Maren Montalbano in profile, singing.

WHYY sat down to speak with Maren Montalbano and other cast members of Opera Philadelphia’s July performance of Amahl and the Night Visitors in this article. “It’s a story about poverty and generosity. It’s a story of despair and hope, and it’s a story about miracles. You can have that any time of the year. […]

Maren Montalbano, playing The Mother, singing into a microphone, standing next to a young boy, Ethan Monberg, who plays Amahl.

“As a performer, my favorite thing about opera is just dressing up and playing somebody else. The really great thing about opera is everything is over the top. It’s just the tiniest things can be blown way out of proportion. You find these beautiful arias that are basically, ‘oh, I lost a ring.’ I think that there’s something really beautiful, magical about that. Any small moment in anybody’s life can seem like it’s the worst or the best thing in the world. It’s really cool to kind of be a part of that and magnify emotions in that way.”

seven responses review

On June 24 & 25 in Philadelphia, Ms. Montalbano performed with The Crossing in a unique blend of old and new music. Seven Responses is a performance of Buxtehude’s Membra Jesu Nostri (a collection of 7 cantatas) alongside 7 brand new commissions. Joining The Crossing in this project are International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE) and Quicksilver Baroque. The […]

Ms. Montalbano reprised her performance of Agnus Dei from Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle with the Rutgers University Singers last week. Here’s what it looked like: A recording of the Choral Arts Philadelphia February concert will be up soon.

Ms. Montalbano will be performing a program of Medieval Florentine music at the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC with Trio Eos. FLORENCE: Christmas Music of the Trecento with The Folger Consort Where Folger Shakespeare Library – Elizabethan Theatre 201 East Capitol Street Southeast Washington, DC 20003 Map It When December 14, 2012 8pm December […]

Ms. Montalbano will be performing Mozart’s Requiem at Church of the Redeemer in Bryn Mawr. A Lenten Memorial Concert and Fundraiser Carol Chickering, soprano Maren Montalbano, mezzo-soprano William Burden, tenor Brian Ming Chu, baritone with orchestra and the Redeemer choirs Michael Stairs, organist Michael Diorio, director Where Church of the Redeemer 230 Pennswood Road Bryn […]

Ms. Montalbano will be appearing at Millersville University to teach a masterclass and perform with Millersville University’s Choral Ensembles. Millersville University Maren Montalbano, mezzo-soprano Millersville University choirs Dr. Mark Boyle, conductor Where Steinman Hall The Ware Center Millersville University Lancaster 42 N. Prince St. Lancaster, PA 17603 When MASTERCLASS: Saturday, March 3, 2012 at 12:00 […]

Ms. Montalbano will be performing the alto solo in Mozart’s Requiem and Vesperae Solennes de Confessore with the Reading Choral Society. Reading Choral Society Peter Hopkins, conductor Jennifer Michalik, soprano Maren Montalbano, mezzo-soprano Steve McMahon, tenor Jackson Williams, bass Where Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church 701 Franklin Street West Reading, PA 19611 When Sunday, April 10, […]

Ms. Montalbano will be performing the role of Isaac in Benjamin Britten’s Abraham and Isaac. This piece will be one of three of Britten’s Five Canticles that will be performed with Choral Arts of Philadelphia, directed by Matthew Glandorf. Written in 1952, Britten adapted text from medieval language of the Chester Miracle Plays rather than […]

Ms. Montalbano will be one of 12 women singing with the New York Philharmonic, performing Ligeti’s Clocks and Clouds (1973), under the direction of Esa-Pekka Salonen. The title of Ligeti’s Clocks and Clouds refers to an essay by the Anglo-Austrian philosopher Karl Raimund Popper, “On Clocks and Clouds.” Popper’s essay describes two different kinds of […]