This summer, Cincinnati Opera returns with Summer at Summit, our reimagined, open-air festival at Summit Park in Blue Ash. An opera season under the stars wouldn’t be complete without a star-studded cast. Get to know some of the leading ladies taking the stage this summer!
Mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges; photo by Dario Acosta
J’Nai Bridges
As Carmen in Carmen
Summer at Summit: The superstar mezzo makes her Cincinnati Opera debut as the title heroine in Bizet’s Carmen.
Acclaim: Where to begin? Bridges has been praised by The New York Times, Opera News, Variety, The New Yorker, Billboard…the list goes on. Read it all here.
If the shoe fits: You can see Bridges in the 2021 Converse All-Stars Campaign!
Learn more: Get to know J’Nai.
Soprano Ana María Martínez; photo by Tom Specht
Ana María Martínez
As Floria Tosca in Tosca
Summer at Summit: Martínez makes her Cincinnati Opera debut as Tosca, the titular opera diva in Puccin’s Tosca. Better get your tissues ready for her “Vissi d’arte.”
Acclaim: Opera News says, “Her soprano harks back to the golden age. Her range is even, from a dusky chest-voice through a claret-colored middle and up to radiant top, and is as impressive in its quiet moments as it is at full power.” Read (a lot!) more praise of Martínez.
Cover girl: Check out the June issue of Opera News—you’ll see a familiar face on the cover!
Learn more: Get to know Ana María.
Soprano Janai Brugger; photo by Dario Acosta
Janai Brugger
As Micaëla in Carmen
Summer at Summit: Brugger returns to Cincinnati Opera to sing Micaëla in Carmen.
Past Cincinnati Opera appearances: She stole our hearts as Susanna in our 2019 The Marriage of Figaro, and her “Summertime” gave us chills in Porgy and Bess that same year.
On the screen: If you watched HBO’s Lovecraft Country, you may have heard Brugger’s voice in the penultimate episode. It closed with Brugger singing “Tulsa, 1921: Catch The Fire,” an original song created for the show.
Listen up: Brugger discussed balancing motherhood with her opera career, the first time opera gave her goosebumps, and more on Cincinnati Opera’s Inside Opera podcast.
Learn more: Get to know Janai.
Mezzo-soprano Rihab Chaieb; photo by Fay Fox
Rihab Chaieb
As Rosina in The Barber of Seville
Summer at Summit: Chaieb gets to cross off one of her “bucket list” roles with us this summer, singing her first-ever Rosina in Rossini’s The Barber of Seville.
Past Cincinnati Opera appearances: The rising star “earned the evening’s biggest ovation” (Cincinnati CityBeat) in our 2019 The Marriage of Figaro with her laugh-out-loud portrayal of Cherubino, a lusting page.
Acclaim: Chaieb has been praised for her “magnetic presence and opulent voice”(Opéra-Online), “luxurious singing” (Opera Magazine), “rapturous voice, full of lush colors” (Schmopera), and much more. Read it all here.
Learn more: Get to know Rihab.
Catch these opera superstars and more at Summer at Summit, this July at Summit Park in Blue Ash!