Praised for her “lustrous soprano voice”, Cuban-born soprano Evelyn Saavedra is quickly establishing herself as a “gifted young singer to watch” (South Florida Classical Review). In the 23-24 season, she looks forward to making several exciting concert and operatic appearances. In concert, she performs Villa-Lobos’ Bachianas Brasileiras No.5 with cello ensemble, and joins the Madison Symphony Orchestra for their annual holiday concert. Ms. Saavedra returns to Nashville Opera to reprise the role of Rosalba in Florencia en el Amazonas; sings Zerlina in Don Giovanni with Vero Beach Opera; and can be seen in the roles of Vitellia in Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito, and Micaëla in an adaptation of Bizet’s Carmen with the Juilliard Opera.
Last season, she made her company and role debut as Mabel in Gilbert and Sullivan’s Pirates of Penzance with Nashville Opera. On the concert stage, she joined Orchestra Filarmonica di Firenze at the Festival Symphonique d'El Jem in Tunisia, and made her Lincoln Center-Alice Tully Hall debut singing George Crumb’s Ancient Voices of Children with the leading ensemble in New York City’s contemporary music scene: AXIOM. Additionally, Ms. Saavedra coached and worked with Grammy Award- winning composer Rhiannon Giddens, and was featured as a soloist in a concert retrospective of the composer’s chamber music at the Juilliard School.
In the 21- 22 season, she was the Third Prize winner of the Gerda Lissner Foundation International Operetta and Zarzuela Competition, and subsequently made her Carnegie Hall debut singing in the winner's concert. She was seen in concert and in the role of Musetta in La bohème with Vero Beach Opera; and joined Greg Zelek, Principal Organist for the Madison Symphony Orchestra, for their Voices of Spring Organ Gala on the MSO stage.
A champion of contemporary music, Ms. Saavedra has had the opportunity to collaborate with composers and contemporary music ensembles on several projects.
In collaboration with composer Michael Ching, she has created such roles as “Mother” in Birthday Clown with Savannah Voice Festival, and “Featured Dater” in Speed Dating Tonight with the Janiec Opera Company at the Brevard Music Center.
wonderful as
Musetta
-CLASSICAL VOICE OF NORTH CAROLINA
In the 16-17 season she created the female title role of Epiphany Proudfoot in J. Mark Scearce’s Falling Angel at the Brevard Music Center. For her role as Epiphany, the Wall Street Journal wrote of her “alluring soprano who brought sensitivity to Epiphany.” This season, Ms. Saavedra was also seen in the roles of Sister Catherine in the Florida premiere of Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking; and as Young Alyce in Tom Cipullo’s Glory Denied with Pensacola Opera.
Recent operatic highlights include Maria in Maria de Buenos Aires, Kate Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Antonia in Man of La Mancha, Sacerdotessa in Aïda with Pensacola Opera; and Contessa in Le nozze di Figaro with Miami Music Festival. For her singing in the title role in Handel’s Agrippina, she was praised for “coloring her vocalism expressively... she dominated every scene, singing with striking dramatic heft and passion” (South Florida Classical Review).
"Tossing off the coloratura flights with zest, Saavedra seemed to understand her character and Baroque musical style, ornamenting repeats artfully."
-SOUTH FLORIDA CLASSICAL REVIEW
As a concert artist, Ms. Saavedra has appeared with the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra and The Choral Society of Pensacola singing in Mozart’s Coronation Mass and Handel’s Messiah; and as a soloist in Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music and Symphony No. 3 with the Brevard Music Center Orchestra.
Ms. Saavedra is currently completing her Artist Diploma in Opera Studies at the Juilliard School. She holds a Master's Degree in Vocal Performance & Literature from the Eastman School of Music, where she received the First Prize at the Friends of Eastman Opera Competition in 2015. She holds a Bachelor's Degree in Vocal Performance from Florida International University.
