The versatile singing actress is known for her “powerful, penetrating soprano” (Wall Street Journal) and as both a “comic genius” and “vocal treat” (Boston Globe).
“The kind of classic opera soprano whose glorious, powerful sound raises every hair on your body and makes you melt at the wonder of the human voice” – Boston Musical Intelligencer
Athlone Artists is pleased to welcome soprano Michelle Trainor to its roster of opera, concert artists, conductors and stage directors. A graduate of the Boston Lyric Opera’s Emerging Artist program, Trainor has become “a favorite of the Boston opera scene,” (Schmopera) in productions of contemporary opera including The Handmaid’s Tale, Burke & Hare and Haroun and the Sea of Stories as well as in standard rep like Macbeth, Barber of Seville and Threepenny Opera, for which she was described by Berkshire Fine Arts as “an ebullient comedian” who steals “every scene she is in with her pure joie de vivre.”
Possessing a unique voice that encompasses soprano, mezzo and character roles across vocal fachs, Ms. Trainor is always up to try any new role, especially if it gives her the chance to hone her fierce comedic instincts as with Berta (Barber of Seville), Marcellina (Marriage of Figaro) or Mrs. Peachum (Threepenny Opera) and dive deep into an interesting character like her “fiery, remorseful” (Arts Fuse) Brangain in The Love Potion.
The 2018-19 season was filled with debuts for Ms. Trainor, beginning with the role of Benoni in Gounod’s lesser known La Reine de Saba with Odyssey Opera followed by Berta in Barber of Seville with both Boston Lyric Opera and with Michigan Opera Theatre – her house debut – in their production of Rossini’s opera directed by Christopher Mattaliano. She made her debut with Boston Modern Orchestra Project in their performance of Haroun and the Sea of Stories singing the roles Oneeta/Princess/Batcheat. In the spring of 2019, she sang the role of Ofglen in Ruder’s The Handmaid’s Tale directed by Anne Bogart with Boston Lyric Opera and revisited the character Mrs. Peachum in Britten’s The Beggar’s Opera with Emmanuel Music. This November, Ms. Trainor will perform the role of Miss Lightfoot in Gregory Spears’ groundbreaking opera Fellow Travelers presented by the Boston Lyric Opera.
As she looks to the next chapter in her promising career, Ms. Trainor says, “I am excited to have someone in my corner like Miguel Rodriguez at Athlone Artists. He loves my distinctive voice and isn’t afraid of it. He believes in the unique brilliance of each singer.”
“I’m thrilled to be working with Michelle,” says Rodriguez. “Her powerful soprano voice is matched with mature acting instincts very rarely found in young singers. I can’t wait for audiences to hear her infectious characterization of Lady Billows in Britten’s Albert Herring, and her moving interpretation of Santuzza in Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana!”
