"Fearless" and "formidable" Kiwi mezzo-soprano Rachelle Pike originally hails from Christchurch, NZ. With a "pulsing and opulent" mezzo and "weapons grade" chest voice, she has performed on opera and concert stages from New York to New Zealand. Now based in Brooklyn, she divides her time between the US and her antipodean home.
Recently Rachelle made her Carnegie Hall debut in the lead role of the premier of Dojoji by Japanese American composer Riyoichi Saito. She also made her Lincoln Center debut in the Philharmonic Orchestra of New York’s production of La Traviata. She also appeared with City Lyric Opera in the lead role of The Medium and was featured in their online production of Threepenny Opera; returned to New Zealand Opera for the role of Tisbe in La Cenerentola and sang the role of Mary in Der Fliegende Holländer with Virginia Opera. She reprised the role of Flora with NZO in their production of La Traviata; was alto soloist with the Richmond Symphony in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9; and again, sang the role of Flora with New Jersey Festival Orchestra.
Ms. Pike worked with Gotham Chamber Opera in their production of Baden-Baden 1927, a pastiche of works by Toch, Milhaud, Weil and Hindemith and returned to cover the role of Eva in Comedy on the Bridge by Martinů. She joined Opera Santa Barbara in their production of Rigoletto as Countess Ceprano, Teatro Grattaceilo where she covered the role of Priyàmvada in Alfano’s Sakùntala and Chautauqua Opera where she sang the role of Auntie in Peter Grimes. In her home country of New Zealand, both as a main stage and young artist for NZO she has also sung the roles of Mercedes in Carmen, Alice (cover) in Lucia di Lammermoor, Die Dreite Dame in Die Zauberflöte and Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel.
Ms. Pike has been heard in concert with the Chautauqua Symphony, New Jersey Festival Opera, Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra and Christchurch Symphony.
Coming up next
Coming up next
December 12, 2024 7:30pm EST
BK Art Haus
Brooklyn, NY
A multimedia vocal recital by Rachelle Pike in association with City Lyric Opera.
Pepeha is a way that Māori people from Aotearoa, New Zealand introduce themselves. It tells people who you are by sharing your connections with the people and places that are important to you. It is also a tradition that pakeha, non Māori New Zealanders, are encouraged to participate in. Someones pepeha identifies their mountain, their river, where they are from, their family and who they are.
This performance will follow the singer’s journey discovering their pepeha as they connect with their cultural heritage, will teach new audiences about Māori culture and Aotearoa New Zealand, and encourage them to think about their own heritage and cultural identity through their own pepeha. It is also an exploration of the parallel between this cultural practice and a performer’s artistry.
Through the work of New Zealand composers, a variety of classical works, traditional kapa haka (Māori performing arts) and visual projection, the program will illustrate the singer’s pepeha - their mountain, their river, their home, their family and ultimately them.
