Sonja Tengblad

Soprano

Soprano Sonja DuToit Tengblad is a versatile performer with credits spanning the Renaissance era through the most current composers of our time. Recent highlights include Vivaldi's Juditha triumphans devicta Holofernis bolbarie (Abra and Ozias), Monteverdi’s Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria (La Fortuna and Giunone; Grammy-nominated recording with Linn Records), and Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte (First Lady) with Boston Baroque; appearances with the Handel and Haydn Society in Bach’s St. John Passion (soprano soloist), Purcell’s King Arthur (Cupid) and Handel’s Samson (Israelite Woman); Handel’s Acis and Galatea with the Blue Hill Bach Festival (Galatea); Knussen’s Symphony No. 2 for high soprano with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project; and her Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center debuts, both with the New York City Chamber Orchestra. She was awarded second place in the 2014 American Prize competition’s art song and oratorio division.

A champion of new music, Ms. Tengblad curated Modern Dickinson (with Seattle Opera regular Eric Neuville, tenor, and the Austin Chamber Music Festival’s artistic director Michelle Schumann, piano), a program featuring all 21st century settings of Emily Dickinson’s poetry that was named the #3 Best Arts Event in Austin, Texas 2015 and nominated for four Austin Critic’s Table Awards. She has appeared with the Boston Modern Orchestra Project on three occasions (two premieres), and in 2015 premiered Shirish Korde’s Questions for the Moon with members of the Silk Road Ensemble. A highlight for Ms. Tengblad was appearing in a concert celebrating the 80th birthday of composer Dominic Argento (in attendance) for which the Minnesota Star Tribune reported her to have given “the most affective performance of the evening”. This season includes performances with Beat Song – her recital project with percussionist Jonathan Hess – featuring world premieres by Matthew Peterson (ASCAP Nissim Prize winner, 2013) and Emmy award-winning composer Kareem Roustom.

Ms. Tengblad performs with the Grammy-winning ensemble Conspirare out of Austin, Texas; and Boston’s Blue Heron and the Lorelei Ensemble which enjoyed their debut with the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 2017. Recent highlights include Caccini’s Alcina with the Boston Early Music Festival, Handel’s Messiah with the Rhode Island Philharmonic, Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea (Drusilla, Fortuna) and Handel’s Jephtha (Angel) with Boston Baroque, Monteverdi’s Dido and Aeneas (2nd Woman) with the Handel and Haydn Society, national tours of Considering Matthew Shepard with Conspirare, as well as Debussy and Puccini with the Lorelei Ensemble and the Boston Symphony Orchestra.

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