What has Ani Maldjian been up to? This is what she writes in the Spring of 2007:
Hi everyone!I haven't written an update email for a while, so now that I have cool stuff to share with my loved ones, I think it's time for an update! These past 8 months have been so wonderful for me. I know some of you know, last June, I got hired at San Francisco Opera's Merola Young Artist Program and made amazing connections there. I really loved it, and I will be going back this June for a second season, to do the role of Clorinda in Rossini's La Cenerentola in July.After Merola, I got hired at Seattle Opera for their young artist program. For those who don't know exactly what a young artist program is, the best way I like to explain it, is by comparing it to a residency program that medical students do after medical school, right before they are full blown professionals. It's that "in between" time, where you are finishing up your training and getting paid to work for that specific company.
So that's where I am now, in Seattle, working for Seattle Opera. I moved here in October and will be here until April. It's a wonderful city, with beauty everywhere and the weather has been so good to us; Barely any rain and the perfect crisp cold weather you could ask for. I live in the basement of a 3 bedroom home and upstairs are 2 colleagues of mine.
In the program, I am now working on my fourth opera role, have been studying with Jane Eaglen and Cyndia Sieden, two of the most famous sopranos in the world, and have been auditioning for agents and other opera companies as our director invites them to hear us. There are 12 of us here, only 4 of which are sopranos. We are in rehearsals 6 days a week and have very long and tiring days. Recently, I was invited back and my contract was renewed for a second year, for their 07/08 season, where I'll be doing seven roles!
In addition, I will be making my MAINSTAGE DEBUT at Seattle Opera in Iphiginie en Tauride directed by the amazing director Stephen Wadsworth. This will be a separate contract from the young artist program and it's as a professional singer. The shows are in October and you can see a fun pic on http://seattleopera.org/operas/2007-2008/iphigenia/ where I am the crazy woman with a knife in the Iphiginie picture. It's small, but look closely, it's me! You can also find more pics of me as Iphiginie on my website under photo gallery. I will be playing a very small role in this opera, named Priestess.
More recent news: A few weeks ago, Andreas Mitisek, the general director and conductor at Long Beach Opera was here conducting Don Giovanni on the mainstage and our director Peter Kazaras set up private auditions for him to hear us. A couple weeks ago, I received an official offer from him to play the role of ANNE FRANK in THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK at Long Beach Opera! It is a monodrama, which is a one person opera with orchestra! The text is taken from Anne Frank's Diary and is set to beautiful and intense music by Grigori Frid. I will be singing it in English. So folks, this will be my Long Beach Opera Mainstage Debut in April and of course, since most of you live in LA, I hope to see all of you there! There will be 2 performances in Los Angeles, and two in Long Beach (possibly more tbd). I hope all of you can join me in this exciting debut! I will send out more info as it gets closer. Oh, and I even have to cut my hair like Anne Frank!I am very excited and feel so blessed to be doing all these wonderful things and having these opportunities. It seems that hard work does pay off and I am thankful for that!So for now, I have jobs until April 2008 and I have shared it all with you. Until then, I hope to hear from everyone, I hope to see everyone in April and I hope to have more updates for you in the future! Also, check my website for updates during the year! http://www.animaldjian.com/Thankfully and musically,Ani Maldjian
