Artist Of The Week: Leah Crocetto Dispatches Vocal Fireworks In ‘The Siege Of Calais’

By Francisco Salazar

Leah Crocetto is known for her work in Verdi’s spinto roles as well as her interpretation of my Puccini operas. She has garnered acclaim in this repertoire and is among the rising stars in the opera world. However, this weekend she steps out of these boundaries and moves into the realm of Bel Canto for her role debut as Eleonora in Donizetti’s “The Siege of Calais” at the Glimmerglass Festival.

Crocetto has always been interested in exploring new challenges and never being pigeonholed into one kind of vocal repertoire. While her voice fits perfectly in the spinto operas, she possesses a vocal flexibility and a blooming high register that is perfect for the works of Donizetti. Her debut this week will give audiences a chance to see her coloratura and high notes. It will also allow her to showcase her acting skills, which have always been one of my her fortes.

“The Siege of Calais” isn’t exactly her first Bel Canto foray as she has previously sang “Semiramide” and “Maometto II.” But audiences have most recently seen her interpret such operas as Verdi’s “Luisa Miller,” “Aida,” Liù in Puccini’s “Turandot” and Donna Anna in Mozart’s “Don Giovanni.”

Ever since winning the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Crocetto has also performed at many of the leading theaters including the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Alice Tully Hall and the Canadian Opera Company.

For those that miss “The Siege of Calais,” Crocetto has an exciting season ahead with her role debut as “Tosca,” Elisabetta in “Don Carlo,” Leonora in “Il Trovatore” and her return to “Aida” in her Seattle Opera debut.

This is an artist who is not to be missed.

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