Larry Murray, Berkshire On Stage, 2/26/13
biography
Contralto, Sharmay Musacchio has won critical acclaim for her work spanning both the dramatic repertoire and contemporary opera, notably: originating the roles of Iphigenia the Elder in the world premiere of Iphigenia, by Wayne Shorter and esperanza spalding (The Kennedy Center), developing the role of Swift in Ruinous Gods by Layale Chaker and Lisa Schlesinger for (The Spoleto Festival, USA),first cover for Rita and Serena Joy in the west coast premiere of A Handmaid’s Tale with SF Opera, debuting as The Auntie in The Scarlet Ibis a Chicago Premiere with COT and debuting as Sotopenre in the U.S. Premiere of Akhnaten at LAOpera. Upcoming engagements include: Enheduanna composed by Layale Chaker and libretto by Lisa Schlesinger- workshop, the Messiah with Opera Laguna, debuting the role of the Orange Snapping Turtle in Pancho Rabbit and The Coyote- composed by Anthony Davis and co-produced by Bodhi Tree Concerts; set to premiere in San Diego and Tijuana in 2026, and a featured recital with Bodhi Tree Concerts.
Other career highlights include:
- For The Metropolitan Opera: Sotopenre cv (Akhnaten) Novice debut (Suor Angelica) La Servante cv (Manon)
- For Los Angeles Opera: Frasquita (El Gato Montes), La Voix (Tales of Hoffmann), Giovanna (Rigoletto) Herodias cv(Salome), Nefertiti cv(Akhaten), Maiden (Rise and Fall of Mahagonny)-winner of two grammys.
- For New York City Opera: Mrs.Grose (The Turn of the Screw) and La Vecchia (L’Amore dei Tre Re).
Resume
Opera/Operetta
| La Frugola | Il Tabarro | On Site Opera - 2023 |
| Ipheginia the Elder | “... (Iphigenia)” | Kennedy Center, The Broad, Cal Performances, Arts Emerson, and Mass MoCA |
| Unborn 5 | Die Frau ohne Schatten | The Metropolitan Opera - 2021 |
| The Voice (cv.) | Die Frau ohne Schatten | The Metropolitan Opera - 2021 |
| La Badessa | Suor Angelica | SDOpera - 2021 |
| Zita | Gianni Schicchi | SDOpera - 2021 |
| Berta | The Barber of Seville | Sacramento Phil&Opera - 2020 |
| Zita/White Cat | Gianni Schicchi/L'enfant et lei Sortileges | Pacific Opera Project - 2020 |
| Servante(cv.) | Manon | Met Opera - 2019 |
| Sotopenre(cv.) | Akhnaten | Met Opera - 2019 |
| Frasquita | El Gato Montes | LAOpera - 2019 |
| Auntie | The Scarlet Ibis | Chicago Opera Theatre - 2019 |
| Novice/Cover and Met Debut | Suor Angelica | The Met - 2018 |
| Old Woman | L'amore Dei Tre Re | New York City Opera - 2018 |
| Giovanna | Rigoletto | LAOpera - 2018 |
| Mother of Antonia | The Tales of Hoffmann | LAOpera - 2017 |
| Herodia (cov) | Salome | LAOpera - 2017 |
| Daughter of Akhnaten | Akhnaten | LAOpera - 2016 |
| Nefertiti (cov) | Akhnaten | LAOpera - 2016 |
| Dame Carruthers | Yeoman of the Guard | Winter Opera St. Louis - 2015 |
| Dame Quickly | Falstaff | Pacific Opera Project - 2015 |
| Eunice Hubbell | A Streetcar Named Desire | Townsend Opera/Fresno Grand Opera - 2015 |
| La Zia Principessa | Suor Angelica | San Diego Opera Fundraiser - 2014 |
| Kupava | The Snow Maiden | Musica Vitale - 2014 |
| Mrs. Grose | The Turn of the Screw | New York City Opera - 2013 |
| La Zia Principessa | Suor Angelica | Opera Southwest – 2012 |
| Zita | Gianni Schicchi | Opera Southwest – 2012 |
| Dalia cov. | Samson et Dalila | Netherlands Radio Choir |
| Flora cov. | La Traviata | Sarasota Opera |
| Maid of Mahagonny | Weill: Rise & Fall of the City of Mahagonny | Los Angeles Opera* |
| The Dragon cov. | Grendel | Los Angeles Opera |
| Suzuki | Madama Butterfly | California Opera Association |
| Queen Andromache | The Silver Swan | California Opera Association |
| La Principessa | Suor Angelica | California Opera Association |
| Dido | Les Troyens | Sarasota Opera/YAP |
| Tigrana | Edgar | Sarasota Opera/YAP |
| Tisbe | La Cenerentola | Sarasota Opera/YAP |
| Pauline | Pique Dame | Sarasota Opera/YAP |
| Mermine | Die Fledermaus | Sarasota Opera/YAP |
| Meg Page | Falstaff | Sarasota Opera/YAP |
| Dorabella | Così fan tutte | Portland Opera/IVAI |
| The Sandman | Hansel and Gretel | SFCM Opera Theatre/SFO |
| La Voix | The Tales of Hoffmann | SFCM Opera Theatre/SFO |
| Ragonde | Count Ory | SFCM Opera Theatre/SFO |
| Rebecca Nurse | The Crucible | SFCM Opera Theatre/SFO |
| Mistress Quickly | Falstaff | SFCM Opera Theatre/SFO |
* Winner of two Grammies
Concert
| Beethoven Symphony 9, Alto Soloist | Peninsula Symphony | 2016 |
| Handel Messiah, Alto Soloist | City Ballet | 2014 |
| Mozart Requiem | San Diego Ballet and Symphony | 2014 |
| Vivaldi Gloria | Advent Choral Service Chamber Orchestra | 2013 |
| Bach Christmas Oratorio | Musica Vitale | 2013 |
| Handel Messiah | San Diego City Ballet Symphony | 2013 |
| Kodaly Missa Brevis | Musica Vitale | 2013 |
| Respighi Laud to the Nativity | Musica Vitale | 2012 |
| Vivaldi Gloria | Carnegie Hall, MidAmerica Productions | 2009 |
| Handel Messiah | San Diego Chamber Orchestra | 2006 |
| Handel Messiah | San Francisco Conservatory Orchestra at Davies Symphony Hall | 2001, 1997 – 1999 |
| Bach Magnificat | San Francisco State Concert Series | 1997 |
Distinctions and Awards
| Best Career Mezzo-soprano | California Opera Competition | 2006, 2005 & 2004 |
| West Coast Regional Finalist | Zachary Vocal Competition | 2004 |
| Young Artist | Sarasota Opera | 2003-2004 |
| Young Artist | Portland Opera/IVAI | 2001 |
| Grand Prize | Art Songs of the Americas Robert Phelps/SFCM | 2001 |
Education
| Master of Music | (Vocal Performance) San Francisco Conservatory | 2001 |
| Bachelor of Music | (Vocal Performance) San Francisco Conservatory | 1998 |