Described as an “alluring smoky-toned mezzo” by The New York Times, and as “a force of nature” by the Houston Press, Mexican Mezzo-soprano, Sishel Claverie, enjoys a versatile career in opera, musical theater, new music and multidisciplinary collaborations.
This season, Mrs. Claverie will make her debut with
St. Pete Opera in the title role of Bizet’s Carmen. She has performed this iconic role on numerous occasions, most notably with El Paso Opera and the innovative Heartbeat Opera, praised by the New York Times as a “riveting and smoldering Carmen”. Additionally, Mrs. Claverie will return to the Santa Fe Opera this season to serve as stage director for the Santa Fe Opera Young Voices Scenes Showcase.
Recent engagements include Bernstein’s MASS with the National Symphony Orchestra, Renata in the mariachi-opera El Milagro del Recuerdo with San Diego Opera, and Olga in the daring adaptation of Eugene Onegin by Heartbeat Opera.
A champion of new operatic works, Mrs. Claverie has been involved in a number of world premieres, including: the role of Renata in the alternate cast of Houston Grand Opera’s El Milagro del Recuerdo. She created the role of Carmelita in Ted Rosenthal’s jazz-opera, Dear Erich, with the New York City Opera, and the role of Gloria in the video-opera series Everything for Dawn by Experiments in Opera, among others.
Sishel has engaged in a range of multidisciplinary collaborations, including her role as Carmen/Lola in the short film Chinese Laundry, directed by Giorgio Arcelli (Fourth Wall Pictures). She also led Forever IN Between, a multimedia vocal chamber music concert developed as a recipient of the City Artist Corps grant. Additionally, she contributed to the online adaptation of Verdi’s Macbeth, titled Lady M, in collaboration with Heartbeat Opera, which explored innovative uses of video footage and electronic sound design.
Performance highlights include the title role in Piazzolla’s tango-opera Maria de Buenos Aires with Opera in the Heights, Charlotte Malcolm in Sondheim’s A Little Night Music with Alamo City Opera; Daniela in the musical In The Heights, with Skylight Music Theater; and the Baroness and the Old Lady (cover) in New York City Opera’s revival of Candide, directed by Harold Prince.
Ms. Claverie has held residencies with several esteemed companies, including the Santa Fe Opera, Utah Opera, the Britten–Pears Young Artist Programme in Aldeburgh, the Renata Scotto Opera Studio in Rome, and S.I.V.A.M., Mexico's renowned Young Artist Program.
An advocate of opera for the youth, Sishel has participated in more than ten productions specially tailored to children and teenagers, having sung nearly 800 performances.
Mrs. Claverie holds a Bachelor's Degree in Music from the University of Houston and a Master's Degree in Music from Rice University. She currently resides in New York City, with her husband Artie and their two adorable kitties.