Davida Kagen

soprano

Davida Kagen, a native of Philadelphia, has established a reputable performance résumé and become an asset to the Northwest. Her longstanding European career included engagements throughout Germany, Switzerland, and Austria with companies such as Zürich Opera, Deutsche Oper am Rhein, the Mozarteum in Salzburg, and primarily, Wuppertaler Bühnen as the leading lyric coloratura soprano. Ms. Kagen has performed over 30 principle opera roles throughout North America and Europe including Costanze in Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Susanna in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro, Pamina in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, Gilda in Verdi’s Rigoletto, and the title roles in Handel’s Alcina and Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas.

Ms. Kagen is currently in demand as a concert soloist in the Northwest region, having performed with numerous ensembles, and has also been a featured guest soloist with the Eastman Philharmonia, Youngstown Symphony, and the Aspen Festival Orchestra. Ms. Kagen performed in a national tour with the Robert Davidson Dance Company and more recently she portrayed The Mother in Seattle Symphony’s presentation of Amahl and the Night Visitors and was a guest of the Tacoma Symphony Orchestra for Vaughan Williams' Sea Symphony.

By invitation, Ms. Kagen had the privilege of singing a set of Ricky Ian Gordon songs, accompanied by the composer, at the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) national convention. Her recordings include Mendelssohn’s Lobgesang with Roupen Shakarian and Philharmonia Northwest on the SMI label, ‘Capriccios’ with Michael Mirapolsky’s Seattle Chamber Orchestra on the Ambassador label, and Ravel’s Five Greek Folk Songs.

Ms. Kagen, a long-time student of Ellen Faull and Klara Meyers, received her music education from Temple University, Philadelphia. She went on to study at the International Opera Studio in Zurich, Switzerland, and has been teaching singing for most of her life. She has previously been on the voice faculty at the University of Washington, Western Washington University, and Cornish College for the Arts in Seattle. Ms. Kagen currently maintains a private studio.

< August 2009 >