Calendar

Upcoming performances...


Sun, September 27, 2009
3:00pm:
"Knoxville: Summer of 1915"
by Samuel Barber
"Collected Poems"
by Virgil Thompson
(soprano soloist)
Boston Modern Orchestra Project
Distler Performance Hall
Tufts University
Medford, MA





Sat, October 10, 2009, 7:30pm:
Les Sirènes : Kathryn Mueller and Kristen Watson, sopranos
"Sizzling sopranos perform Baroque gems"
Arizona Early Music Society
Tucson, AZ


Sat, November 14, 2009, 8:00pm:
Haydn "Creation" (Eve)
Emmanuel Music
Emmanuel Church, 15 Newbury St; Boston, MA


Wed, December 9, 2009, 7:30pm:
"Deck the Halls" Holiday Favorites (soprano soloist)
Topeka Symphony Orchestra
White Concert Hall, Washburn University; Topeka, KS


Sun, December 20, 2009, 10:00am:
Bach Cantata "Meine Seel erhebt den Herren", BWV 10 (soprano soloist)
Emmanuel Music
Emmanuel Church; 15 Newbury St, Boston, MA


Thurs, December 31, 2009, 8:00pm
Fri, January 1, 2010, 3:00pm:
Mozart "Bastien and Bastienne" (Bastienne)
Boston Baroque
Sanders Theatre, Harvard University; Cambridge, MA


Sun, January 31, 2010; 4:00pm:
Jake Heggie "At the Statue of Venus" (soprano soloist)
Intermezzo Opera
Taylor House; 50 Burroughs St, Jamaica Plain, MA


Fri, February 19, 2010, 8:00pm
Sat, February 20, 2010, 8:00pm
Sat, March 6, 2010, time TBA:
Monteverdi "Vespers of 1610" (soprano soloist)
Boston Baroque
Jordan Hall; Boston, MA (Feb 19/20)
Cathedral of St. John the Divine; New York, NY (Mar 6)


Sat, March 27, 2010, 8:00pm
Sun, March 28, 2010, 4:00pm:
Vivaldi "In turbate mare irato" & "All'ombra di sospetto" (soprano soloist)
Musicians of the Old Post Road
Emmanuel Church, 15 Newbury St; Boston, MA (Mar 27)
First Unitarian Church, 90 Main St; Worcester, MA (Mar 28)


Sun, April 11, 2010, 3:00pm:
Shostakovich "Romance Suite" Op. 127
Previn "Vocalise" (soprano soloist)
Walden Chamber Players
Ruth Taylor Hall, Trinity University; San Antonio, TX


Sun, April 25, 2010, 3:30pm:
Bach Cantata "Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen", BWV 51 (soprano soloist)
Musica Maris
United Congregational Church; 4 S of Commons Rd, Little Compton, RI



Check back soon for more updates!

Bio

Soprano Kristen Watson, hailed by critics for her “blithe and silvery” tone and “winning stage presence”, has made solo debuts with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra of New York City, the Mark Morris Dance Group, Boston Baroque, the Handel & Haydn Society, and Emmanuel Music, at such venues as the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Tanglewood, Ravinia, and Boston’s Symphony Hall. Anticipated to “become a valuable presence in the early-music world” (Richard Dyer, Boston Globe), Ms. Watson was recently granted the Lorraine Hunt Lieberson Fellowship with Emmanuel Music, as well as awards from the American Bach Society Vocal Competition (Finalist), Oratorio Society of NY Solo Competition (Semi-Finalist), Concert Artists Guild Competition (Semi-Finalist), the Joy in Singing Competition (Semi-Finalist), and the Louisville Bach Society Vocal Competition (3rd Place).

Opera audiences have recently heard Ms. Watson as the “Voice of the Fountain” in Osvaldo Golijov’s acclaimed new opera Ainadamar with Opera Boston, directed by Peter Sellars. She has performed in additional productions with Boston Lyric Opera, Boston University Opera Institute, Intermezzo Opera, and the Opera Theater of Pittsburgh in such roles as Tytania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Adele in Die Fledermaus, Polly Peachum in The Beggar’s Opera and Monica in The Medium.

A versatile crossover artist, Ms. Watson has appeared at Symphony Hall with the Boston Pops as the headlining artist on their “Holiday Pops” program, as well as “Mozart’s Greatest Hits”, both under conductor Keith Lockhart. She has performed as a featured soprano alongside Greek tenor, Mario Frangoulis, as the headlining artist for the July 4th celebration concert in Salem, MA, and has sung back-up for Barry Manilow in a concert at Boston's Tweeter Center. Ms. Watson’s regional musical theater performances include Carousel (Carrie) starring Shirley Jones, The King and I (Tuptim) starring Justin Deas, Titanic (Eleanor Widener), and Into the Woods (Witch); other favorite roles performed include Hello, Dolly! (Minnie), Annie (Grace), The Boy Friend (Dulcie), and Barnum (Joice Heth).

Additional solo performances include the Carmel Bach Festival, the Aston Magna Festival, the Cactus Pear Music Festival, and the White Mountain Bach Festival, as well as the Cape Cod Symphony, Rhode Island Philharmonic, Evansville Philharmonic, Topeka Symphony, Walden Chamber Players, Napa Valley Youth Symphony, and the Pittsburgh Camerata. An enthusiastic supporter of new music/contemporary classical music, Ms. Watson can also be found frequently premiering works of new composers, such as the members of Altavoz, a Latin-American consortium of composers living in various cities around North America and Europe. She also sings alongside soprano Kathryn Mueller and harpsichordist Michael Sponseller as Les Sirènes, a dynamic new ensemble taking audiences on an exploration of the soprano voice and Baroque repertory.

Kristen Watson is originally from Topeka, Kansas, and holds degrees from Carnegie Mellon University and Boston University.

Reviews

IN CONCERT

"sang with blithe and silvery assurance... characterful and keen-edged; nimble singer... she could become a valuable presence in the early-music world" -- Richard Dyer, Boston Globe

"If there is a perfect baroque soprano, Watson fits the bill with a pure, silver-spun tone, keen musicianship and the ability to negotiate impossibly long melismas with agility and seamless control." -- Diane Windeler, San Antonio Express News

"blended beautifully in the motet, 'Pulchra es'" -- John von Rhein, Chicago Tribune

"Watson's winning stage presence and confident tone brought the crowd to their feet" -- Keith Powers, Boston Herald

"brilliantly sung... with a beautiful and clear voice that is agile and finely focused" -- David Mead, Austin American-Statesman

"her phrasing and musicianship were beyond reproach" -- David Weininger, Boston Globe

"Watson stood center stage... with admirable fortitude, sincerity, and vocal ability." -- Paul Joseph Walkowski, OperaOnline.us

"Watson connects easily to an audience by infusing her engaging personality into her songs" -- Veronica Bruscini, Providence RI

"a beautiful voice, striking appearance and glowing personality" --Bill Blankenship, Topeka Capital-Journal

"Watson's light, fresh articulation of Bach and Handel steered entirely clear of the pompous, formulaic Baroque paradigm" -- Diana Lyn Roberts, San Antonio Current

"was particularly effective in the Credo of the Mass" -- Rebecca Redshaw, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

OPERA

"Also impressive... Kristen Watson as the Spirit" -- Keith Clarke, Musical America

"Her voice captures the essence of Menotti... her scenes with Toby... are heart-rending" -- Christopher Hyde, Portland Press Herald

"Young housekeeper Laetitia (Kristen Watson)... delivered stunning vocals with a crystal-clear soprano" --April Doyle, Portland Press Herald

MUSICAL THEATER

"gives (Carrie Pipperidge) considerable life and emotional complexity" -- David Brooks Andrews, Metro West Daily News (Boston, MA)

"Richard Vergara and Kristen Watson are first-rate actors who boast magnificent voices as the doomed lovers Lun Tha and Tuptim. Their searing duets... drip with longing and pathos." -- William A. Peterson, The Daily Reflector (Greenville, NC)

"a comic standout... considerable charm" -- Will Stackman, AISLE SAY Boston

"'The Rain in Spain' and 'Show Me' were virtual show-stoppers that roused the audience immensely. Watson has a voice and command that allows her to outdo Julie Andrews." -- John Zeugner, Worcester Telegram and Gazette (Worcester, MA)

Listen

"A Passion for the Baroque", a CD release from the Cactus Pear Music Festival based in San Antonio, features Kristen singing the Handel "Gloria". To purchase this CD or to listen to selected clips, click here.

Mauricio Pauly-Maduro is a fabulous up-and-coming composer friend of mine; in this highly experimental piece he delivers a broad exploration of new musical ideas with extraordinary range of color and sound. Click on its title to listen:

Apertura del becerro by Mauricio Pauly-Maduro
Kristen Watson, soprano
Heidi Brochinsky, viola

Kristen can also be heard on the official website for "Starry Nights", a musical about the life of Vincent van Gogh, written by Michael Bonner. To listen, click here to view the track list (you can hear Kristen on tracks 2, 3, 11, 12, 17, and 22.) "Once Upon a Time" and "I Wanna Fall in Love Again" showcase some of Michael's most stunning melodies and brilliantly crafted lyrics.

Pictures

"Die Fledermaus"
with Boston University Opera Institute
Kristen Watson as Adele







"Hansel and Gretel"
with Boston Lyric Opera
Stephanie Chigas as Hansel
Michelle Nicklas as Gretel
Kristen Watson as Sandman








"The Medium"
with Intermezzo Opera
Sharon Brown as Baba
Kristen Watson as Monica










"Carousel"
with the Reagle Players
Nathan Troup as Enoch
Kristen Watson as Carrie

















"A Midsummer Night's Dream"
with Boston University Opera Institute

Kristen Watson as Tytania












"The King and I"
with East Carolina Summer Theater

Richard Vergara as Lun Tha
Kristen Watson as Tuptim






Monteverdi "Vespers"
with Boston Baroque
Martin Pearlman, conductor
Sharon Baker and Kristen Watson, soprano










Kristen Watson, soprano

Preparing backstage in her dressing room
at Symphony Hall











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