Opera can get violent, and Virginia Opera’s Herndon Foundation Emerging Artist, Kelly Glyptis is prepared to defend herself.
In a business known for heated competition off the stage and unparalleled drama on the stage Glyptis has armed herself with skills to compete in both arenas. The young soprano and Manassas native joined the ranks of the company’s Herndon Foundation Emerging Artist program after prevailing through the rigorous competition of over 600 applicants.
Glyptis was a winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Indiana District and has won encouragement awards at the D.C. District, Chicago Region and North Carolina District. Miss Glyptis made her professional debut with the Atlanta Opera as Berta in Il Barbiere di Siviglia (Barber of Seville) and debuted this season as the feisty Cupid in Virginia Opera’s mainstage season opener, Orpheus in the Underworld.
This winter her talent goes on the road with Virginia Opera’s famed statewide educational tour of Seymour Barab’s Little Red Riding Hood . The piece is one of the most widely performed children’s operas in the world and Miss Glyptis will make her mark with the title role of Little Red engaging elementary school students across the Commonwealth.
Glyptis shatters preconceived stereotypes about the hot-house flower opera diva and their inability to focus on anything except high notes. Her expertise expands far beyond the musical score to Certified Actor/Combatant with the Society of American Fight Directors, lighting designer and stage electrician, stage director, choreographer, and teacher/coach including a stint as an English instructor through theater and music in Milan, Italy.
She is recognized by the Society of American Fight Directors as a Certified Actor/Combatant in Rapier/Dagger, Broadsword, Sword and Shield, and Unarmed combat; as well as trained in knife, quarterstaff, single sword, small sword, and whip. Glyptis has been a consultant and choreographer for the London Opera in Canada, IU Opera Theater, Pied Piper Theater, and Rooftop Productions.
Glyptis represents a new breed of opera diva equipped with diverse skills to compete in one of the most competitive professions in the world. And if the role requires a skilled swordswoman, juggler, dancer, or quarterstaff expert with powerful high notes, all the better.
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