BIOGRAPHY

Award-winning Mezzo-Soprano, Lorraine Helvick, has been dazzling audiences in North America and across Europe for the past fifteen years. Hailed as a “superb mezzo” (Memos from Maddelena), Ms. Helvick is making a name for herself in the verismo and dramatic repertoire., specializing in the works of Strauss, Verdi, and Wagner. 

 

During the pandemic, Lorraine called upon her skills as an agile artist to thrive in a digital landscape.  She was the solo artist in several self-produced virtual concerts, is completing a virtual role preparation program for Ortrud in Wagner’s Lohengrin, and became the host for New York Dramatic Voices’ "Information Seminars", an online monthly series in which she interviews the best in the business about the business.  Most notably, May 2021 marked her company and role debut as Zweite Norn in Scenic Opera’s inaugural virtual performance of the Götterdämmerung prologue.

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Highlights of the 2019-2020 season include role debuts and company debuts as she sings Fricka in  Manhattan Opera Studio's production of Die Walküre, Laura in scenes from La Gioconda in concert with Manhattan Opera Studio, and her Czech debut as a featured artist of Opernfest Prague.  

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The 2018-2019 season marked her company and role debut singing the Composer in Strauss’ masterwork, Ariadne auf Naxos with Utah Lyric Opera/UVAA. Ms. Helvick will be making a second role debut this season as the Dritte Magde in Strauss’ Elektra as well as a featured  Wagner/Strauss artist with Lorin Maazel Castleton Festival. Other season highlights include concerts in which she will interpret such characters as Octavian from Der Rosenkavalier, Princess de Bouillion from Adriana Lecouvreur, and Adalgisa from Norma with the nonprofit organization, Anthony Laciura Foundation for the Arts, Inc.

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Ms. Helvick utilizes her gripping interpretation to the vast array character she portrays.  Past highlights include Eboli (Don Carlo), Carmen (Carmen), Charlotte (Werther), Frugola (Il Tabarro), Flora (La Traviata), Suzuki (Madama Butterfly), Santuzza and Mama Lucia (Cavalleria Rusticana), Gertrude (Roméo et Juliette), Inez (Il Trovatore), Pinellino (Gianni Schicchi) and Giovanna (Rigoletto).  The 2014-2015 season was highlighted by another role debut of Amneris (Aida) and she originated the role of Soldier’s Mother in the world premiere production of Theo Popov’s three-character opera Once Upon the Wind.

 

Equally at home on the concert stage, Ms. Helvick made her Carnegie Hall debut as a guest solo artist in 2010.  Since then she has been asked to return to Carnegie Hall several times as the guest soloist in such works as Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy and Händel’s Coronation Mass. Other concert highlights are Mahler’s Resurrection Symphony, Brahms’ Zigeunelieder., Berg's Sieben frühe Lieder.

 

Ms. Helvick has also performed as a guest soloist in Switzerland, England, Ireland, Wales, and Canada. During her time in Switzerland, she earned a Zertifikat in American Music specializing in American Spirituals.  She was recently named a national semi-finalist for the New York Lyric Opera Vocal Competition, and finished work on the prize-winning independent film "Crackers" starring Vincent D'Onofrio, Brenda Vaccarro, Dan Hedaya, and Anthony Laciura.

 

Ms. Helvick received her master’s degree from Westminster Choir College, where she studied with celebrated Soprano, Sharon Sweet, and coached with Daniel Beckwith and JJ Penna. During this time, she won 2nd place in the Hilliard Rankel Vocal Competition. She currently studies with the MET’s and HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire” star, Anthony Laciura.