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CHRISTINE LYONS
SOPRANO
BIOGRAPHY
Christine Lyons is a critically acclaimed soprano who has been hailed as a “true virtuosa” by Broadway World and been praised for her “potent soprano” by Opera Magazine, as well as her “power and poise” by Classical Voice America. Ms. Lyons begins this season in Union Ave Opera’s Don Pasquale as Norina and returns to San Francisco Opera to cover Leonora in Il trovatore. This past season, she joined San Francisco Opera for the world premiere of John Adams’ Antony and Cleopatra as the cover for Cleopatra and performed the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor in concert with Maryland Opera in Bravissimo Bel Canto and Liú in Turandot with Toledo Opera in Celebrazione del Coro.
In previous seasons, Lyons made an exciting role début as Agrippina with Florida Grand Opera, performed Nella in Gianni Schicchi with On Site Opera, and portrayed The Governess in The Turn of the Screw with IlluminArts Miami. In concert, she sang with Lyric Fest at The Academy of Vocal Arts in My Letter to the World. She joined Teatro Nuovo for The Complete Recordings of Giuseppe Verdi and returned to Baltimore Concert Opera, Maryland Opera, and Mohonk Mountain for concerts. She joined the Ravinia Festival’s Steans Music Institute tour for performances at Ravinia and the Tucson Desert Song Festival, sang Norma at Opera America, and performed in Teatro Nuovo's Bel Canto in 30 Minutes. Lyons also made successful débuts starring in La straniera at Lincoln Center, as Norma at Winter Opera St. Louis, and as Madama Butterfly with Baltimore Concert Opera. Other engagements of the 2019-20 season were to include the title role in Anna Bolena with dell’Arte Opera Ensemble.
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CRITICAL ACCLAIM
"Her high notes cut through like steel but her soft tones caress" – South Florida Classical Review
Agrippina – "As Agrippina, the most cold-blooded and conniving operatic anti-heroine this side of Lady Macbeth, Christine Lyons brings a regal bearing and opulent timbre to Handel’s showpiece solos. Her high notes cut through like steel but her soft tones caress and she can spin an eloquent, curving vocal line with skill. "
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"...a true virtuosa..." – Broadway World
Norma – "Renata Scotto once called the role of Norma “the Everest of opera.” Well, Soprano Christine Lyons climbs that peak with banners flying. She’s a true virtuosa, dazzling us with her mastery of all those Bel Canto coloratura fireworks- all the runs, trills and staccato apreggios and cadenzas that decorate the long, free-ranging melody lines."
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"...a truly gifted vocalist..." – Maryland Theater Guide
Madama Butterfly – "Christine Lyons is a celebrated soprano rapidly making a name for herself in opera houses across the globe. Last Friday night, she made her debut as Cio-Cio San in “Madama Butterfly,” and what a debut it was. She was as lovely as she was talented, and that is saying a lot. A truly gifted vocalist, Ms. Lyons is well on her way to the exalted status of Diva in the opera world if she continues on the path she’s on. Her Cio-Cio San displayed an impressive range of emotions, all of them personified by her soaring soprano."
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"...her voice blossoming down..." – New York Times
La Straniera – "The soprano Christine Lyons, as Alaide, the melancholy stranger of the title of Bellini’s opera, dealt capably with the bursts of fury that end each act, her voice blossoming down into its depths."
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"...spellbinding..." – Opera News
Tancredi – "The Amenaide was Christine Lyons, displaying a generously scaled lyric soprano, her rapid vibrato adding lushness to the tone."