Sarah Gartshore
Soprano
“Sarah Gartshore was delightful in her multiple roles. As Salieri’s overwrought Tonina, Gartshore flounced about, prickly over perceived snubs but fiercely able to pour out the goods when coloratura fireworks were required. As Madame Herz, Mozart’s fading star, she hurled herself into unnecessary virtuoso flights, unfazed by the occasional, hilarious squawk.”
– Chicago Sun-Times
Sarah Gartshore’s eloquent and expansive soprano is quickly catching the attention of both symphonic and opera conductors. Selected as one of Symphony Magazine’s emerging artists, "her exquisitely clear tone weaves an opulent sound that lavishes listeners with beauty." Her performance of excerpts from Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress with the Richmond Symphony inspired the Times-Dispatch to report , “soprano Sarah Gartshore sang the arias with strong characterization, full-bodied tone and unusually clear diction, promising some fine portrayals of Anne Trulove in future productions of this opera.”
Last season, as a Santa Fe Apprentice Artist, Miss Gartshore made her debut with Santa Fe Opera as the First Lady in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte. This summer Miss Gartshore returned to Santa Fe as an Apprentice Artist to cover the roles of Fiordiligi in Mozart’s Così fan tutte and Thalie/La Folie in Rameau’s Platée . The Chicago Sun-Times praised Miss Gartshore as “delightful” in her multiple roles as Madame Herz in Mozart’s Der Schauspieldirektor and Tonina in Salieri’s Prima la Musica, poi le Parole following her recent performances with Jane Glover and Chicago’s Music of the Baroque. Her strong musical and dramatic portrayal of the desperate Magda was a highlight of Chamber Opera Chicago’s recent production of Menotti’s The Consul and she received critical acclaim for her portrayal of Fata Morgana in the Chicago Cultural Center’s production of Prokofiev’s The Love for Three Oranges.
Upcoming engagements of Miss Gartshore include the Te Deum’s of Delalande and Charpentier with Music of the Baroque, Scarlatti’s Su le sponde del Tebro with Chicago Chamber Musicians, and in her sixth appearance with Oak Park's Handel Week Festival where she will perform Galatea in Handel's Acis and Galatea.
Recent performances include Verdi's Requiem with the Muncie Symphony, Messiah with the Richmond and Jacksonville Symphony Orchestras, Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater with Music of the Baroque, Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem and Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 with the Richmond Symphony, and Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 with the West Suburban Symphony in Chicago. She recently debuted as the Countessa Almaviva in a concert reading of Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro with the Northbrook Symphony, and Donna Anna in Don Giovanni with American Opera Group.
Ms. Gartshore can be heard on Merry A Holiday Journey, a recently released CD of selections for Christmas by violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg and friends.