“Both strong of technique and elegant of presence.” (New City Stage) “ A particular highlight” (Operawire) Mezzo-Soprano, Jessica Gonzalez-Rodriguez is a dynamic and well seasoned performer. An alumnus of the 2021-2022 Opera Santa Barbara Chrisman Studio Artist program, she has gained extensive performance experience throughout the United States, the Czech Republic and Vienna, Austria, in roles such as "Toypurina," “Frida Kahlo,” “Marcellina,” “Prince Orlofsky,” “Mercedes” and “Orfeo.”
This artist is accepting inquiries via Stagetime message and Email.
I'll be covering the role of "Toypurina" in Hector Armienta's Zorro. Performances will be at the California Theatre in Sna Jose, CA.
Commissioned and performed by Quinteto Latino, composer Carla Lucero's opera chronicles the life and work of legendary Chicanx leader and LGBTQ+ activist, Olga Talamante. The opera explores her journey from working the garlic fields as a child in Gilroy, California, to her decades of activism in the US, Mexico, and in Argentina, where she became a political prisoner. Ultimately, Olga frees herself from the psychological hold of her captors and releases her heart from 40 years of suppressing the memories of violence perpetrated against her. She finally finds peace, and in the process of healing, the love of her life, Vola. Soprano Aléxa Anderson, tenor Eric Levintow, and mezzo-soprano Jessica Gonzalez-Rodriguez make up the cast for the premiere of this important work.
The Opera Buffs is thrilled to reinstate their seasonal Concert Opera with orchestra! On June 9th, we will present the American classic opera, The Ballad of Baby Doe by Douglas Moore, conducted by Brent McMunn, featuring Graycen Gardner as Baby Doe, Ben Lowe as Horace Taber, Audrey Babcock as Augusta Taber, Erin Wood as Mama McCourt, along with other Opera Buffs' singers. A rags-to-riches love story about real-life characters in 19th-century Colorado, the opera’s simple expressions of human emotions and universal truths have inspired audiences around the world.
I'll be covering the role of "Jezibaba" in Pacific Opera Project's production of Rusalka at Descanso Gardens, in Los Angeles, CA.
I'll be a featured soloist in the August Concert with Opera Wednesdays, presenting a selection of opera arias and musical theatre.
I'll be performing the role of "Narrator/Fairy Godmother in Pacific Opera Project's "Cinderella Story." West Hollywood's "Free Theatre in the Parks" series with a musical revue of beloved opera and musical theatre tunes telling the story of Cinderella!
I will be the Mezzo-Soprano soloist for the Opera in Schools program with the Palm Springs Opera Guild from June 1st-8th, 2023. We will be presenting a program for elementary age students throughout the Coachella Valley School District to teach them about the basics of Opera.
Ms. Gonzalez-Rodriguez, Mexican-American Mezzo-Soprano, is known for her “Both strong of technique and elegant of presence.” (New City Stage) “ A particular highlight” (Operawire). Ms. Gonzalez-Rodriguez recently made her Carnegie Hall debut performing selections from Carmen and Madama Butterfly with the Vincerò Academy. She was a semi-finalist in the 2022 Loren L. Zachary competition and is a multiple Opera Buffs grant recipient. She made her Opera Santa Barbara mainstage debut in October of 2021 as Renata in Cruzar la cara de la Luna and reprised her role in October of 2023, in collaboration with the Grupo de Danza Folklorico Quetzacoatl. Ms. Gonzalez-Rodriguez is an alumnus of the 2021-2022 Chrisman Studio Artist program with Opera Santa Barbara and most recently stepped in to cover the role of Gertrude in Roméo et Juliette with Opera San Jose. She will be returning to Opera Santa Barbara for the 2023-2024 season as Renata (Cruzar la cara de la Luna) and as Toypurina (Zorro).
Highlight engagements include the role of Grimgerde in Die Walküre with the Dramatic Voices Program in Berlin, Germany, Tina in La Muerte with Opera Cultura, Gertrude in Roméo et Juliette with the Lyric Opera of Orange County, Marcellina in Le Nozze di Figaro with the 2021 International Summer Opera Festival of Morelia, where she studied with superstar Soprano, Jennifer Rowley, Eufemia in Bizet’s Don Procopio with Pacific Opera Project, Frida Kahlo in Frida with the 2019 Opera Steamboat Summer Intensive.
Recent engagements include the Palm Springs Opera Guild 2022-2023 Season Opening Concert, LA Opera Connects Pelléas et Mélisande Opera For Educators, Susan (Company), Prince Orlofsky (Die Fledermaus), Edka cover (Two Remain), Dater #9 (Speed Dating Tonight), La Seconda Cercatrice (Suor Angelica, Virtual Production), The Abbess (Suor Angelica), Mercedes (Carmen), Orfeo (Orfeo ed Euridice), La Ciesca (Gianni Schicchi), Hansel (Hansel und Gretel), Olga (The Merry Widow). She has sung the roles of Peggy in Lee Hoiby’s This is the Rill Speaking, Suor Dolcina in Suor Angelica, the Third Witch in Verdi’s Macbeth, Antonia’s Mother and Nicklausse in The Tales of Hoffman. She performed the role of Nancy in Albert Herring as part of the LA Opera Britten/100 celebration with the Repertory Opera Company. She made her Chicago debut in the 2015 Chicago Summer Opera Program, in the role of Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Her New York City debut was in the role of Hansel with the Manhattan Opera Studio in New York, as part of their summer 2016 program. She can also be seen, as a singing student in Nickelodeon’s “Parental Discretion, Episode-Singing School.” She was a recipient of the 2023 Aria Bootcamp John and Nicky Scholarship, the 2023 Dramatic Voices Program Berlin, 2021 International Summer Music Festival of Morelia, the 2019 Vienna Summer Music Festival, the 2019 Opera Steamboat Summer Intensive and the 2018 Prague Summer Nights Festival.
She was awarded the Charles Hubbard Friends of Music Scholarship for graduate studies, as well as a Mary’s Day Excellence in Music Award for the 2007-2008 school year. Jessica holds a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance from Mount Saint Mary’s College and a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from California State University, Los Angeles. She studied Italian as part of the 2007 Richmond in Rome studyabroad program. After graduating, she participated in the Santa Monica College opera scenes program and was featured as Aurora in Doña Francisquita, Sesto in Giulio Cesare, covered the role of Dorabella in Così fan tutte, Hansel in Hansel and Gretel and Octavian in Der Rosenkavalier. She also has been a professional dancer since the age of four and is currently a member of Kamala Almanzar’s Dance Collective bellydance troupe. For the past seven seasons she has been a volunteer Community Educator with LA Opera giving opera talks, on behalf of the company, at various school, libraries, senior and community center’s. She coaches with Douglas Sumi, Lucy Tucker Yates, and studies voice under Reid Bruton.
“Both strong of technique and elegant of presence.” (New City Stage) “ A particular highlight” (Operawire) Mezzo-Soprano, Jessica Gonzalez-Rodriguez is a dynamic and well seasoned performer. An alumnus of the 2021-2022 Opera Santa Barbara Chrisman Studio Artist program, she has gained extensive performance experience throughout the United States, the Czech Republic and Vienna, Austria, in roles such as "Toypurina," “Frida Kahlo,” “Marcellina,” “Prince Orlofsky,” “Mercedes” and “Orfeo.”
This artist is accepting inquiries via Stagetime message and Email.
I'll be covering the role of "Toypurina" in Hector Armienta's Zorro. Performances will be at the California Theatre in Sna Jose, CA.
Commissioned and performed by Quinteto Latino, composer Carla Lucero's opera chronicles the life and work of legendary Chicanx leader and LGBTQ+ activist, Olga Talamante. The opera explores her journey from working the garlic fields as a child in Gilroy, California, to her decades of activism in the US, Mexico, and in Argentina, where she became a political prisoner. Ultimately, Olga frees herself from the psychological hold of her captors and releases her heart from 40 years of suppressing the memories of violence perpetrated against her. She finally finds peace, and in the process of healing, the love of her life, Vola. Soprano Aléxa Anderson, tenor Eric Levintow, and mezzo-soprano Jessica Gonzalez-Rodriguez make up the cast for the premiere of this important work.
The Opera Buffs is thrilled to reinstate their seasonal Concert Opera with orchestra! On June 9th, we will present the American classic opera, The Ballad of Baby Doe by Douglas Moore, conducted by Brent McMunn, featuring Graycen Gardner as Baby Doe, Ben Lowe as Horace Taber, Audrey Babcock as Augusta Taber, Erin Wood as Mama McCourt, along with other Opera Buffs' singers. A rags-to-riches love story about real-life characters in 19th-century Colorado, the opera’s simple expressions of human emotions and universal truths have inspired audiences around the world.
I'll be covering the role of "Jezibaba" in Pacific Opera Project's production of Rusalka at Descanso Gardens, in Los Angeles, CA.
I'll be a featured soloist in the August Concert with Opera Wednesdays, presenting a selection of opera arias and musical theatre.
I'll be performing the role of "Narrator/Fairy Godmother in Pacific Opera Project's "Cinderella Story." West Hollywood's "Free Theatre in the Parks" series with a musical revue of beloved opera and musical theatre tunes telling the story of Cinderella!
I will be the Mezzo-Soprano soloist for the Opera in Schools program with the Palm Springs Opera Guild from June 1st-8th, 2023. We will be presenting a program for elementary age students throughout the Coachella Valley School District to teach them about the basics of Opera.
Ms. Gonzalez-Rodriguez, Mexican-American Mezzo-Soprano, is known for her “Both strong of technique and elegant of presence.” (New City Stage) “ A particular highlight” (Operawire). Ms. Gonzalez-Rodriguez recently made her Carnegie Hall debut performing selections from Carmen and Madama Butterfly with the Vincerò Academy. She was a semi-finalist in the 2022 Loren L. Zachary competition and is a multiple Opera Buffs grant recipient. She made her Opera Santa Barbara mainstage debut in October of 2021 as Renata in Cruzar la cara de la Luna and reprised her role in October of 2023, in collaboration with the Grupo de Danza Folklorico Quetzacoatl. Ms. Gonzalez-Rodriguez is an alumnus of the 2021-2022 Chrisman Studio Artist program with Opera Santa Barbara and most recently stepped in to cover the role of Gertrude in Roméo et Juliette with Opera San Jose. She will be returning to Opera Santa Barbara for the 2023-2024 season as Renata (Cruzar la cara de la Luna) and as Toypurina (Zorro).
Highlight engagements include the role of Grimgerde in Die Walküre with the Dramatic Voices Program in Berlin, Germany, Tina in La Muerte with Opera Cultura, Gertrude in Roméo et Juliette with the Lyric Opera of Orange County, Marcellina in Le Nozze di Figaro with the 2021 International Summer Opera Festival of Morelia, where she studied with superstar Soprano, Jennifer Rowley, Eufemia in Bizet’s Don Procopio with Pacific Opera Project, Frida Kahlo in Frida with the 2019 Opera Steamboat Summer Intensive.
Recent engagements include the Palm Springs Opera Guild 2022-2023 Season Opening Concert, LA Opera Connects Pelléas et Mélisande Opera For Educators, Susan (Company), Prince Orlofsky (Die Fledermaus), Edka cover (Two Remain), Dater #9 (Speed Dating Tonight), La Seconda Cercatrice (Suor Angelica, Virtual Production), The Abbess (Suor Angelica), Mercedes (Carmen), Orfeo (Orfeo ed Euridice), La Ciesca (Gianni Schicchi), Hansel (Hansel und Gretel), Olga (The Merry Widow). She has sung the roles of Peggy in Lee Hoiby’s This is the Rill Speaking, Suor Dolcina in Suor Angelica, the Third Witch in Verdi’s Macbeth, Antonia’s Mother and Nicklausse in The Tales of Hoffman. She performed the role of Nancy in Albert Herring as part of the LA Opera Britten/100 celebration with the Repertory Opera Company. She made her Chicago debut in the 2015 Chicago Summer Opera Program, in the role of Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Her New York City debut was in the role of Hansel with the Manhattan Opera Studio in New York, as part of their summer 2016 program. She can also be seen, as a singing student in Nickelodeon’s “Parental Discretion, Episode-Singing School.” She was a recipient of the 2023 Aria Bootcamp John and Nicky Scholarship, the 2023 Dramatic Voices Program Berlin, 2021 International Summer Music Festival of Morelia, the 2019 Vienna Summer Music Festival, the 2019 Opera Steamboat Summer Intensive and the 2018 Prague Summer Nights Festival.
She was awarded the Charles Hubbard Friends of Music Scholarship for graduate studies, as well as a Mary’s Day Excellence in Music Award for the 2007-2008 school year. Jessica holds a Bachelor of Arts in Vocal Performance from Mount Saint Mary’s College and a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from California State University, Los Angeles. She studied Italian as part of the 2007 Richmond in Rome studyabroad program. After graduating, she participated in the Santa Monica College opera scenes program and was featured as Aurora in Doña Francisquita, Sesto in Giulio Cesare, covered the role of Dorabella in Così fan tutte, Hansel in Hansel and Gretel and Octavian in Der Rosenkavalier. She also has been a professional dancer since the age of four and is currently a member of Kamala Almanzar’s Dance Collective bellydance troupe. For the past seven seasons she has been a volunteer Community Educator with LA Opera giving opera talks, on behalf of the company, at various school, libraries, senior and community center’s. She coaches with Douglas Sumi, Lucy Tucker Yates, and studies voice under Reid Bruton.
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