Hilary Ginther
Mezzo Soprano
"...most notable was Hilary Ginther as Anne Boleyn: from the moment she stepped on-stage, she embodied Anne Boleyn's every dramatic beat with pitch-perfect conviction, and her voice proved both tender and powerful: her Act II aria where she contemplates how Henry is considering making her his new queen very nearly stopped the show, and was one of the highlights of the evening."
-Arturo Fernandez, Schmopera
Hilary Ginther's 2023-2024 season begins with a return to Virginia Opera and one of her signature roles, Rosina in IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA, followed by another return to Musica Viva Hong Kong as Giovanna Seymour in Donizetti's ANNA BOLENA. In the winter of 2024 she will reprise the role of Olga in a remount of Rosetta Cucchi's production of EUGENE ONEGIN at Opera Columbus, and in the spring she will create the role of Sara (reimagined Sarastro) in Opera Columbus' take on a Mozart favorite called A MAGIC FLUTE EXPERIENCE: THE TEMPLE. Her season concludes with her second summer at Central City Opera as Emma Jones in Kurt Weill's STREET SCENE.
Recently, Ms. Ginther performed with Central City Opera in her company debut as Emilia in Rossini's OTELLO in the summer of 2023, made bel canto role debuts as Elisabetta in Donizetti's MARIA STUARDA and Adalgisa in Bellini's NORMA both with Musica Viva Hong Kong, performed the roles of Maddalena in RIGOLETTO with Opera Columbus, Olga in EUGENE ONEGIN with Opera Omaha, Joan of Arc in Tchaikovsky's THE MAID OF ORLÉANS with New Orleans Opera, and was seen in concert with Opera Omaha in scenes from CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA as Santuzza and DON CARLOS as Éboli. Other recent engagements include Rosina with Opera on the James, Fargo Moorhead Opera, and Florida Grand Opera, BEETHOVEN'S 9TH SYMPHONY in Santa Fe under the baton of Maestro Joe Illick, and Anne Boleyn in Saint-Saëns' HENRY VIII with Odyssey Opera.
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
Central City Opera
JULY 15-AUGUST 6
2023
OTELLO
(ROSSINI)
EMILIA
IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA
(ROSSINI)
ROSINA
Virginia Opera
NOVEMBER 3-19
2023
ANNA BOLENA
(DONIZETTI)
GIOVANNA SEYMOUR
Musica Viva Hong Kong
DECEMBER 8-10
2023
EUGENE ONEGIN
(TCHAIKOVSKY)
OLGA
Opera Columbus
MARCH 1 & 2
2024
Opera Columbus
APRIL 19-28
2024
A MAGIC FLUTE EXPERIENCE: THE TEMPLE
(MOZART)
SARA (SARASTRO REIMAGINED)
STREET SCENE
(WEILL)
EMMA JONES
Central City Opera
JULY 15-AUGUST 6
2024
"The mezzo-soprano's darkly projected voice conveyed Anne's ambition to become queen, but her melting lyricism in her Act 3 duet with Chioldi suggested that her character actually loved Henry." - Boston Classical Review
WATCH AND LISTEN
Confrontation scene from MARIA STUARDA with Musica Viva Hong Kong 2022. Hilary Ginther (Elisabetta), Meryl Dominguez (Maria)
Hilary sings the leading role of JOAN OF ARC in Tchaikovsky's THE MAID OF ORLEANS with New Orleans Opera in February of 2020.
Elisabetta's entrance aria cabaletta from Donizetti's MARIA STUARDA,
"Ah! dal ciel discenda un raggio"
Odyssey Opera welcomed Hilary for her company debut in 2019 as ANNE BOLEYN in Saint-Saëns' rarely performed HENRY VIII.
Making her international debut as ADALGISA in Bellini's NORMA with Musica Viva Hong Kong in July of 2021.
HIlary has been profiled by Opera Now magazine as one of ten young American singers intent on taking the opera world by storm...
A royal performance as Elisabetta in Donizetti's Maria Stuarda in Hong Kong
"As Elisabetta, mezzo-soprano Hilary Ginther (a stunning Adalgisa in MusicaViva’s Norma last year), is the kind of performer that lights up a stage even before she has even opened her mouth, and when she does, she delivers top-notch singing. With her warm timbre and earthy tessiture, she was reminiscent of both a young Agnes Baltsa and Huguette Tourangeau. Ginther also possesses an impressive evenness throughout the registers, not to mention sensational clarion high notes that soar at will over the ensemble. In a silvery-white gown and glittering ruff (designed by Andrew Cheung), she looked and sounded every inch a queen."
Odyssey Opera releases recording of live performance of Henry VIII by Saint-Saëns
Ms. Ginther's portrayal of Anne Boleyn was met with great acclaim amongst this star-studded cast. The recording from the 2019 performance was recently released and can be purchased digitally or as a 4 disc CD booklet with libretto, translation, history of the piece, performer biographies, and production photos.
.jpeg)
Olga in Eugene Onegin at Opera Omaha
"Hilary Ginther's portrayal of Olga skillfully balanced the charm and tragedy of the character. Her luxurious mezzo-soprano savor ornamented the texture of the ensemble cast just like a favorite Christmas ornament."
"Tatyana's sister [Olga] played by mezzo-soprano, Hilary Ginther, is flirtatious and girlish as the self-absorbed younger sister, decadent yet coyly engaging at the social gatherings she attends."
Hilary triumphs as Adalgisa in Hong Kong
"...it was Dominguez and Ginther’s duets that were arguably the highlights of the evening: the pair’s relative youth added a lightness well-suited to who the characters actually are. Both were likable, and hence believable."
"As the heaven-inspired peasant girl Joan of Arc, Hilary Ginther commanded the stage all the way from her angelic inspiration through triumphs, soul-wrenching romance, crushing tragedy, and divine enlightenment to her ultimate immolation. This tiny but mighty mezzo Maid filled Mahalia’s huge house with the glory of her prophecy, prayers, spiritual anguish, religious fervor, heroic valor, tender love, and martyrdom...I swear it was a tour de force, a true epiphany. I hope Joan of Arc can become this incredible artist’s signature role, and other opera companies should sign Hilary for many more productions of this masterpiece."
PRESS PAGE