Larry Murray, Berkshire On Stage, 2/26/13
biography
Heralded as a "...Powerhouse contralto.." "One of the rarest voices that can plumb some remarkable subterranean depths rarely heard from a female singer...." American contralto, Sharmay Musacchio recently made her Metropolitan Opera debut as the Novice in "Suor Angelica" and returned to join The Met roster for their productions of "Manon" and "Akhnaten". Ms.Musacchio's debut as Mrs.Grose with the New York City Opera in their production of "The Turn of the Screw" was well received. Including Anthony Tommasini of the New York Times citing- "The rich-voiced contralto, Sharmay Musacchio is wonderful as the well-meaning, baffled and finally desperate housekeeper, Mrs.Grose."
In previous seasons, Ms.Musacchio has performed as a soloist with: The Metropolitan Opera, NYCO, LA Opera, Chicago Opera Theater, Pacific Opera Project, Winter Opera St.Louis, Fresno Grand Opera, Townsend Opera, Sarasota Opera, Opera Southwest, Portland Opera/IVAI, New England Symphonic Ensemble at Carnegie Hall, San Diego Chamber Orchestra, Mid-America Productions, San Diego City Ballet, Musica Vitale, California Opera Association, Bodhi Tree Concerts, and the San Francisco Conservatory Opera Theatre.
Ms.Musacchio's concert work includes: Her Carnegie Hall debut as the alto soloist in Vivaldi's "Gloria" with the New England Symphonic Ensemble, the alto soloist with the San Diego Chamber Orchestra's production of Handel's "Messiah", San Diego Opera Orchestra's fund raiser for the San Diego Opera as the Principessa in their production of "Suor Angelica", and was a four time alto soloist with the SFCM orchestra at San Francisco Davies Symphony Hall for their production of Handel's "Messiah".
Upcoming engagements include: Returning to NYCO as the Old Woman in "L'amore Dei Tre Re", Returning to LAOpera as Antonia's Mother in "The Tales of Hoffmann" and as Giovanna in "Rigoletto", Returning to The Met Opera 2019/20 artist roster for their production's of "Manon" (Servante cv.) and "Akhanten" (Sotopenre cv.), Frasquita with the LA Opera for their production of "El Gato Montes", Debuting with the Chicago Opera Theatre as the Auntie in their production of "The Scarlet Ibis" (Chicago Premiere), returning to the Pacific Opera Project for a special double bill as Zita in "Gianni Schicchi" and the White Cat in "L'enfant et les Sortileges", Debuting as Berta in "The Barber of Seville" with the Sacramento Philharmonic and Opera for 2020. In 2021, Ms. Musacchio will be making her San Diego Opera debut as La Badessa in “Suor Angelica” and Zita in “Gianni Schicchi”. Ms. Musacchio will be returning to The Metropolitan Opera in 2021, singing Unborn 5 and the Voice (cv.) in Die Frau ohne Schatten under the baton of Maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin.
Ms.Musacchio has collaborated with renowned artists, directors and conductors: Phelim McDermott, Marta Domingo, Jorge Torres, Matt Aucoin, David Hanlon, Joshua Horsch, Josh Shaw, Diana Damrau, Ana Maria Martinez, Nancy Fabiola, James Conlon, Placido Domingo, Kevin Murphy, Myra Huang, Elizabeth Margolius, Todd Rhoades, Martin Wright, Dean Rhodus, Julie Taymor, Steven Sloane and Bertrand de Billy.
Ms.Musacchio has won various awards including: Sarasota Opera Artist Apprenticeship fo two seasons, Portland Opera/IVAI Young Artist Apprenticeship, regional finalist for the Zachary Vocal Competition, and the Grand Prize winner for the Art Songs of the Americas.
Ms.Musacchio holds a B.M. and M.M. from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music where she studied voice with renowned Stanford Voice Lecturer- Wendy Hillhouse.
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Opera/Operetta
| La Frugola | Il Tabarro | On Site Opera - 2023 |
| Ipheginia the Elder | “... (Iphigenia)” | Kennedy Center, The Broad, Cal Performances, Arts Emerson, and Mass MoCA |
| Unborn 5 | Die Frau ohne Schatten | The Metropolitan Opera - 2021 |
| The Voice (cv.) | Die Frau ohne Schatten | The Metropolitan Opera - 2021 |
| La Badessa | Suor Angelica | SDOpera - 2021 |
| Zita | Gianni Schicchi | SDOpera - 2021 |
| Berta | The Barber of Seville | Sacramento Phil&Opera - 2020 |
| Zita/White Cat | Gianni Schicchi/L'enfant et lei Sortileges | Pacific Opera Project - 2020 |
| Servante(cv.) | Manon | Met Opera - 2019 |
| Sotopenre(cv.) | Akhnaten | Met Opera - 2019 |
| Frasquita | El Gato Montes | LAOpera - 2019 |
| Auntie | The Scarlet Ibis | Chicago Opera Theatre - 2019 |
| Novice/Cover and Met Debut | Suor Angelica | The Met - 2018 |
| Old Woman | L'amore Dei Tre Re | New York City Opera - 2018 |
| Giovanna | Rigoletto | LAOpera - 2018 |
| Mother of Antonia | The Tales of Hoffmann | LAOpera - 2017 |
| Herodia (cov) | Salome | LAOpera - 2017 |
| Daughter of Akhnaten | Akhnaten | LAOpera - 2016 |
| Nefertiti (cov) | Akhnaten | LAOpera - 2016 |
| Dame Carruthers | Yeoman of the Guard | Winter Opera St. Louis - 2015 |
| Dame Quickly | Falstaff | Pacific Opera Project - 2015 |
| Eunice Hubbell | A Streetcar Named Desire | Townsend Opera/Fresno Grand Opera - 2015 |
| La Zia Principessa | Suor Angelica | San Diego Opera Fundraiser - 2014 |
| Kupava | The Snow Maiden | Musica Vitale - 2014 |
| Mrs. Grose | The Turn of the Screw | New York City Opera - 2013 |
| La Zia Principessa | Suor Angelica | Opera Southwest – 2012 |
| Zita | Gianni Schicchi | Opera Southwest – 2012 |
| Dalia cov. | Samson et Dalila | Netherlands Radio Choir |
| Flora cov. | La Traviata | Sarasota Opera |
| Maid of Mahagonny | Weill: Rise & Fall of the City of Mahagonny | Los Angeles Opera* |
| The Dragon cov. | Grendel | Los Angeles Opera |
| Suzuki | Madama Butterfly | California Opera Association |
| Queen Andromache | The Silver Swan | California Opera Association |
| La Principessa | Suor Angelica | California Opera Association |
| Dido | Les Troyens | Sarasota Opera/YAP |
| Tigrana | Edgar | Sarasota Opera/YAP |
| Tisbe | La Cenerentola | Sarasota Opera/YAP |
| Pauline | Pique Dame | Sarasota Opera/YAP |
| Mermine | Die Fledermaus | Sarasota Opera/YAP |
| Meg Page | Falstaff | Sarasota Opera/YAP |
| Dorabella | Così fan tutte | Portland Opera/IVAI |
| The Sandman | Hansel and Gretel | SFCM Opera Theatre/SFO |
| La Voix | The Tales of Hoffmann | SFCM Opera Theatre/SFO |
| Ragonde | Count Ory | SFCM Opera Theatre/SFO |
| Rebecca Nurse | The Crucible | SFCM Opera Theatre/SFO |
| Mistress Quickly | Falstaff | SFCM Opera Theatre/SFO |
* Winner of two Grammies
Concert
| Beethoven Symphony 9, Alto Soloist | Peninsula Symphony | 2016 |
| Handel Messiah, Alto Soloist | City Ballet | 2014 |
| Mozart Requiem | San Diego Ballet and Symphony | 2014 |
| Vivaldi Gloria | Advent Choral Service Chamber Orchestra | 2013 |
| Bach Christmas Oratorio | Musica Vitale | 2013 |
| Handel Messiah | San Diego City Ballet Symphony | 2013 |
| Kodaly Missa Brevis | Musica Vitale | 2013 |
| Respighi Laud to the Nativity | Musica Vitale | 2012 |
| Vivaldi Gloria | Carnegie Hall, MidAmerica Productions | 2009 |
| Handel Messiah | San Diego Chamber Orchestra | 2006 |
| Handel Messiah | San Francisco Conservatory Orchestra at Davies Symphony Hall | 2001, 1997 – 1999 |
| Bach Magnificat | San Francisco State Concert Series | 1997 |
Distinctions and Awards
| Best Career Mezzo-soprano | California Opera Competition | 2006, 2005 & 2004 |
| West Coast Regional Finalist | Zachary Vocal Competition | 2004 |
| Young Artist | Sarasota Opera | 2003-2004 |
| Young Artist | Portland Opera/IVAI | 2001 |
| Grand Prize | Art Songs of the Americas Robert Phelps/SFCM | 2001 |
Education
| Master of Music | (Vocal Performance) San Francisco Conservatory | 2001 |
| Bachelor of Music | (Vocal Performance) San Francisco Conservatory | 1998 |