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The Polish-American soprano, Dorothy Gal, obtained her Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Mannes College in New York City (2012-2016) and her Master of Music degree in Opera Performance from Rice University's Shepherd School of Music (2016-2018), having been the recipient of both the Renée Fleming and Cecilia Bartoli Scholarships in Voice. In 2018, she received 2nd place in Houston Grand Opera’s Eleanor McCollum Competition. She is also a pianist.
Hailed as “alluring” by the Houston Chronicle and praised for her “piercing, yet crystalline instrument” (Schmopera), Dorothy Gal is an alumna of the Houston Grand Opera Studio (August 2018-May 2020) and recipient of the prestigious 2020 Richard F. Gold Career Grant from the Shoshana Foundation. Having recently competed as a semi-finalist in the 58th Edition of The Tenor Viñas Competition in Barcelona, Spain, she is quickly gaining international recognition as a multi-faceted artist on the rise.
While a studio artist at The Houston Grand Opera, Dorothy Gal performed roles including Zerlina in Kasper Holton’s production of W.A. Mozart's Don Giovanni, High Priestess in Phelim McDermott’s production of Aida, and Countess Ceprano in Tomer Zvulun’s Rigoletto. Due to COVID-19, performances as Papagena in Barrie Kosky’s production of W.A. Mozart's Die Zauberflöte with The Houston Grand Opera and role debut as Musetta in La bohème with Annnapolis Opera were postponed.
She also covered numerous roles at HGO, including Leïla in Georges Bizet's Les pecheurs de pêrles, Merab in George Frideric Handel’s Saul, Giulietta in Tarik O’Regan’s The Phoenix, and Pamina in Die Zauberflöte. During HGO’s Studio Showcase and Concert of Arias studio spotlight,
she performed extended scenes from the operatic repertoire, including roles such as Mélisande in Pelléas et Mélisande, Cendrillon in Cendrillon, and Iolanta in Iolanta.
A passionate interpreter of art song, Dorothy Gal participated in Marilyn Horne’s The Song Continues Workshop at Carnegie Hall and was a vocal fellow at Ravinia’s Steans Music Institute (2016), having performed works by Debussy, Alberto Ginastera, and Ludwig in recital in Bennett Gordon Hall. Notable performances include Opera America’s Emerging Artist Recital and performing the world premiere of Jamie Leidwinger’s HGO commissioned song cycle Sheltered Garden with pianist Blair Salter. Meanwhile, on the operatic stage,
she performed as First Wood Sprite in Rusalka and Pousette in Manon (Des Moines Metro Opera, 2016); Sandrina in W.A. Mozart's La finta giardiniera, Amy in Little Women, and Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi (Rice University); and Anne Egerman in A Little Night Music (Aspen Music Center, 2017).
In the 2021-2022 season, Dorothy Gal performs with Las Colinas Symphony in their "Mozart con Amore" symphony series, makes an exciting role debut as Musetta in La boheme with Annapolis Opera, performs scenes as Tatyana in Eugene Onegin and Mimi in La boheme in OTSL's Center Stage Gala, and covers the roles of Rose in Awakenings, Micaela in G. Bizet's Carmen, and Diane Feinstein in Harvey Milk at Opera Theatre of St. Louis (2022). She currently lives in Houston, Texas. She married Geoff Hahn on August 27, 2022. |
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Sources:
Dorothy Gal Website & Facebook/LinkedIn profiles
Photo 01: Lynnn Lane; Photos 0264, 0992, 1121, 1321, 1996, 2027, 2166, 2242, 2309, 9958: Jiyang Chen; Photo 02: Babsie Ly; Photo 03: Vicky Pearson
Contributed by Aryeh Oron (February 2023) |
