Biography

A native New Yorker, Ms. Tormela specializes in bel-canto, operatic and early music style.  She has been noted for her “secure technique, unfailing intonation and expression and clear and sensitive text.” (Ulrik Cold; Royal Danish Opera), her “ringing and strongly expressive voice with extraordinary vocal control.” (Leif Kramp; Critic/Lübecker Nachtrichten) and “negotiating the upper reaches (of her voice) with dazzling security” (David Syrus, Head of Music, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden).

In August of 2007 she performed selections from Falstaff and Ophélie’s mad scene from Ambroise Thomas’s Opera Hamlet with the Altamura Arts Shakespeare Festival under the baton of Maestro Anton Coppola.  Reviews for that production were: “Anne Tormela was just about perfect in her beautifully sung “Sul fil d’un soffio” aria of Nanetta.” (John Paul KeelerHudson-Catskill Newspapers).  In May of 2007 she debuted with The Natchez Music Festival as Nanetta in their production of (Falstaff) under the baton of Maestro David Blackburn.  She made her debut as Amalia in Verdi’s opera (I Masnadieri) in March of 2006 with The Amici Opera Company in Philadelphia, PA.  Other roles Ms. Tormela has performed are: Adina in (L’Elisir D’amore), The Queen of the night and First Lady, in (The Magic Flute), Zerbinetta in (Ariadne auf Naxos), Rosalinda and Adele in (Die Fledermaus), Ophélie in (Hamlet), Violetta in (La Traviata), Lucia in (Lucia di Lammermoor), Gilda in (Rigoletto), Frasquita in (Carmen), Rosina in (The Barber of Seville), Cherubino and Barbarina in (Le Nozze di Figaro), Sophie in (Werther), Norina in (Don Pasquale), Musetta in (La Bohème) with companies such as; Metro Lyric Opera, Connecticut Opera Alliance, The Queen’s Opera Association, The Amato Opera, The Manhattan Lyric Opera, Opera Nova, Genesis Opera, The Central Florida Lyric Opera and The New Jersey Opera Institute.  Ms. Tormela will perform the role of Frasquita  and Kate Pinkerton with Maestro Coppola  in the Metro Lyric Opera’s  July 2008 productions of (Carmen) and (Madama Butterfly).

In addition to opera, she is an accomplished concert recitalist and has performed all over the world  in Germany, Italy, France Sweden, Israel and the United States.  She made her debut recital at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall and received a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation to perform a solo recital in their Fall concert series in Bellagio, Italy.   In Germany she made her concert debut at Thronsaal auf Schlo§ in Schwerin; Stidtstheater, Wohnstift Augustinum in Bad Neuenahr, and Kammermusiksaal der Stadthalle Mülheim in Mülheim an der Ruhr. She has appeared as a guest soloist with the Lake Placid Sinfonietta Orchestra under the baton of Maestro Mark Laycock and this December 2008 will tour the United States as a soloist with The Sigmund Romberg orchestra’s program “A Viennese Christmas” under the baton of Maestro John Giattino.  In  2004 and 2005 she was a two time recipient of a full scholarship to perform at the International Vocal Arts Institute in Israel under the auspices of Joan Dornemann.  She is currently a finalist in the 2008 Altamura vocal competition.

In addition to opera, Ms. Tormela has a fourth degree black belt in Taekwon Do, is an avid swimmer, practices yoga and plays the clarinet.

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