Canadian-American soprano Othalie Graham continues to receive critical acclaim throughout
North America and is widely known for her interpretations of the title roles in Turandot and Aida
and her commitment to Wagnerian repertoire. The Boston Globe noted that, in her interpretation
of Turandot, Graham’s “timbre and power were thrilling – steely ring from top to bottom – and
her path from imperiousness to passion was convincing,” while Opera News described her as “a
vocally secure Turandot, her gleaming tones well suited to the ice princess’s misanthropic
resolve.”
Graham’s 2019-2020 season includes her role debut as Lady Macbeth in Macbeth with Toledo
Opera and Opera Carolina, performing the title role in Turandot with the Evansville Philharmonic
Orchestra, Serena in Porgy and Bess with the Harrisburg Symphony, performances as featured
soloist in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra and Delaware
Symphony, Verdi’s Requiem with the Reading Symphony Orchestra and Sacramento Choral
Society and Orchestra, and a performance as the featured guest at the Traverse Symphony
Wagner Gala.
Recent performances have included the title role in Turandot with the Detroit Symphony
Orchestra led by Jader Bignamini, part of Maestro Leonard Slatkin’s farewell concert; the title
role in Aida with Opera Carolina, Toledo Opera, and at the Teatro Greco di Siracusa in Sicily
with Marcello Giordani; the title role in Ariadne auf Naxos with Festival Opera; covering Elektra
at The Teatro San Carlo Napoli; the role of Minnie in La Fanciulla del West with Nashville Opera
and Indianapolis Opera. Recent concert highlights include all-Wagner programs in Mexico City
at Sala Nezahualcóyotl and at the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Lima, Peru, and with the
Washington Chorus at The Kennedy Center; Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with The Philadelphia
Orchestra; the Verdi Requiem with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Mississippi Symphony
Orchestra; Serena in Porgy and Bess with Toledo Opera, Springfield Symphony Orchestra, and
Jacksonville Symphony; Isolde in Tristan und Isolde in Zagreb, Croatia and with the Washington
National Chorus at The Kennedy Center in DC; and the Britten War Requiem with the
Fondazione Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano Giuseppe Verdi.
Graham has performed the title role of Turandot with Teatro Cervantes de Málaga in Spain,
Gran Teatro Nacional del Perú with the Asociación Cultural Romanza, Edmonton Opera, Opera
Carolina, Orquesta Filhamónica de la UNAM, Opera de Nuevo León, Boston’s Chorus Pro
Musica, Arizona Opera, Michigan Opera Theatre, Opera Columbus, Opera Delaware, Detroit
Symphony Orchestra, Pensacola Opera, Westfield Symphony Orchestra, Nashville Opera, and
Knoxville Opera.
Additional appearances have included the title role of Aida for the inaugural performance of the
Istanbul International Opera Festival; the title role in Tosca with Festival Opera; and the title role
in Elektra at Philadelphia’s Academy of Vocal Arts. In the Wagnerian repertoire, Graham’s
notable roles also include Senta in Der Fliegender Holländer, Brünnhilde and Sieglinde in
Wagner’s Ring Cycle, and Elisabeth in Tannhäuser.
Other concert engagements include Elijah with Bryn Terfel and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir;
Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 with the Washington National Chorus at The Kennedy Center;
performances with the Lima Symphony and Plainfield Symphony; Brünnhilde excerpts from Die
Walküre for the L’Opéra de Montréal gala; a New York recital debut with the Liederkranz
Society; Isolde in Tristan und Isolde with the Young Musicians Foundation Orchestra in
California; a featured appearance with Eve Queler at the Dahesh Museum of Art; and opera
galas for Pacific Opera Victoria, Vancouver Opera, Orquesta Sinfonica de Xalapa, and
Canada’s Oakville Symphony.
Graham is featured on the Brampton Arts Walk of Fame in her hometown of Brampton, Ontario,
honoring those who have achieved excellence in the arts and entertainment industry. She
previously was the first-place winner of the Gerda Lissner International Vocal Competition in the
Wagner Division, the first-place winner of the Joyce Dutka Competition, a recipient of a Sullivan
Foundation Grant, a first-place winner in the Wagner Division of the Liederkranz Competition,
winner of the Jean Chalmers prize in the Canadian Music Competition, winner of the Edward
Johnson Competition, and first place recipient of the Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyriques
Competition.
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