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BIOGRAPHY
Soprano
Erin Wood is one of the most exciting, talented young artists to emerge during the past few seasons. Her recent portrayals
of Verdi and Wagner heroines have received praise for her "soaring soprano", "immense voice full of grit at the bottom and
transcendent radiance at the top", and "volcanic outpouring of sound that was thrilling to behold". Ms. Wood has replaced
Deborah Voigt on short notice, both as Sieglinde in Wagner's Die Walkuere with Lyric Opera of Chicago and as Amelia in Un
Ballo in Maschera with San Francisco Opera. With Lyric, Ms. Wood has also been seen as Lisa in The Queen of Spades, Gutrune
and the Third Norn in Goetterdaemmerung, Ortlinde in Die Walküre, and supporting roles in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Street
Scene, Susannah and Macbeth. She was a featured artist in Lyric's first-ever free concert at Grant Park, where she sang Mascagni's
"Easter Hymn" for 20,000 people under the baton of Bruno Bartoletti.
She has been featured with the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, Opera Colorado, Opera Grand Rapids, Toledo Opera, Music Academy
of the West, the Angeles Chorale, the Grant Park and Ravinia Music Festivals, as well as the Milwaukee, Pacific and Lake Forest
Symphonies. Ms. Wood has been seen in recital in Chicago for the Dame Myra Hess Foundation, in New York for the Marilyn Horne
Foundation, and in Los Angeles for El Camino Center for the Arts. Recent engagements include Verdi Requiem with the London
Symphony Chorus, Amelia in Un Ballo in Maschera for both San Francisco Opera and Opera Colorado, Beethoven's 9th Symphony
with Pacific Symphony, Die Zauberfloete, Susannah and the Opera Ball 25th Anniversary Celebration for Opera Pacific, and her
first "Liebestod" for Toledo Opera.
Ms. Wood is an alumna of the prestigious Lyric Opera Center for American Artists. She received her Bachelors and Masters degrees
from UCLA, where she has almost completed her Doctor of Musical Arts degree. Before becoming a soprano she sang mezzo leads
in many UCLA Opera productions; her professional debut was as Mary in Der fliegende Hollaender with Opera Pacific. Awards
include the George London Foundation's Kirsten Flagstad Award, and awards from the Union League Civic and Arts Foundation,
Chicago's Musician's Club of Women, Met National Council Central and Western Regions, Palm Springs Opera Guild, and the Lee
Schaenen and Liberace Foundations. Erin grew up in the Southern California, where she lives with her husband Keith and son
Elliott.
REVIEWS
Of Bernstein's Songfest with Milwaukee Symphony-
"The vocal standout was soprano Erin Wood, whose
voice has an uncanny resemblance to the great American singer Eleanor Steber." -Rick Walters, The Milwaukee Shepherd-Express
Of LOCAA
Gala at Grant Park-
"Soprano Erin Wood, featured in selections from "Aida" -looked and sounded good enough to perform
roles at any top opera house in the country... Wood unleashed a volcanic outpouring of sound that was thrilling to behold.
She has dramatic soprano potential written all over her. The voice is steady, alluring and true, and she floated "Numi, pieta"
luminously. Wood could be the next Eileen Farrell..." - John von Rhein, Chicago Tribune
"Soprano Erin Wood made a superb debut as Aida in duet with Grohowski's Amneris" - Andrew Patner,
Chicago Sun-Times
Of The Greatest Wagner Concert Ever! Gala at Toledo Opera-
"This was one of the most enjoyable opera gala programs of the past
decade. Conductor and emcee Thomas Conlin assembled a super-sized orchestra, a fine chorus made up of opera regulars and the
University of Toledo Concert Chorale, and young soprano Erin Wood, who dazzled.
The rich-toned and melodious Wood gave emotionally charged and
seemingly effortless readings of selections from The Valkyrie. She was
equally comfortable later in the program as Isolde when she delivered
a transcendent performance of the famous "Liebestod" that ends Tristan
and Isolde"- Steven Cornelius, Toledo Blade
Of Lady Billows with MAW- "Wood's acting is on target and unflagging... in a difficult
role. Wood may be on the path that leads to [the] plateaus... of Aida,... and Turandot." Daniel Cariaga, Los Angeles Times
Of Mary with Opera Pacific- "Erin Wood's Mary was all maternal solicitude. " Michael van
Duzer, ShowMag
Of Cosi fan tutte highlights at Grant Park- "Making the most of Fiordiligi's showcase
"Come scoglio," Wood fearlessly scaled the aria's extremes. A mezzo turned soprano, Wood... sailed through on the brilliant
finale...Fine ensemble work in the trio "Soave sia il vento," with Wood,(Michelle) Wrighte and bass-baritone Christopher Scott
Feigum as Don Alfonso melting together effortlessly. " - Laura Emerick, Chicago Sun-Times
Of Palm Springs Opera Guild finals-
"Wood demonstrated vocal depth, resonance, drama and the potential pathos for major diva roles"
- Mary Depascale, The Desert Sun
of Lisa at Lyric Opera-
"...a significant instrument" - Richard Dyer, Boston Globe
of the Norns in Lyric Opera's RING
"splendid trio of Norns..."- John von Rhein, Chicago
Tribune
Of Beethoven 9th Symphony with Pacific Symphony- "the
singers added force and substance. The skilled and well-matched soloists were soprano Erin Wood, mezzo Jane Dutton, tenor
Chad Shelton and baritone Joshua Winograde."
Of Amelia in Opera Colorado's Un Ballo in Maschera- "this show is a triumph. There's no point in distributing win-place-show honors - so ideally matched are the vocalists.
Erin Wood brings intense acting and a soaring soprano to Amelia."-Marc Shulgold, Rocky Mountain News
"Erin
Wood, who has recently stepped in for Deborah Voigt in San Francisco and Chicago, is a sensitive and feminine Amelia with
an immense voice full of grit at the bottom and transcendent radiance at the top."- Wes Blomster, Daily Camera
"She
possesses a rich, full soprano that is consistently strong from top to bottom of her range."- Kyle MacMillan, Denver Post
"...and
Erin Wood's bright soprano, as Amelia, Anckarström's wife, round out the exquisite voicing of the love triangle."- Bob Bows,
ColoradoDrama.com
of the 3 Ladies in Opera Pacific's Magic Flute
"The Three Ladies -- Erin Wood, Priti Gandhi and Audrey Babcock -- sang well in ensemble."- Chris Pasles, Los Angeles Times
"Her Three Ladies, Erin Wood, Priti Gandhi and Audrey Babcock respectively, were alternately amusing and threatening. Whether
lusting after an unconscious Tamino, or padlocking the mouth of the mouth of the recalcitrant Papageno, or trying to tempt
our heroes from completing their trials, they were a glittering and feisty treat. The wigs that they wore, looked mightily
uncomfortable but you would never have noticed it, they were smooth and polished throughout the performance."- Dawn Southwick,
ClassicalVoice.com
"The Three Ladies - Erin Wood, Priti Gandhi, and Audrey Babcock - blend together well, do not step on each others toes, and
make grand entrances and exits."- J. Clemons, CotoBlogzz
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