Gala El Hadidi
Mezzo-Soprano
Born in Cairo. She obtained her Masters of Music from Yale University, as well as, M.A.in English & Comparative Literature and a B.A. in Philosophy from AUC. She attended the International Bach Academy in Stuttgart and the Savonlinna Music Academy in Finland. While at Yale, she studied voice with Doris Yarick-Cross, and attended master classes with Marylin Horne, Teresa Berganza, Tom Krause and Francesco Araiza.
In 2010, she received an encouragement award at Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. In 2011, she won the two major jury prizes at the »Stella Maris« International Vocal Competition: Engagement at the Vienna State Opera and a test-recording with Deutsche Grammophon. In 2013, El Hadidi became the first Egyptian finalist at the BBC Cardiff Singer Of The World.
Before leaving her homeland, she was already a soloist at the Cairo Opera Company, which she joined at the age of 18. After her Music studies in USA, she was asked to join the Semper Opera Dresden as a Soloist, and became a Company member from 2010 till 2016.
She appeared on stage with conductors: Christian Thielemann, Marek Janowski, Jonathan Darlington, Graeme Jenkins, Jan Willem de Vriend,Julia Jones, Omer Meir-Wellber, Asher Fisch, Piergiorgio Morandi, Christian Vasquez, Modestas Pitrenas, Alexander Joel, Cornelius Meister, Lorenzo Viotti, Constantin Trinks, Stefan Lano, Mikhal Kütson, Stefan Klingele and Rani Calderon - Singers: Juan-Diego Florez, Waltraud Meier, Evelyn Herlitzius to name a few. Concert and recital engagements led her to sing on the following stages: Berlin Philharmonic, Konzerthaus Berlin, Stuttgart Liederhalle, Auditorio Nacional di Madrid, Kennedy Center, Stavanger Konzerthus, Savonlinnasali, Musikhuset Aarhus, St. David’s Hall, Cadogan Hall in London, Qatara Opera house.
Her roles at Semper Opera include: the main role in (»Carmen«), Rosina (»Il barbiere di Siviglia«), Dorina (»Dorina e Nibbio«), Hänsel (»Hänsel und Gretel«), Medoro (»Orlando«), Prinz Orlofsky (»Die Fledermaus«), Sylvia Varescu (»Die Csardasfürstin«) (»Prinz Bussel«), Cherubino (»Le nozze di Figaro«), Maddalena (»Rigoletto«), 2nd Magd (»Elektra«) & (»Daphne«), 2nd, 3rd Lady (»Die Zauberflöte«). Other performed roles include: Lola (»Cavalleria Rusticana«), Baba (»The Medium«), Mrs Popova (»The Bear«), Babaricha (»The Tale of Tsar Saltan«), Jenny (»The Three Penny Opera«), The Duchess (»The Firebrand of Florence«), The Old Lady (»Candide«).
She is featured in the Deutsche Grammophon CD recordings of the Grammy nominated (»Elektra«) with Thielemann, Herlitzius, Pape and The New Year’s Eve Concert 2010 with Thielemann and Rene Fleming.
She recently made her debut at Chaise Dieu Festival singing (»Beethoven 9th Symphony«), at Dresdner Musikfestspiele singing the 2nd Alto alongside Waltraud Meier in (»Mahler 8th Symphony«), at Verbier Festival singing De Falla’s (»El Amor Brujo«), as well as, making her house debuts as (»Carmen«) at the Ankara State Opera, Theater St. Gallen and Zurich Opera house.