Vita
Jennifer Arnold was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A. On completion of her secondary education there, she enrolled at Stanford University. While studying physics, drama and comparative literature at Stanford, she also sang in a rock band, took contemporary, african and classical dance classes and studied acting at the internationally renowned A.C.T. (American Conservatory Theater) in San Francisco. After completing her university degrees, Ms, Arnold went to New York City, where she obtained her Master’s Degree in Music as a recipient of the Birgit Nilsson Full-Tuition Scholarship. Simultaneously she worked as a dance soloist for Nina Winthrop, modelled for various New York designers, and did regular work as a freelance lighting technician Off-Broadway.
Arnold participated in Masterclasses held by renowned singers such as Regine Crespin, Regina Resnik, Birgit Nilsson, Evelyn Lear, Mignon Dunn and Virginia Zeani. She presented concerts, sang in apprentice programs in St. Louis, MO, New York City and Chautauqua, NY and Chiari, Italy. She was invited to participate in a Chanson workshop in Nice, France led and accompanied by the famous Dalton Baldwin which was followed by recitals there and in Philadelphia, Penn. She performed leading roles in Palma de Mallorca, Rockland, NJ, and New York City. A particular highlight was the opportunity to perform together with world famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma songs from “Sweet Talk” by American Composer Richard Danielpour on a benefit concert for the JFK Library Foundation with President Bill Clinton and the Kennedy Family in attendance.
From 1998-2002 Jennifer Arnold was a member of the solo ensemble of the State Theater in Kiel, Germany. She debuted there as Carmen(Carmen) in September 1998 and over the years presented such diverse roles as Fricka (Das Rheingold, Die Walküre) Waltraute (Götterdämerung), Romeo (I Capuletti ed i Montecchi), Amneris(Aida), Niklausse (Les Contes d’Hoffmann), Fides (Le Prophete) Lucretia (The Rape of Lucretia) and Olga (Eugene Onegin)…always with much success and to much critical acclaim. In recent years Ms. Arnold has expanded her dramatic mezzo repertoire to include nearly all leading Wagner and Verdi in the Fach. Standard seasonal roles such as Mother (Hänsel and Gretel), Orlafsky (Die Fledermaus), Flosshilde, 2nd Norn, 1st/3rd Magd (Elektra) are also part of her repertoire, as are more unusual Roles, such as Genevieve (Peleas et Melisande, Debussy) Augsburg, Heidelberg und Linz theatres. (See Repertoire List)
She has also had great success with modern Opera roles such as Rosita (Christophorus, Schreker) Kiel Oper, Divana (Der Rattenfänger, Cerha) Darmstadt Oper, Vienna Summer Festival, Lady Macbeth (Macbeth, Sciarrino) Wupperthal Oper and a highly acclaimed Jennifer (Der guter Gott von Manhattan, Adrianna Hölsky) at the Semperoper in Dresden. Recently she performed the world premiere of Dorothea Hoffmanns Oratorio Debora in Fürth, Germany.
Ms. Arnold continues perform recitals and concerts regularly. She maintains a repertoire of seven complete Liederabende, containing some of the most beautiful and well-known recital literature from Wagner, Strauss, Schumann, Schubert, Debussy, DeFalla, Brahms, Britten, among many others from baroque to modern to contemporary new compositions from composers around the world. Additionally, she performs her own compositions with musicians from varying genres to create interesting musical experiences from classical through pop/jazz to performing art in collaboration with other art forms such a dance and painting. (See Deetaz Dragon, Collaborations) After a sabbatical taken to recover from heavy personal loss, Ms. Arnold looks forward to upcoming performances, which include concerts in June, August September and February. And a tour of Loriot’s Ring in March of 2019.