Ambur Braid, Soprano

Biography

Canadian soprano Ambur Braid is quickly establishing herself as a rising young artist in dramatic coloratura soprano roles that encompass Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor, Massenet’s Esclarmonde, Handel’s Semele, and Mozart’s Queen of the Night.

In her final season as a member of the ensemble at the Canadian Opera Company, Ms. Braid will be seen in Christopher Alden’s new production of Die Fledermaus as Adele and will perform the role of Vitellia in the Ensemble Studio performance of La clemenza di Tito. Additionally in the 2012-2013 season, she sings the Queen of the Night in Die Zauberflöte at Opera Atelier. She also will attend the Steans Institute at the Ravinia Festival in the summer of 2012.

Last season, she performed the role of Stella in Les contes d’Hoffmann and sang the title role in Handel’s Semele in the Ensemble Studio performance. She also covered the role of Clémence in Kaija Saariaho’s L’amour de loin at the Canadian Opera Company. She recently sang the Queen of the Night in the Ensemble Studio performance of Die Zauberflöte to great acclaim causing the National Post to praise her turning a “stock figurine into a scary, knife-wielding matriarch.” Other recent appearances with the Canadian Opera Company include Amore in Orfeo ed Euridice, The Greek Woman in Iphigénie en Tauride, and the Danish Lady in Death in Venice. Previous operatic credits include Diane in Iphigénie en Tauride with Opera Atelier; Konstanze in Die entfuhrung aus dem Serail, Queen of the Night in die Zauberflote, Princess/Fire in L’enfant et les sortileges with the San Francisco Conservatory; and Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night’s Dream with The Glenn Gould School.

Ms. Braid received degrees from the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music and San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Her awards include the East Bay Opera Competition, San Francisco Conservatory Concerto Competition, and Palm Beach Opera Competition.