POLISH-AMERICAN SOPRANO
OPERA SINGER
“limpid, pliable, steady singing of the highest order”- (Opera Today)
"piercing, yet crystalline instrument" - (Schmopera)
"At the other vocal extreme, soprano Dorothy Gal brought gleam and spaciousness..." - (Texas Classical Review)
"alluring" - Houston Chronicle
"Suddenly Ruth Bader Ginsburg (soprano Dorothy Gal), who has been seated upstage with her back to the audience, swings around. Illuminated by a spotlight, she begins a tender, lyrical solo... It was your classic Star Turn, and beautifully sung." - KDHX
DOROTHY GAL
ABOUT
Hailed as “alluring” by the Houston Chronicle and praised for her “piercing, yet crystalline instrument” (Schmopera), Polish-American soprano Dorothy Gal is an alumna of the Houston Grand Opera Studio and recipient of the prestigious Richard F. Gold Career Grant from the Shoshana Foundation. This past season she was named First Place Winner of the Marcella Sembrich KochanÅ›ka Competition, semi-finalist in the Ada Sari International Vocal Artistry Competition in Nowy Sacz, Poland, finalist in the Butler Opera International Vocal Competition, and Houston District Winner of the Metropolitan Opera's Laffont Competition.
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Upcoming in the 2023-2024 season, Ms. Gal gives solo recitals sponsored by the American Council for Polish Culture in Detroit and Houston District of the Metropolitan Opera's Laffont Competition, makes her role debut as Pamina in Die Zauberflöte with Annapolis Opera, and performs baorque repertoire in "An Early American Christmas" with Mercury Chamber Orchestra at the Wortham Theater Center.
Recent performance highlights include originating the role of Ruth Bader-Ginsburg in Opera Theatre of St. Louis’ world premiere of Slanted: An American Rock Opera, Bach’s Coffee Cantata BWV 211 with Mercury Chamber Orchestra, and debuting as Zerlina in Kasper Holton's production of Don Giovanni, Countess Ceprano in Tomer Zvulun's production of Rigoletto, and High Priestess in Phelim McDermott's production of Aida at Houston Grand Opera. Ms. Gal also covered numerous roles at HGO, including Leïla in Les pecheurs de pêrles, Merab in Handel’s Saul, Giulietta in Tarik O’Regan’s The Phoenix, and Pamina in Die Zauberflöte. During HGO’s Studio Showcase and Concert of Arias studio spotlight, Ms. Gal performed extended scenes from the operatic repertoire, including roles such as Mélisande in Pelléas et Mélisande, Cendrillon in Cendrillon, and Iolanta in Iolanta.
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A passionate interpreter of art song, Ms. Gal participated in Marilyn Horne’s The Song Continues Workshop at Carnegie Hall and was a vocal fellow at Ravinia’s Steans Music Institute, having performed works by Debussy, Ginastera, and Ludwig in recital in Bennett Gordon Hall. Notable performances include Opera America’s Emerging Artist Recital and performing the world premiere of Jamie Leidwinger’s HGO commissioned song cycle “Sheltered Garden” with pianist Blair Salter. Meanwhile, on the operatic stage, Ms. Gal performed as First Wood Sprite in Rusalka and Pousette in Manon (Des Moines Metro Opera); Sandrina in La finta giardiniera, Amy in Little Women, and Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi (Rice University); Anne Egerman in A Little Night Music (Aspen Opera Theatre) and covered the leading roles of Micaëla in Carmen, Rose in Awakenings, and Diane Feinstein in Harvey Milk (Opera Theatre of St. Louis).
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Ms. Gal received her training at Mannes College in New York City (B.M. in Vocal Performance) and Rice University's Shepherd School of Music (M.M. in Opera Performance), having been the recipient of both the Renée Fleming and Cecilia Bartoli Scholarships in Voice. In addition to being the 2nd place prizewinner of HGO's Eleanor McCollum Competition, Dorothy has received awards from the Metropolitan Opera’s Laffont Competition, Gerda Lissner Lieder-Song Competition, and Tenor Viñas Competition. Other notable engagements include joining Las Colinas Symphony in their "Mozart con Amore" symphony series, singing excerpts as Mimi in La bohème and Tatyana in Eugene Onegin in OTSL's Center Stage Gala, and performing pops concerts with Space Coast Symphony.
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Photo (right): Lynn Lane
High Priestess in Aida at The Houston Grand Opera
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