U.S./Mexican soprano Kristin Sampson will share her life story in an intimate afternoon with pivotal arias at the Casa Del Sol Inn, Saturday, December 9, 4 to 6 p.m. in a benefit for The Chapala Opera Guild.
Kristin was born in Mexico, adopted by a U.S. couple and lived as an infant in Guadalajara, where her father managed an electronics manufacturing firm, before moving to the United States. The family came to Ajijic and Guadalajara for vacations.
In school, she performed in musical theater and Broadway shows, before a teacher told her that with her voice, she ought to try opera. In high school she began to perform in American operas and her career blossomed.
Praised by The New York Times for her “bright, sizable and expressive voice,” Sampson’s 2023-2024 performances include returning to the signature roles of Minnie in “La Fanciulla del West,” Tosca in “Tosca,” and concert performances with New York City Opera, DC Strings Workshop and Washington Opera Society.
She has taken roles as Liu in “Turandot,” as Marguerite in “Faust,” Magda in “Respighi’s La Campana Sommersa,” among others. She has performed domestically with the New York City Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Opera Orchestra of New York, Opera Carolina, Dicapo Opera Theatre, Augusta Opera, El Paso Opera, and the National Lyric Opera; and internationally with Puccini Festival of Torre del Lago, Teatro del Giglio in Lucca, Teatro Goldoni in Livorno, Teatro Verdi in Pisa, the Magyar Tavak Fesztiválja in Hungary, Opera Society of Hong Kong, Armel Opera Festival, National Theatre of Szeged, Teatro Municipal de Santiago, and Teatro dell’Opera di Roma.
She will be accompanied by pianist Kathryn Olander, principal coach/pianist with the New York City Opera.
The program will include music from many of the roles she has performed: Poveri Fiori from “Adriana Lecouvreur, Act IV”; Stridono lassu as from “Pagliacci”; Tu? tu? Piccolo Iddio! from “Madama Butterfly”; Tu che di gel sei cinta from “Turandot”; Il tuo sangue from “Tosca, Act III” and Oh! se sapeste come il vivere e allegro Puccini from “La fanciulla del West, Act II.”
Donation, 200 pesos, is at the door. RSVP: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..