurt] Weill’s brashness and Babcock’s dramatic strengths are a perfect match.” And of her side-splitting portrayal of Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd, The Washington Times described her as “…a strutting, comic sensation...”
Ms. Babcock is also active as a producer and recording artist. At Dicapo Opera, she premiered Lily, a bold new multimedia production about a woman's escape from Nazi Germany, as told through the music of Kurt Weill. Working with film composer, David Majzlin, she released the album, Songs for Carmen, a modern-reinterpretation of Ladino (Judeo-Spanish) folk songs, and Ms. Babcock currently tours with Flamenco Guitarist, Dan Nadel, in her signature show, Beyond Carmen, a journey through Spanish music from medieval and Ladino works to 20th century composers.
Ms. Babcock is a winner of the George London Award, the Fritz and Lavinia Jensen Foundation award, and an Opera Index Encouragement Award. She was also a Metropolitan Opera Regional Finalist two years in a row, was a first place winner in the Friday Morning Music Club Washington International Voice Competition, and placed in the Florida Grand YPO Voice Competition, Palm Beach Opera Voice Competition, and the Liederkranz Foundation Scholarship Award.
Ms. Babcock is represented by Ana DeArchuleta Artist Management.
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