Her pure-toned soprano has grown richer and taken on an array of colors since Cabell won the BBC International Singer of the World Competition in 2005, which gave a huge launch to her career following her win in Palm Beach and three years at the Lyric Opera’s Ryan Center for Young Artists (2002-2005). More broadly, Cabell is establishing herself internationally as one of the finest lyric sopranos of our time, blessed with a gleaming technique, radiant stage presence, and a drop-dead beautiful voice.

most recently for her Chicago performances as Pamina in The Magic Flute, which marks her tenth role at Lyric Opera. The California-born singer consistently earns critical raves. “I needed the exercise.”Ĭabell, who took first prize in the 2003 Palm Beach Opera Vocal Competition, will return to the South Florida company this weekend to sing the leading role of the doomed heroine in Gounod’s Romeo et Juliette. On her day off between recent performances of The Magic Flute at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the soprano took a CTA bus downtown from her Wrigleyville condo and schlepped across the Loop from Michigan Avenue in 20-degree weather to keep an interview appointment at the Civic Opera House. At a time when opera presenters are doing all they can to appear more populist and approachable, one reads countless examples of singers showing how down to earth they are by doing public appearances and meeting their fans - usually for brief CD signings - in an attempt to show they’re just folks like the rest of us.Īnd then there’s Nicole Cabell.

Lyric opera magic flute review