Tanja Ariane Baumgartner enjoyed great success here at the beginning of the season with the title role in Othmar Schoecks Penthesilea, directed by Hans Neuenfels. She enjoyed a triumph in this role when this production, which was voted „Production of the Year“ by Opernwelt magazine in 2008, was first performed in Basel. Other roles this season include Emilia in Verdi’s Otello, Fürstin von Bouillon in Cilea’s Adriana Lecouvreur and Beppe in Mascagni’s L’amico Fritz, in concert - all new productions – Giulietta (Hoffmanns Erzählungen/The Tales of Hoffmann) and Grimgerde (Die Walküre). This mezzo-soprano was a member of the company in Lucerne from 2003-2008 before she joined the Ensemble at Oper Frankfurt in 2009/10, where roles have included Fenena in Nabucco, Die Amme in Die Frau ohne Schatten, Martha in Boito’s Mefistofele, Gaea in Daphne, Eboli in Don Carlo, Gora in the first performances in Germany of Reimann’s Medea, the alto role in Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde/The Song of the Earth (staged) and Afra in Catalani’s La Wally (in concert). Tanja Ariane Baumgartner is much sought after as a guest artist and recent engagements have included Countess Geschwitz (role debut) in a new production of Lulu at the 2010 Salzburg Festival, directed by Vera Nemirova,and Die Amme in Die Frau ohne Schatten at De Vlaamse Opera in Gent/Antwerpen, directed by Marco Arturo Marelli. In 2011/12 she adds two new roles to her repertoire: Amneris in Aida and the title role in Carmen - both productions directed by Calixto Bieito - in Basel.

Find out more about Tanja Ariane Baumgartner on her homepage.