Soprano Rochelle Bard has been described as an ‘exquisite singing actress’ with a specialty in bel canto and Verdi repertoire. Performances include the title roles of Tosca, Norma, Aida, Maria Stuarda, and Lucia di Lammermoor, as well as Odabella in Attila, Abigaille in Nabucco, Elisabetta in Roberto Devereux, Violetta in La Traviata, Leonora in Il Trovatore, Roselinde in Die Fledermaus, and Lady Macbeth in Macbeth, at such companies as Opera Tampa, Hawaii Opera Theatre, Sarasota Opera, Boston Lyric Opera, Knoxville Opera, Utah Festival Opera, Opera Idaho, Opera Theater of Connecticut, Opera Company of Middlebury, and Sacramento Opera. In multiple productions of The Merry Widow, she has performed the witty title role, most memorably under the baton of Anton Coppola. Described as ‘absolutely magical’ for her portrayal of Tosca in Hawaii, critics also acclaimed her Odabella in Attila as ‘a tour de force both musically and dramatically.’
In concert with orchestra, Ms. Bard recently debuted as the soprano soloist in Verdi’s Requiem with the Knoxville Symphony, and has performed excerpts from Les Huguenots, Hoffmann, Esclarmonde, Norma, Adriana Lecouvreur, and Semiramide. At Lincoln Center, Ms. Bard was the soprano soloist in Carmina Burana in a stunning production with Alvin Ailey dancers. She has also been the soloist on the stages of Carnegie Hall, Tanglewood, Mormon Tabernacle Choir, Boston Symphony Orchestra, National Chorale, Opera Orchestra of New York, and Tallahassee Symphony. Upcoming is a Verdi Gala concert with Sarasota Opera including excerpts from Aida, La forza del destino, and Ballo in Maschera.
Ms. Bard earned a Master’s degree from the New England Conservatory and was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Music from her alma mater, the College of the Holy Cross. A pianist before finding her classical voice, she is also the Music Director at a church in West Hartford, CT.