Sofia Troncoso is an American soprano of South American descent‚ who holds an Exceptional Talent Visa allowing her to work freely in the UK. Most recent and future roles include Nedda i Pagliacci (Hawaii Opera Theater), Susanna Le Nozze di Figaro and The Sopranos (Opera Queensland), Philosophia / Silandra Orontea (Pinchgut), Papagena and Pamina The Magic Flute (Scottish Opera), Adele Die Fledermaus (Diva Opera), Poppea L’incoronazione di Poppea at Longborough Opera Festival, Virtù, Damigella, Pallade Poppea (Haymarket Opera,Chicago), and Giannetta l'Elisir d'amore (Into Opera)‚ as well as covering Cleopatra Giulio Cesare with Bury Court Opera and concert appearances with Xi’an Symphony Orchestra in China. Sofia was an Emerging Artist for Scottish Opera in 2019-20. Having found herself in Australia during the Covid period, she now finds herself working there regulary with such companies as Opera Queensland, Pinchgut Opera and several major orchestras.
Sofia began her study with Priscilla Bagley at the Dramatic Institute of Vocal Arts‚ Inc. Later, studying under Sunny Joy Langton‚ she gained an Honors degree from Northwestern University. During this period, Sofia was selected for the Castleton Artist Training Seminar at Lorin Maazel’s Castleton Music Festival where she participated in the recitals‚ concerts‚ opera scenes‚ and mainstage productions: Il Tabarro‚ La Boheme‚ Beggar’s Opera‚ L’enfant et les sortilèges‚ Suor Angelica‚ Carmen and Porgy & Bess. Moving to Europe, she graduated with Distinction from Royal Academy of Music, where she studied with Ryland Davies and James Baillieu, and where roles studied included Cendrillon and Suor Angelica. In 2016-2017 Sofia was a Young Artist at the National Opera Studio and for Les Azuriales Opera where she sang Nanetta Falstaff and won the Karaviotis Prize and the Salter Prize.
Upon leaving NOS in 2017 Sofia sang Frasquita Carmen with Ormond Opera‚ Vixen Cunning Little Vixen at Grimeborn Festival and Sister Genioveffa Suor Angelica with Lunchbreak Opera. Highlights of 2016 included a tour with Scottish Opera The Mikado‚ Susanna The Marriage of Figaro with Opera24 at the Grimeborn Festival.
Sofia is an accomplished recital and concert singer‚ singing major works such as Bach‚ Beethoven‚ Hadyn‚ Mozart‚ Mahler etc. In recital she has showcased music in an array of languages and styles‚ her 2017 highlight being Stop all the Clocks: a multimedia cabaret with Shadow Opera.
Soprano Sofia Troncoso’s reading of the fickle Silandra would fit right into an episode of The Bachelorette. She has a crystalline tone, pure and beautifully controlled. Come dolce, her duet with Corindo (sung by Douglas Kelly) is not a wistful love song, but a comic high point, all arms, legs and heaving bodies. Her aria Addio, Corindo is less of lament and more ‘Good riddance’ as she can now freely pursue Alidoro.
The superficial bubble gum-chewing courtesan Silandra was a real standout, sung with a shimmering tone and beautifully accomplished phrasing by Sofia Troncoso. In the modernised libretto translation, Troncoso delivers some of the funniest lines with fantastic comic timing
sung splendidly from the hall’s boxes either side of the stage by Sofia Troncoso (doubling as Silandra)...
As the vixen-like Silandra, Sofia Troncoso’s penetrating and gloriously rich and translucent soprano has just as much impact as her character’s ways with men.
Sofia Troncoso hams up the breathless desire of Orontea’s rival Silandra, her voice dripping with voluptuous sensuousness and caressing cadences
Sofia Troncoso's crystalline Silandra
As Susanna and Figaro, Sofia Troncoso and Jeremy Kleeman made a handsome couple, energetic and completely believable. The beautiful soprano of Troncoso is solid throughout the range; a perfect voice for this role. Her touching aria, Deh vieni, non tardar,was expertly sung, as were her many trios and ensembles.
Troncoso, as Susanna, gave a lovely, moving rendering of ‘Deh Vieni’
Sofia Troncoso made an impressive mark as Giannetta: her mezzo has real punch, clarity and brightness and - in common with all the cast - she acted attentively.
Sofia Troncoso evinced vivacity and clarity as Giannetta.
The women also give the strongest vocal performances of this cast... Sofia Troncoso delightful in her late cameo as Papagena.
... Sofia Troncoso’s delightful soprano is worth waiting for as Papagena.
Finally, Sofia Troncoso made a comic Papagena, transforming from a rotund Mrs Tiggywinkle outfit to a beautiful soulmate for Papageno, surrounded by steampunk prams with tartan blankets for the emerging “papageni”.
The new cast was altogether classier than in 2012...the show was very nearly stolen by Sofia Troncoso’s Papagena.