Diana Farrell, soprano, is known for her “golden voice,” “soaring soprano,” and “lovely and impeccable” sound. She returns from making her debut in the role of Lady Macbeth in November 2019 with Opera Western Reserve, where she has previously appeared as Berta in Il barbiere di Siviglia, starring tenor Lawrence Brownlee. As a Young Artist for the same company from 2007 – 2010 she performed the title roles of both Tosca and Madama Butterfly for their Educational Outreach productions, as well as Micaëla in Carmen. In October of 2018 she appeared as Tosca in Pacific Lyric Association‘s Escondido, CA production where she returned as stage director for 2019’s Roméo et Juliette. She has recently performed with Nightingale Opera Theatre as Magda Sorel in The Consul, Miriam in The Scarf, and Anna Maurrant in Street Scene. Other role highlights include Contessa Almaviva with Crested Butte Music Festival’s Le nozze di Figaro, and Rosalinda in Simsbury Light Opera Company’s production of Die Fledermaus.
Past concert engagements include a performance of Berlioz’s Les Nuits d’été with the Dana Symphony Orchestra, an appearance with the Miami Valley Symphony Orchestra, and the Messiah soprano soloist with the Westfield Festival Choir and Orchestra. She finished first place in the 5 Towns Music and Arts Vocal Competition and the Clark J. Haines Memorial Concerto Competition. A past winner of the Dana Concerto Competition and the Tri-States NATS Regional Student Auditions in the Advanced Women’s category, Ms. Farrell has performed in master classes with world-renowned artists such as Dawn Upshaw, Keith Miller, Laurent Phillipe, Michael Chioldi, Jeanie Darnell, composer Lori Laitman, and pedagogue Shirley Emmons. She has been honored to work with directors David Vosburgh, Laura Portune, and Sarah Meyers, and conductors such as Susan Davenny Wyner, and David Syrus.
A former student of the celebrated soprano, Ms. Jane Eaglen, Diana holds an Artist Diploma from the Cleveland Institute of Music and earned her M.M. in Vocal Performance from Youngstown State University where she served as the Graduate Assistant for the Musicology and Opera Departments. Currently, Ms. Farrell is the President and Artistic Director of Lyric Opera of Orange County in Southern California.