Artist of the Week: Regula Mühlemann

Swiss Soprano Returns to Salzburg for Handel’s Oratorio

By Francisco Salazar
(Credit: © Wiener Staatsoper/Taylor)

This week the Salzburg Festival continues in full swing with a new production of Händel’s oratorio “Il trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno.” The production is a revival from the Salzburg Whitsun Festival, which premiered to great acclaim and brings together the same cast from that very festival, with one exception.

This time Regula Mühlemann will take on the role of Bellezza.

The role will be a new one for the Swiss soprano and will see a return for Mühlemann to the Salzburg Festival where she debuted in 2012 and has appeared regularly in concert. She was slated to perform in a 2020 production of “Die Zauberflöte” but was canceled due to the COVID-19 crisis.

Mühlemann is perhaps best-known for her Mozart interpretations in such works as “Die Zauberflöte,” “La finta giardiniera,” “Così fan tutte,” “The Abduction of the Seraglio,” and “Le Nozze di Figaro” as well her German repertoire. However, she has also sung Bel Canto in such works as “L’Elisir d’Amore” and dedicated a full album to baroque works. With this Händel oratorio, audiences will get to see the soprano taking on one of her first Handel works.

Born in Switzerland, the soprano has performed at the Lucerne Theatre, the Teatro alla Scala, Opernhaus Zurich, Salzburg Easter Festival, Wiener Staatsoper, Baden-Baden Festival and Berlin State Opera. at the Berlin State Opera. She is also sought after for concert performances and has appeared in Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, and Italy. She is also an exclusive recording artist for Sony Classical and she made her film debut as Ännchen in “Hunter’s Bride.”

For audiences not in Salzburg this summer, Mühlemann returns to the Wiener Staatsoper for “Le Nozze di Figaro” in the fall and will also perform at the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in 2022.

Recordings 

For audiences not familiar with the artist, the soprano has three albums on Sony Classical including a Mozart recording, a Cleopatra album, and a Lieder album. She also has a concert with Sonya Yoncheva and complete recordings of “La Clemenza di Tito” and “Die Zauberflöte” with Rolando Villazon. She is also on a DVD of “L’Elisir d’Amore.”

Here are some clips of the soprano:

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