“Blessed with great theatrics…as well as a resonant voice. Excellent interpretation.” -The American Prize

Vanessa Naghdi, Soprano, made her international debut as Cleopatra with Opéra Queens this past season. She also covered the role of Arsinoë in the world premiere of Cleopatra Built with the company. Ms. Naghdi also joined the Salem Philharmonic Orchestra as the Soprano Soloist for Exsultate, jubilate.

She additionally performed excerpts from the new opera Zal & the Phoenix with Catalyst New Music. Last season, Ms. Naghdi covered the titular role of Marie in La fille du régiment with St. Petersburg Opera Company. She also sang in the Bella Voce Gala, Broadway Cabaret, for Opera at The Dalí Museum, and the St. Petersburg Opera Guild. Ms. Naghdi also performed with Mixtape Recital Series last season. Previous seasons saw her perform the role of Flora in La Traviata with MassOpera and create the role of Linda in the premiere of Reap What You Soul with Promenade Opera Project. She also sang in two virtual POP-Up concerts, Letter Songs and A Celebration of Spanish and Latin American Cultures with POP. Ms. Naghdi was also a Resident Artist with Sparrow Live for their inaugural group of performers. She broadcast the concerts Leading Ladies and Excerpts from La fille du régiment on their online platform. Ms. Naghdi was also the Soprano Soloist in Vivaldi’s Gloria with the Newburyport Choral Society. She also performed operatic favorites with River City Opera and for Love Travels the World with Bel Cantanti Opera. Ms. Naghdi sang in the premiere of The Ritual of Breath is the Rite to Resist at Dartmouth College. She competed as a finalist in Opera Connecticut’s American Opera Idol Competition, which she stepped into in less than 12 hours. Upcoming engagements include a program of Spooky Season Songs, returning to Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras, and collaborating on a curated recital entitled Persian Songs Old + New.

Ms. Naghdi was recently an Artist in Residence with Opera Colorado. While in Denver, she reprised her role of Nannetta in Falstaff under the baton of Maestro Ari Pelto. She created the role of Mrs. Soep and covered Ina Soep in the world premiere of the opera Steal a Pencil for Me, with music by Gerald Cohen and libretto by Deborah Brevoort. Ms. Naghdi also performed the roles of Adina in The Elixir of Love and Clorinda in Cinderella (touring productions) and covered the role of Musetta in La bohème with Opera Colorado. Recently, Ms. Naghdi returned to Arizona Opera and performed the roles of Pamina and 1st Lady in The Mini-Magic Flute (touring production). She also debuted the role of Tormentilla in a concert version of The Poisoned Kiss (Vaughan Williams) with Passion Project: Opera! Canceled engagements due to Covid-19 include performing as the Soprano Soloist in excerpts from Mozart’s Requiem, and performing The Foreign Princess in Rusalka with Promenade Opera Project as well as in POP’s Annual Gala.

Past seasons have seen Ms. Naghdi in the titular role of The Littlest Mermaid (touring) with Arizona Opera. She also performed a concert version of Brundibár as Sparrow and Baker with Arizona Opera. An interpreter of new works, Ms. Naghdi world-premiered indigenous micro-operas and art songs with Arizona Opera and the Grand Canyon Music Festival. She created the title role in the world premiere of the chamber opera Mignon by William Clay with Arizona Chamber Opera. Ms. Naghdi made her debut as Amy March in Little Women with Nightingale Opera Theatre. She has also portrayed Suor Genovieffa in Suor Angelica and Solo Angel in Die Jungfrau von Orléans with the Mittelsächsisches Theater and Philharmonic, conducted by Maestro Jan Horstmann in Germany. Ms. Naghdi has also performed the title role in Amelia al ballo and Belinda in Dido and Aeneas, among others.

An avid musical theater performer, Ms. Naghdi performed the role of Liat with Annapolis Opera in their production of South Pacific. She created the role of Lady Helen in the premiere of the musical Spellbound! with Southwest Shakespeare Company. Ms. Naghdi also created the role of Diane Slawyer in the premiere of the new musical Endangered! at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Additionally, she has portrayed Christine Daaé in scenes from The Phantom of the Opera at galas with both Arizona Opera and the Pocono Mountains Music Festival. As an experienced concert soloist, Ms. Naghdi was the Soprano Soloist in excerpts from Messiah as well as the Soprano Soloist in Rutter's Magnificat with the Valley Presbyterian Church Concert Series. She performed as a soloist with the Washington Women’s Chorus Concert Series at the Strathmore Music Center. Additionally, Ms. Naghdi has been the Soprano Soloist in Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols, for Bach cantata Der Herr denket an uns, BWV 196, and with the Mittelsächsisches Theater and Philharmonic for their Bergstadtfest Concert. She has been presented in recitals with themes of the artist’s life, the exploration of language, cabaret repertoire, and music spanning her career.

Ms. Naghdi has received the Opportunity Fund from the Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture. She has been awarded by the Dorothy Lincoln Smith Voice Competition, The Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Houston, and won Second Place in The American Prize in Vocal Performance (Opera, University Division). Ms. Naghdi holds a Master of Music in Opera Performance from Arizona State University and a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Virginia Commonwealth University.

The details provided are for informational purposes only and should not be reproduced.