Sally-Anne Russell (Mezzo-soprano)

Born: Australia

The Australian mezzo-soprano, Sally-Anne Russell, has performed in concerts, recitals and on the operatic stage in America, The Nederlands, Austria, the UK, Italy, Germany, New Zealand, Japan and Canada. Most recently Sally-Anne made her Washington DC debut as Ursula in Beatrice et Benedict for Washington Concert Opera at the Kennedy Centre and a 2nd season for the Carmel Bach Festival in California.

Operatic roles include Rosina in Il Barbiere de Seviglia (New Zealand), Mistress Quickly in Falstaff (UK), Lucienne in Die Tote Stadt (Spoleto, Italy), Amastris in Xerses (Oper der Stadt Köln, Germany), Suzuki in Madame Butterfly (State Opera of South Australia), Dido in Dido & Aeneas, and fifteen roles as a resident principal for the Victoria State Opera. Sally-Anne Russell also received much acclaim for her performance in the roles of Juno/Ino in Semele for Pinchgut Opera.

Sally-Anne Russell appears with all the Symphony Australia Orchestras, Australian Chamber Orchestra, Australian Bach Ensemble and at all of the major Australian Festivals. Recent performances include St. John Passion (BWV 245), Magnificat (BWV 243) and Cantatas at the Carmel Bach Festival, Voices of Light with the Australian Chamber Orchestra for Sydney Festival, Ottorino Respighi’s Il Tramonto and Rossini/Mozart Arias with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Giovanni Battista Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater with The Queensland Orchestra, Gustav Mahler's Songs of a Wayfarer and Felix Mendelssohn’s Midsummer Night’s Dream with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, George Frideric Handel’s Joshua with Adelaide Philharmonia Choirs, F. Mendelssohn’s Elijah, J.S. Bach’s St Mathew Passion (BWV 244) and The Messiah with Sydney Philharmonia Choirs , J.S. Bach's B Minor Mass (BWV 232) with Melbourne Chorale, de Falla’s El Amor Brujo with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra, G.F. Handel’s Lucretia and Dixit Dominus with the Pacific Baroque Orchestra in Vancouver, Benjamin Britten’s Spring Symphony with Christchurch Symphony in New Zealand, Rossini and Mozart Arias with Orchestra Victoria and national broadcasts for ABC radio Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. Sally-Anne also sits as a member of the International Jury for the Kathaumixw Festival in Canada and for the Belvedere International Singing Competition.

Approaching engagements include the title role in La Cenerentola for West Australian Opera, The Fairy Queen for Pinchgut Opera, Hansel in Hansel and Gretel for Singapore Lyric Opera, Igor Stravinsky’s Pulcinella, G.F. Handel’s Messiah and Mozart’s Requiem with Melbourne Symphony, G. Mahler's Symphony No 2 and Mozart’s Requiem for Sydney Philharmonia and Mozart’s Requiem for West Australian Symphony. Also on release with ABC Classics is a disc of Bach arias and duets with Sara Macliver and G.F. Handel’s Semele. Sally-Anne Russell has return visits to Canada and the Carmel Bach Festival under the baton of Bruno Weil, a relationship that will last until 2006.

Source: Pinchgut Opera Website
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (March 2004)

Recordings of Bach Cantatas & Other Vocal Works

Conductor

As

Works

Richard Divall

Mezzo

G.F. Handel: Opera Alcina, HWV 34 [Ruggiero] ?

Antony Walker

Alto

Mvts. from BWV 4, BWV 30, BWV 37, BWV 78, BWV 93, BWV 99, BWV 124, BWV 159, BWV 170, BWV 186, BWV 232, BWV 244, BWV 248

Links to other Sites

Sally-Anne Russell (Pinchguet Opera)
Sally-Anne Russell, mezzo (Sydney Opera) [PDF]

Sally-Anne Russell (Kathaumixw Festival)