Marie-Stéphane Bernard, a native Parisian, began her violin and voice studies in France. She pursued her passions at the Santa Cecilia Conservatorium in Rome. She is actively touring in leading soprano roles throughout the great opera halls of Europe. She lives in Downtown Memphis. That’s right, Memphis. And Thursday, August 18 she’ll make her Bluff City debut at the Dixon Gallery & Gardens, performing a selection of work by French composer Jacques Offenbach, to help celebrate the epic Jean-Louis Forain: La Comédie parisienne exhibition, currently on display at the Dixon.
Bernard has been routinely engaged to sing the role of Giulietta in the new production of [Offenbach’s] the Hoffmann’s Tales at the Leipzig Opera Theater in Leipzig, Germany and at La Fenice in Venice, Italy. She sang Métella in La Vie Parisienne by Offenbach at the Opéra Comique in Paris in more than 270 performances, and she sang the lead role in La Périchole by Offenbach at the Opéra Comique in Paris in more than 80 performances.
“Opera Memphis is pleased to present the local debut of an artist with such a breadth and depth in her operatic roles.” Canty said. “We are fortunate to claim her as a Memphis resident.”
Video of the Downtown Diva below the fold.
