Mezzo Tara Erraught Honored by Bavarian Government for Contribution to the Arts

In just a little over two years, Irish mezzo-soprano Tara Erraught has made the transition from young singer to an emerging artist whose talent has captured the attention of the international opera public. Since February 2011, when as a member of the distinguished Bavarian State Opera (Bayerische Staatsoper) she won widespread international acclaim in the title role of a new production of Ravel's L'Enfant et les Sortileges and, in the same month, jumped in for an ailing colleague on five days notice to perform Romeo in a new production of Bellini's I Capuleti e i Montecchi, Ms. Erraught has been one to watch.

The latest recognition of her work comes from the Bavarian Government which has bestowed upon her the prestigious Pro meritis scientiae et litterarum, given annually since 2000 in recognition for outstanding contribution to science and the arts. At 26 years of age, she is only the fifth musician to receive this honor since the award's inception, and the youngest so honored.

The award comes on the tails of Ms. Erraught's successful debut North American recital tour. The Kansas City Star praised her performance on the prestigious Harriman-Jewell series, "She's only 26, but Tara Erraught already has a classic, surprisingly mature mezzo voice: it's big, strong, dark and rich." Of her performance at the Chan Centre for the Vancouver Recital Society, The Vancouver Sun stated, "...Vancouver audiences have heard a true rising star ...."

Earlier this season, her performance as Angelina in the Wiener Staatsoper's new production of La Cenerentola led the Associated Press to acclaim, "As Angelina...mezzo Tara Erraught unleashed an array of coloratura fireworks in a role that affords opportunities for vocal pyrotechnics like few others. 'Non piu mesta'...is considered one of opera's most difficult arias. No problem for Erraught." More, Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung crowned Ms. Erraught "New Queen of Belcanto".

Upcoming performances this 2013-2014 season include a world premiere, and three role debuts amongst other engagements. In late spring/early summer 2013, Tara Erraught sings Nicklausse/The Muse (role debut) in Offenbach's Le Contes d'Hoffmann with the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich, followed by a recital at Nymphenburg Sommer in celebration of the festival's 10th anniversary. Fall 2013/winter 2014 performances include creating the role of Kitty in the world premiere of Iain Bell's A Harlot's Progress at Theater an der Wien; and with Bayerische Staatsoper, she reprises her role as Hansel in Humperdinck's Hansel und Gretel, and as Angelina in Rosssini's La Cenerentola. Also in Munich, Ms. Erraught makes her role debut as Sesto in Mozart's La Clemenza de Tito. In spring 2014, she returns to the UK and the Glyndebourne Festival, in yet another role debut (Glyndebourne season yet to be announced). Summer engagements include the Bayerische Staatsoper's productions of Strauss's Die Frau ohne Schatten and the second set of performances of La Clemanza Di Tito. Future performances include Ms. Erraught's debut at the BBC Proms, a second North American recital tour, and stage debuts at the Washington National Opera and San Francisco Opera.

Performance highlights of 2012-2013 included Ms. Erraught's debut at the Wiener Staatsoper, where she sang Il Barbiere di Siviglia in the autumn as well as the premiere performances of a new production of La Cenerentola in early 2013 to great acclaim. In Munich, she sang in a new production of Hansel und Gretel as well as her first performances of Die Fledermaus as Prince Orlovsky and of Les Contes d'Hoffmann as Nicklausse.

A native of Dundalk, Ireland, Tara Erraught graduated from the Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin and has been a member of the opera studio at the Bayerische Staatsoper in Munich since 2008. Tara Erraught won First Prize in the Jackub Pustine International Singing Competition in the Czech Republic along with the Zdar nad Sazavou Audience Prize in May, 2008. In that same year she was awarded with both the Houston Grand Opera Prize and the Washington National Opera Prize at the International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition in Vienna. In March of 2010 she was awarded the National Concert Hall's Rising Star Prize in Dublin. She has also won the Dermott Troy Award for the Best Irish Singer.

Photo of Ms. Erraught by Christian Kaufmann.