Lindsey Participated in Opera Theatre of Saint Louis Online!

“ Make our Garden Grow” from Bernstein's Candide by OTSL/SLSO

Opera Theatre of Saint Louis' 2020 Gerdine Young Artists came together with musicians from the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra under the baton of conductor Gemma New for this stirring virtual rendition of Bernstein's famous chorus.

Originally premiered on Sunday, May 31, 2020 as part of the Arts United STL benefit concert. Credits: Video editing by Vidzu Media Audio mixing by Hugmonster Sound Gemma New, conductor

Albert Herring Reviews

“It’s also where we hear some of the evening’s best voices, with nearly all the supporting roles cast from considerable strength. In particular, soprano Lindsey Reynolds brought a big personality and even bigger instrument to the chirpy schoolteacher Miss Wordsworth.”

-Cameron Kelsall, Bach Track

“In the role of Miss Wordsworth, Lindsey Reynolds’ bubbly demeanor quickly endeared the audience, as heard from her first lines with Gedge and naming her choice for May Queen. Sweet and sensitive, Reynolds was briefly sent crying when Billows gravely referred to Loxford as a Sodom and Gomorrah.

Her beaming expressions returned not long after with Albert’s selection; the later entrance of the committee was humorously accented by Reynolds tossing confetti, much to Albert’s bewilderment. Her presentation of the gifts to Albert saw her stirred as she quickly wrapped her arms around him with a caressing touch before catching herself in the bout of passion. As Wordsworth lamented the missing Albert with Mrs. Herring, Nancy, and Gedge, Reynolds employed a crushed sonority as she joined their texture with a sonorous pianissimo to open the phrase “A grievous torment for a mother’s heart.””

- Logan Martell, Opera Wire

Young opera singers from around the country recently gathered at Miami Beach's Colony Theatre to take part in the Young Patronesses of the Opera/ Florida Grand Opera 30th National Voice Competition. Ten finalists, chosen from among the 34 singers invited, were invited to participate in the final round of the competition. They performed from the opera repertoire with piano accompaniment in a concert in front of an audience and a panel of illustrious judges made up of opera company pro­fessionals from around the country to earn $45,500 in prize monies to further their careers in the field of grand opera. Prizes were awarded in two categories: Senior Young Artist (age 26 to 30) and Junior Young Artist (age 20 to 25).

Judging the competition were: Cory Lippiello, Artistic Administrator, Lyric Opera of Chicago; Philip Pierce, Direc­tor of Artistic Administration, Florida Grand Opera; William Powers, Manag­ing Director, Pittsburgh Opera; and Bri­an Speck, Director, Houston Grand Op­era Studio. All four judges are seasoned professionals with direct involvement in the development of young singers.

Every finalist walked away as a win­ner. Each semifinalist who did not par­ticipate in the final round of the com­petition was awarded a stipend of $300.

The Young Patronesses of the Op­era's nationally renowned Voice Competition was founded in 1972 by one of YPO's founding members, the soprano Mrs. Irene Patti Swartz Hammond, who continued to run it until her death in 2010. The com­mittee is currently run by YPO mem­bers Lucie Spieler, Charlette Seidel, and Danielle Krause under YPO's president, Lise-Marie Wertanzl.