Lucy Yates

2014 marked Miss Yates' debut as assistant conductor at the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro for Aureliano in Palmira, where as onstage continuo fortepianist she was named "the ... true actress of the production".  It was as a singing actress that she first drew international attention, having made her Italian debut in 2002 as Violetta in La traviata in a new production directed by Franco Zeffirelli and conducted by Plácido Domingo.  Gian Carlo Menotti immediately chose her to play Monica in The Medium in Spoleto, Italy, under his own direction.  Critics have called her Gilda “perfect,” her Beatrice di Tenda “dazzling,” and her Fiordiligi “deliciously feminine.” Miss Yates has been a guest of major festivals including Ravinia, Aldeburgh, and Bard; and of ensembles such as the Orchestra Verdi di Milano, Prague Radio Symphony, and New-York Collegium.  She is also highly sought not only for her "grace and sensitivity" at the piano and harpsichord, but also for her literary and linguistic gifts. Last season marked a decade of her teaching Italian grammar and poetry for Bel Canto at Caramoor, under Will Crutchfield.  She serves as diction coach and translator for the New York City Opera under the direction of Michael Capasso. She also teaches for Dell'Arte Opera Theatre under Christopher Fecteau.  She translates Italian libretti and writes supertitles for various companies; maintains a private coaching studio; and is a regular panelist on the beloved Metropolitan Opera Radio Quiz.

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