Press
Mezzo-Soprano, Rebecca
Olthafer wins 5th place
Rebecca Olthafer
received 5th place and the Florentine Main Stage Performance Award at the 2006 Wisconsin
District Metropolitan Opera National Council Audition.
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Milwaukee
Journal Sentinel Article
2005 Wisconsin MET District Award
Winner
The 2005 Wisconsin
District Metropolitan Opera National Council Audition $300 Arline Johnson Award went to
mezzo Rebecca Olthafer of Madison.
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more...
OperaModa Calendar
Rebecca Olthafer poses for the
month of June.
Click here to buy a calendar!!!
Magic Flute
"...mezzo-soprano Rebecca Olthafer brought familiarity and skill to (her)
role....serving the Queen of the Night." (Capital Times, April 22,
2006 by Michael Muckian)
Cosě fan tutte
"...Olthafer's
performance literally shimmers through a near translucent vibrato."
(Capital Times, April 26, 2004)
"Rebecca
Olthafer is similarly strong as Dorabella."
(Wisconsin State Journal, Tues., April 27, 2004)
Bon Appétit
"Olthafer's
glorious mezzo-soprano voice brings loony intensity to activities perhaps never before seen
in an opera.....Olthafer's joyful but incongruous singing make a powerful
argument......"
(Isthmus, September 26, 2003)
"As the bombastic (Julia) Child, mezzo-soprano Rebecca Olthafer delivers a surprisingly controlled performance that more than once winks at its own excesses. Olthafer's beautiful voice exhibits both a range and timbre that far exceeds that comedic materials, but she clearly has fun with the role." (The Capitol Times, Weekend of September 20-21, 2003)
Madame Butterfly-Madison Opera
" And UW
graduate student Rebecca Olthafer was a sympathetic Kate Pinkerton."
(Isthmus, May 17, 2002)
Hansel and Gretel
"UW-Opera's 'Hansel and Gretel' flies with great singing, lively acting"
"As Hansel and Gretel, Olthafer and Cruz rise to the challenges of their
characters' soaring ranges."
(The Capital Times, Weekend of March 9-10, 2002)
Serse
"Most notable, of course, is the singing, which is marvelous in each and every instance."......"As (Serse) Xerxes, Olthafer's mezzo does a fine job...." (The Capitol Times, October 26, 2001)
"As (Serse) Xerxes, the King of Persia, mezzo-soprano Rebecca Olthafer was fairly bright and flexible in a demanding role." (Isthmus, November 2, 2001)
Israel in Egypt
"...paired mezzo-soprano, Rebecca Olthafer and soprano, Jennifer Robb were perfectly combined for their charming and delightful tight harmony." (The Capital Times, December 8, 2000)
Orpheus in the Underworld
"As with most UW Opera performances, the wit is robust and the vocal talent incomparable." "......Cruz has a voice that could cut gemstones, such is its brightness and clarity. So, too, are the voices of.....Juno (sung by mezzo-soprano, Rebecca Olthafer), who come together in a chorus that shimmers." (The Capital Times, October 23, 2002)
Gilbert and Sullivan-Madison Savoyards
"I enjoyed the sweet innocence of "Three Little Maids from School" (sung by) Rachel Cruz, Rebecca Olthafer, and Ann Baltes." (Isthmus, July 19, 2002)
David and Edith Sinaiko Frank Fellowship for a Woman in the Arts