Cuban-American soprano Betsy Diaz has already been praised as, "one of the most promising singers of her generation" by Daniel Fernandez of El Nuevo Herald. Ms. Diaz was recently seen with the Symphony of the Americas in Hispanic Heritage: An evening of Zarzuelas where Lawrence Budmen from Fort Lauderdale conex stated "Betsy Diaz exuded Cuban soul and fervent emotion in the title arias from two of Lecuona's zarzuela classics Rosa la China and Maria la O, winning cheers from an enthusiastic audience." In April of 2012, Ms. Diaz performed with the Miami Symphony Orchestra "displaying one of the most powerful voices of the evening, [with a] richness in lower registers and thrilling upper end … matched by a believability in Il est doux, il est bon from Massenet's Hérodiade." Ms. Diaz was a Regional Finalist at the Metropolitan National Council Auditions in 2011. In early 2010 Ms. Diaz was seen with the Marilyn Horne Foundation in the four day "The Song Continues…" festival of master classes at Carnegie Hall. In the summer of 2009, Ms. Diaz was a resident artist at the prestigious Music Academy of the West under the guidance of Marilyn Horne. In the summer of 2010 she returned to the Academy where she covered the role of Donna Anna in Mozart's Don Giovanni. During the 2009-2010 season, Ms. Diaz was with Palm Beach Opera as a Resident Artist. Assignments for the season included study cover for Desdemona in Verdi's Otello, Donna Anna in Mozart's Don Giovanni, and Micaela in Bizet's Carmen. Ms. Diaz also performed the following roles in the Opera in an Hour series: Fiordiligi in Mozart's Cosi Fan Tutte and Amore in Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice. In addition she sang Micaela in Bizet's Carmen for the abridged 90-minute Family Opera Matinee; complete with full orchestra, scenery, and chorus. In 2008, while taking part in the Montserrat Caballe International Voice Competition, Ms. Diaz was chosen to take part in master classes with soprano Montserrat Caballe. After taking part in the first master class, she was personally invited by Ms. Caballe to sing in a Commemoration Concert in honor of Puccini. Ms. Caballe hailed Ms. Diaz as a "young and upcoming soprano", while the Heraldo de Aragon said, "the American Soprano Betsy Diaz, who has not yet reached the age of 20, proved that she can become, with form and maturity, a grand dramatic soprano." Later on that year, Ms. Diaz made her Adrienne Arsht Center debut singing La Romanza de Rosa la China in the "Zarzuela Tonight!" concert with the Concert Association of Florida. Once again, El Nuevo Herald recognized Ms. Diaz's performance as an "extraordinary tour de force- shining with promise". Ms. Diaz resides in Miami, Florida where she studies with Manny Perez. |