News

New Videos with Catherine Swanson
Excerpts from the duo program for harp and soprano "Arpa gentil" at the Stuttgart State Opera have been filmed and are now available for online viewing. Excerpt from a review: "...Her technique is brilliant, her intonation immaculate. Whether she interprets a forlorn Verdi aria, songs of Robert Schumann or the virtuoso songs of Richard Strauss, one always feels caught up in the maelstrom of her expressiveness..." To the videos

Invitation from the International Hugo Wolf Academy
The International Hugo Wolf Academy invited Catherine Swanson to sing a recital for the German Literature Archive on May 6th with the theme "German Spirit - an American Dream". She was accompanied by prize-winning pianist Olivia Trummer. The international invited guests were delighted to hear songs by Kurt Weill and Charles Ives.

Song and Aria Recital "Arpa gentil" at the Stuttgart State Opera
On March 24th, Catherine Swanson sang the premiere of her new song and aria recital "Arpa gentil" to a sold-out house at the Stuttgart State Opera. Together with the harpist Frederike Wagner, she performed harp arias of Rossini Verdi, Bellini and Donizetti, as well as songs by Schumann, Fauré and Richard Strauss. Additional concerts are planned. More information
Videoclips "Arpa Gentil"

Premieres in 2010
Several premieres are planned for Catherine Swanson at the beginning of 2010: The first performance of her duo programm "Arpa gentil" at the Stuttgart State Opera, with several concerts following in southern Germany, a first recital collaboration with the pianist Olivia Trummer for the International Hugo Wolf Academy, as well as sacred concerts as soprano soloist in Dvorak's D-Major Mass and Mendelssohn's Psalm 42 "As the hart longs for flowing streams".

Advent and Christmas in the Baroque city of Ludwigsburg
Following her maternity leave in 2009, Catherine Swanson performed during Advent and Christmas in the Baroque city of Ludwigsburg: A solo concert with the title "Ave Maria - Marianische Gesänge" with pieces by Mendelssohn, Mozart, Schubert, Saint-Saens, Puccini and Verdi on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception (December 8th) and, on December 25th, as soprano soloist in Mozart's "Sparrow Mass".

New Webpage "LIED"
Catherine Swanson is increasingly in demand as a recitalist of Art Songs. You can read more about her current programs, as well as detailed press reviews on the new webpage entitled "LIED". Several new and interesting recitals are coming up in 2009-2010, including "Vergiftet sind meine Lieder - Heinrich Heine in Word and Song", with works by Liszt, Mendelssohn, Wolf, Schumann and Brahms. To the Webpage "Lied"

3 new CD Recordings featuring Catherine Swanson in 2008
After the releases of G.P.Telemann's "St. John's Passion 1745" and J.N.Hummel's "The Passage through the Red Sea", a third Live-CD recording featuring Catherine Swanson as Soprano-Soloist has been produced in 2008: "Miriam's Song of Victory" by Franz Schubert and Ludwig van Beethoven's "Fantasy Op. 80" under the direction of Dr. Beat Raaflaub with Collegium Musicum Basel.

Catherine Swanson returns to the Stuttgart State Opera
The Stuttgart State Opera invited Catherine Swanson to return for another production, this time as Rychtarka in Calixto Bieto's production of Jancek's "Jenufa".

PRESS REVIEWS
"Accurate, supple, and with great dynamic flexibility describes the performance of Catherine Swanson, whose clear, luminous soprano has become more voluminous and expressive. In the higher registers she fascinates with controlled dramatic augmentation... The large audience was delighted by Catherine Swanson’s magnificent coloratura in the final three compositions -- a perfect and heartily applauded musical lark."
Basler Zeitung

"Catherine Swanson's soprano has a particular charm, being equipped with an individual colour and beautiful, natural timbre... a voice carried by much warmth and fullness, which has an extremely pleasant, gorgeously introverted tone."
Westfalen Blatt

"...Her technique is brilliant, her intonation immaculate. Whether she interprets a forlorn Verdi aria, songs of Robert Schumann or the virtuoso songs of Richard Strauss, one always feels caught up in the maelstrom of her expressiveness..."
Südkurier

"The voice of Catherine Swanson is well-placed, impressive in its wonderful vocal quality and perfect intonation. The listeners were extremely enthusiastic about the programme selection and high standard of interpretation, expressing their gratitude with long rounds of applause."
Ludwigsburger Tageblatt

"The soprano, this magnificent instrument, amalgamated her own part in somnambulistic certainty with the tones of the orchestra, but found enough opportunity to demonstrate independence. A pleasant, expressive and carrying voice restored this Telemann to soaring flight."
Letter to the editor, Stuttgart

"Of the soloists shone... the soprano Catherine Swanson. She exercised the art of shaping the finely composed effects. "
Stuttgarter Zeitung