Sydney Soprano Anita
Watson recently graduated with honours from the Australian Opera Studio,
Perth. She also graduated from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in 2002,
with a Bachelor of Music (Performance), receiving the Geoffrey Rothwell and
Helen Myers scholarships for her achievements.
Anita made her debut for
the Australian Opera Studio performing the title role in Handel’s Xerxes.
Subsequently, she has performed Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, Gretel,
Sandmännchen and Taumännchen in Hänsel und Gretel, Ida in Die
Fledermaus, Cleopatra in Giulio Cesare, Lucia in The Rape of
Lucretia, Pedro in Don Quichotte, Susanna in Le Nozze di
Figaro, Micaela in Carmen, and most recently the role of Najade
in Strauss’s Ariadne Auf Naxos in July 2005.
Anita performed the role
of Dido in the Sydney Conservatorium’s 2001 production of Purcell’s Dido
and Aeneas, which was broadcast on ABC Classic FM. In 2004 she also
performed for ABC Classic FM in a broadcast of Cabaret Classique.
As a soloist in oratorio,
Anita has performed in Carmina Burana, African Sanctus, the
Rutter Magnificat, Mozart’s Requiem, Tippet’s A Child
of our Time, the Fauré Requiem, Mozart’s Vesperae
Solennes de Confessore, Handel’s Messiah, and Gounod’s
Redemption.
Anita also performed the
role of Firenza for the Studio’s Schools Opera, Dryblower and the Water
Girl by Iain Graindage. Anita has presented numerous recitals; her most
recent entitled “Night and Day”, and has appeared in concert in the USA,
Austria, Germany, Japan, Hungary, China and the United Kingdom.
Anita won the
prestigious Opera Foundation's German Operatic Award in 2005 and this takes
her to the Cologne Opera Studio. Shortly before taking up her contract in
2006, she will be attending the Israel Vocal Arts Institute Summer Program,
an opportunity provided by the Nelly Apt Scholarship.
- Portrait of Anita Watson
- by artist
- Kathrin Longhurst
For Anita's
testimonial,
click here.
