Maya Amir
Biography
“Maya Amir (…) is crossing all the ambitus and varieties of the vocal colours (…) The deep timbre remains soft, the low register is achieved but also serves as a support for her high and shining notes.”
Charles Arden in Orlyx
Mezzo-soprano Maya Amir specializes in historically informed performance of baroque operas from the 17th and 18th centuries – her subject of passion. As a recitalist, she also integrates original compositions in her native tongue, Hebrew, as well as various world music.
After graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Vocal Studies in the class of Efrat Ben-Nun at Tel Aviv University, Maya continued her studies at the Hochschule für Musik and Theater Leipzig for a Master’s Degree in Opera Singing in the class of Elvira Dreßen. There she debuted in roles such as Cherubino (Le Nozze di Figaro), Hänsel (Hansel and Gretel), Rosina (Il barbiere di Sevilla) and the title-role of Dido in Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas. In 2019 she moved to the Schola Cantroum Basiliensis to achieve a second Master’s Degree in Voice Pedagogy Studies under the guidance of Rosa Dominguez, which she completed in 2021. During her time in Basel she performed the roles of Piacere in Handel’s Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno, the title-role of Rodelinda as well as the title-role of Alcina. The latter brought her back to Israel alongside the Barrocade Ensemble with which she formed a lasting cooperation over the years.
Winner of Third Prize 2018 Froville International Baroque Singing Competition and Silver Prize of 2018 Manhattan International Music Competition, the mezzo took part in the 2019 Carnegie Hall master classes of Joyce Didonato and became a member of the Académie Musicale Philippe Jaroussky from 2021 until 2022. After meeting countertenor Andreas Scholl in 2017, she considers him one of her appreciated mentors.
Her appearances include a recital tour dedicated to Antonio Vivaldi under the baton of Andres Mustonen accompanied by Barrocade Ensemble in Teatro Ristori Verona, Venice, Israel and Estonia. Other appearances include concerts at Bach Archiv Leipzig, Gare du Nord Basel, Arvo Pärt Center, Kadriorg Palace Tallinn and La Seine Musicale. Her festival appearances include Festtage Alter Musik Basel, Abu Gosh Festival, Glasperlenspiel Festival and Varaždin Baroque Evenings.
2023 held debuts in place for Maya, among others at Teatro Ristori Baroque Festival Verona, a recital dedicated to Manuel de Falla accompanied by Ensemble ApérOHR Switzerland as well as concert engagements with Barrocade Ensemble, Ensemble La Phoenix Basel, Ensemble Piris Eliyahu, Ensemble Avventura Barocca, Kölner Akademie and Hortus Musikus.
In 2024, the mezzo tours a concert programme called “Handel Love Stories” in Israel alongside countertenor Andreas Scholl and the Tel Aviv Soloist Ensemble under the direction of Barak Tal. Before leaving for the Estonian Viljandi vanamuusika festival in July to perform a concert dedicated to French and Italian Opera with Hortus Musicus under the baton of Andres Mustonen, the mezzo will give another two concerts in Israel, one called “Summer Love Songs” alongside Barrocade Ensemble and countertenor Yaniv D’or under the musical direction of Amit Tiefenbrunn, the other a concert displaying the programme of her 2022 CD production “Night on the Waters” alongside Trio Barrocade. With her ensemble Avventura Barocca, Maya will perform another two concerts in Estonia, one at Glasperlenspiel Festival and one more at Viljandi vanamuusika festival with Andres Mustonen as guest violinist. The mezzo will conclude her season with the role of Abra in a staged production of Vivaldi’s Juditha Triumphans by Tomáš Ondrej Pilar at the Czech Znojmo Festival where she will perform alongside Czech Ensemble Baroque under the musical direction of Roman Válek.
In 2022, Maya has released her first live album “Night on the Waters” which presents Mediterranean compositions influenced by classical, Spanish and Arabic music, written and composed by her mother, Aviva Amir, and the singer herself.
(2024_Please use this CV only.)
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