Mezzo Soprano
A former member of the International Opera Studio at Opernhaus Zürich and Salzburger Festspiele Young Artist Project, Estonian mezzo-soprano Dara Savinova has rapidly raised her international profile in recent seasons. She is praised for her brilliant mezzo-coloraturas, enchanting stage presence and meticulous diction. She won the first prize at the José Carreras Grand Prix 2021 in Moscow. In 2019 she became finalist and got special prize at the International Singing Competition CLIP in Portofino.
Her recent highlights include a role debut as Angelina La Cenerentola at Royal Swedish Opera, Ozias Juditha Triumphans at Théâtre du Champs-Elysées and Eudossa Irene at Theater an der Wien. She intrigues audiences in the title role of Carmen, one of her signature roles since Jean-Christophe Spinosi invited her for her debut on a tour in France, Spain and Russia.
The 2021/22 season included St. Matthew Passion in France with Leonardo García Alarcón, Bach’s B Minor Mass with the Gulbenkian Orchestra and Choir in Lisbon, Cherubino Le Nozze di Figaro at Stadttheater Klagenfurt and Staatstheater Hannover, Komponist Ariadne auf Naxos at Landestheater Detmold and Elisa in Bononcini’s Astarto with Innsbrucker Festwochen der Alten Musik.
In previous seasons she performed Eustazio Rinaldo and Dorabella Così fan tutte at the Festival della Valle d'Itria, under the baton of Fabio Luisi, Goffredo Rinaldo in Moscow and Vienna with Jean Christophe Spinosi’s Ensemble Matheus, Amenofi Mosè in Egitto at the Bregenzer Festspiele, Zweite Dame Die Zauberflöte at Theater Basel, her role debut as l’Enfant in Ravel's L'enfant et les sortilèges at Opernhaus Zürich and Rosina Il barbiere di Siviglia at the Bashmet Festival in Sochi.
A part-time member of the ensemble of Theater Detmold through the 2018/19 season, she sang roles such as Dorabella Cosi fan tutte, Nancy Martha, Hänsel Hänsel und Gretel and Siebel Faust.
Current and recent engagements include Pierotto Linda di Chamounix and the title role of Carmen in Tartu, the roles of Ino/ Juno Semele at the Beaune Baroque Opera Festival.In 2023/2024 she will return to the Royal Swedish Opera as Rosina in a new production of Il Barbiere di Siviglia.
Dara Savinova is a graduate of the Salzburg Mozarteum and speaks Estonian, Russian, English, German, Italian, French and Swedish.