Soprano, Soula Parassidis, combines vocal opulence and exquisite technique to a naturally elegant stage presence which makes her supremely suited to portray the Mozartian heroines.
Ms. Parassidis returns to the stage of Opera Leipzig in 2011/12 for her third season with the company. She will reprise her characterization of Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte, as well as Gretel in Hänsel und Gretel. Role debuts this season include: Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, Jenny in Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny, and cover for Violetta in La Traviata.
In previous seasons at Opera Leipzig, Ms. Parassidis has performed Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Frasquita in Carmen, Woglinde in Das Rheingold, Blumenmädchen in Parsifal, Alceste in Händel’s Admeto, Louise Michel in Nono’s Al gran sole carico d’amore, High Priestess in Aida, and 5th Maid in Elektra. She was cover for Musetta in La Bohème and sang the leading roles of Gretel and Fiordiligi. Ms. Parassidis made her European debut in 2007 at the Berlin Philharmonie as Fiordiligi, a role she performed again on tour in France with the Baroque Ensemble Philidor, and in 2009 she sang Diane in Orphee aux Enfers with the Salzburg Camerata at the prestigious Aix-en-Provence festival.
A frequent presence on the concert stage, Ms. Parassidis has performed at the Rudolfinum in Prague singing Henri Dutilleux’s Correspondances, and at the Attersee Festival with the Saltzburg Orchester Solisten singing Wagner’s Wesendonck Lieder. She was soprano soloist in the World Premiere performance of Schenker’s Alter Mann lost deutsche Frage at Opera Leipzig and sang Villa-Lobos’ Bachianas Brasileras with the Schenberg Symphony Orchestra at the Waldbühne in Berlin.
A native of Vancouver, Ms. Parassidis studied classical flute, speech, and drama before beginning her vocal training at the University of British Columbia and the Vancouver Academy of Music. She completed her formal studies in 2008 with Cheryl Studer at the Hochschule für Musik in Würzburg. She is recipient of numerous prizes and awards, including district and regional prize winner in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, and most recently received a generous grant from Canada Council for the Arts.
Britten |
Mozart |
Donizetti
Bach - Matthäus-Passion, Weihnachtsorat. |
Mozart - Messe in c-Moll, Requiem |
“Nothing but praises to sing for Soula Parassidis, a more than promising young singer. Her timber is beautiful and velvety in all tessituras, her vocal line is conducted with assurance and authority, and her coloratura is tasteful with the right amount of panache. She delivers a "Come Scoglio" full of character before burning up the stage with her tremendous acting skills in the second act. Her rendering of "Per pieta" is sincere, and full of ardent touches. Overall, this production was a great success thanks to the director, and the discovery of Soula Parassidis, a singer we will gladly hear again.”
CLASSIQUE INFO
“Soula Parassidis is brilliant as Fiordiligi - her singing and acting is enchanting.”
MUSIK IN DRESDEN
“Alceste, the most complex character in the drama was sung by Soula Parassidis, a soprano of impressive agility who touchingly followed the figure through the changing moods of loss, sorrow, fury and the desire for revenge.”
OPERA TODAY
“Soula Parassidis sings Alceste with sensitivity and queenly grandeur.”
LEIPZIG ALMANACH
“In her first aria "Liebe Augen", Soula Parassidis sang with luminous, soft pastel colors, which contrasted wonderfully to her great dramatic line in the expressively phrased "Eifersucht, die rasende furie". She never sounded overexerted, but rather sang effortlessly, with abandonment.”
OPERA POINT
“Soula Parassidis is heartbreakingly captivating as Alceste, A.k.a Grace Kelly.”
LEIPZIGER VOLKSZEITUNG
“As Rosalinde, Soula Parassidis had a classy, Nicole Kidman-like carriage, and boased a soprano as sweet as it was strong.”
THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT
“Aix-en-Provence Festival: Soula Parassidis as Diane was entertaining, and full of personality.”
LE MONDE
