Elizabeth Whitehouse
Short-biography
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Born in Australia, Elizabeth Whitehouse began her professional career in
1998 in Darmstadt, and from 1991 – 1996 she was a member of the ensemble
of the Städtische Bühnen Nürnberg. During this period she sang many roles,
including Donna Elvira, Donna Anna, Madame Butterfly, Manon Lescaut,
Agathe, Lulu, Marie (Wozzeck), Katya Kabanova, Senta and Tosca.
Since 1996, Elizabeth Whitehouse has been a freelance artist, working
in renowned opera houses and important festivals. She has appeared often
at La Scala, Milan, San Francisco, Tokyo, Frankfurt, Paris, Vienna,
Edinburgh, Florence, Venice, Genova, Turin, Bologna, Palermo, Tel Aviv,
Salzburg, Madrid, Munich and Geneva. She has worked with numerous distinguished
conductors such as Zubin Mehta, Riccardo Muti, Sir Simon Rattle, Marcello
Viotti, Peter Schneider, Michel Plasson, Jeffrey Tate, Simone Young,
Markus Stenz, Armin Jordan, Christian Thielemann, Franz Welser-Möst,
Richard Bonynge and Richard Hickox.
Her broad repertoire encompasses Italian, German, Slav, Russian and
English opera literature. She moves with ease between the „lyrico spinto“
and „dramatic“ repertoire and has a great affinity with the romantic
epoch and music of the 20th century.
In 1998, Elizabeth Whitehouse made her debut at La Scala, Milan, in
the opening premiere of the season, singing Gutrune (Götterdämmerung) under the baton of Riccardo Muti, and repeated her success there as
Leonore (Fidelio), Ellen Orford (Peter Grimes) and the Marschallin
(Rosenkavalier).
In 1999 and 2000 she thrilled audiences at the Bregenz Festival as Amelia
(Masked Ball) under the musical direction of Marcello Viotti. She was invited
to perform Fedora with Placido Domingo at his 30th Stage Anniversary in
San Francisco. Following this, she was enthusiastically received in Tel
Aviv as Leonore (Fidelio) with Zubin Mehta conducting, made her debut in
Turin in the roles of Countess (Cappricio) then Elsa (Lohengrin), as Ariadne in Venice, and at the Maggio Musicale, Florence as Leonore
(Fidelio).
Elizabeth Whitehouse has a special attachment to her Australian roots,
and returns to sing in Australia regularly. For her interpretation of Senta and Lady
Macbeth from Msensk she received the„Mo Award“ as „Best Female
Performer of the Year“, in the Annual Australian Entertainment Awards;
the „Robert Helpman Award“ as „Best Female Performer of the Year“, for
Lady Macbeth from Msensk, as well as numerous „Green Room Awards“ for her
performances of the Marshallin, Manon Lescaut and Senta.
Apart from her opera engagements, Elizabeth Whitehouse has also devoted
her time intensively to concerts, performing in Vienna, Munich, Paris,
Toulouse, Hamburg, Madrid, Dresden, Prague, Salzburg, Sydney, Melbourne,
Sao Paulo and Ljubljana, to mention a few. A special highlight in her career,
was her participation as Tove, in the Gurrelieder, at Sir Simon Rattle’s
initial concert as Chief Conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic, at the opening
of the Berlin Festival.
Described as a „stage animal“, the artistry of Elizabeth Whitehouse is
characterised and acclaimed by critics and audiences alike, for her extraordinary
richness of colour, warm luminous timbre and penetrating musical expression,
combined with mesmerising stage presence and exceptional acting abilities.
A critic once wrote „her star would shine in a sulphur mine“.
She commenced her musical education at the Conservatorium of Music in Sydney
with Prof. Marianne Mathy, and later on with Henri Portnoj, and continued
her studies in Vienna, at the Vienna Highschool for Music and the Performing
Arts (Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst), as well as privately
with Prof. Ruthilde Boesch. The decisive breakthrough was achieved through
her studies with opera singer and singing pedagogue, Martino Stamos.
Elizabeth Whitehouse recently released her first solo CD „Believe in Love“
under the „Melba“ label, receiving stunning reviews from the international
press.