Passion is guaranteed when it comes to Viktoria Vizin, the internationally acclaimed mezzo-soprano whose name is often seen in the world’s most prestigious houses such as the Metropolitan Opera, Hungarian State Opera House, Chicago Lyric or Royal Opera House Covent Garden.
Ms. Vizin has embarked on an exciting dramatic mezzo-soprano repertory in her past seasons. This includes Charlotte in Werther (Scottish Opera debut 2013), The Composer in Ariadne auf Naxos (Budapest 2013, 2015), Phedre in Rameau’s Hypolite et Aricie, Dejanira in Handel’s Hercules (Budapest 2013 and 2012), the Wagner Ring Cycle at the Luzerne Festival conducted by Jonathan Nott (2013). Ms. Vizin sang the highly acclaimed supporting roles Flosshilde (Das Rheingold, Gotterdammerung), 1st Norn (Gotterdammerung) and Schwertleite (Die Walkure) and Waltraute in Götterdämmerung (Palermo) directed by Graham Vick. In addition to her new repertory, she completed her 100th Carmen performance (2012) at the Budapest State Opera House, performed Judit in Bluebeard’s Castle in the Miskolc International Opera Festival (2013), with the Oregon Symphony (2016) and with the Budapest Festival Orchestra conducted by Ivan Fischer (2019), made her appearance at the Grand Theatre du Luxembourg as Preziosilla (2013) and had her Danish debut at Den Jyske Opera, Aarhus as Dulcinee (2014). She debuted as Donna Elvira in Mozart’s Don Giovanni in an innovative production at BartokPlusz Festival (2018).
Ms. Vizin had a role debut of Hannah Glavary in The Merry Widow at the BartokPlusz Opera Festival in Hungary (2014, 2015) and sang the title role of Tosca in Hungary (2015-16). She debuted as Nerone in Monteverdi’s Incoronazione di Poppea at Palace of Arts, Budapest (2016).
Ms. Vizin has a passion for contemporary performing arts. She debuted as Nina in Senza Sangue written and conducted by Peter Eötvös in which she was claimed to have had an outstanding success.
In addition to her operatic performances Ms. Vizin has appeared as the alto solo of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony (Krannert Center for Performing Arts – Champaign, IL), the alto solo of Handel’s Messiah (Palace of the Arts MUPA, Hungary), a Verdi Gala where she performed the aria: O don fatale and appeared in Den Jyske Opera’s 2014/2015 operatic season’s Opera gala in Opera i Rebild performing various arias and duets such as Alza!, Smanie implacabili, Habanera and the Barcarole and she sang at the Roy Thompson Hall in Toronto and was part of the Opening Gala of Opera of the Nature Opera Festival (2017 Lake Tisza, Hungary). She starred the Advent Series at the BartokPlusz Opera Festival featuring Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, Faure, Saint-Saens (2018). She is continuously seen participating in the Chicago area concert events.
Ms. Vizin was engaged as the soloist of a 30s classical jazz concert at Palace of Arts followed by the World Chorus Champion “Ars Nova” at the International Spring Festival (2015). She continued to feature the 40s classical jazz at the BartokPlusz Festival in 2016.
Ms. Vizin performed in a 3 hour solo opera gala celebrating her 20th anniversary on stage in her hometown (2016). Her repertory included Richard Strauss, Mozart, Handel, Purcell, Bizet, Massenet, Berlioz and contemporary pieces.
In addition to her operatic performances Ms. Vizin starred in the theatrical play Carmen Disruption by the Tony Award winner playwright Simon Stephens at Almeida Theatre, in Londons East End (2015) and featured in an audiovisual performance “1956” both in Budapest and New York (2016).
Ms. Vizin received critical acclaim for a successful world premier of her contemporary opera piece – The Witch – where she not only debuted as a singer, but also as a co-writer of the operatic piece. (International Kodaly Festival, Hungary 2013).
Ms. Vizin’s current season includes the world premier of the contemporary composer Peter Zombola’s opera “…and Echo” where she partook in the making of the libretto.
Ms. Vizin’s previous season highlights are:
Carmen: Essen (2000-2003), Dusseldorf – Duisburg (2003-2004), Pittsburgh (2004), ROH Covent Garden (2007 simulcast in U.K., DVD release), Hungarian State Opera (2007-2012), Los Angeles (2008) Taipei (2009), Metropolitan Opera (2010), Chicago Lyric Opera (2006 stereo simulcast) (Beijing) (2011), Vlaamse Opera (2012 – broadcast in Gent/Television)
Judit –had an acclaimed world debut of Bartok’s mesmerizing drama with Ms. Vizin performing the role twice/each night conducted by Adam Fischer (2009 Budapest), Novi Sad (2010 simulcast in Serbia), Miskolc International Opera Festival (2013), Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall (2016), Palace of Arts (2019).
Preziosilla: Vlaamse Opera (2012), Grand Theatre du Luxembourg (2013)
Maddalena: Miskolc (2001), Dusseldorf (2004-2005), Covent Garden (2005), Metropolitan Opera (2009 simulcast Sirius XM Radio)
Dejanira: Budapest MUPA (2012 – broadcast on Hungarian Television)
Margherite : Budapest MUPA (2010 – broadcast on Hungarian Television)
Phèdre : Hungarian State Opera (2013)
Nerone: Budapest MUPA (2015)
Isabella: Central City Opera Festival (2003)
Rosina: Cluj-Napoca (1996)
Marchese Melibea: Toronto (2002)
Adalgisa: Thessaloniki (2000), Essen (2002), Dusseldorf (2004)
Pauline: Covent Garden (2001), Toronto (2002), Dallas (2003)
Donna Elvira: BartokPlusz Opera festival (2018)
Nina: Budapest MUPA (2018)
Earlier lyric mezzo repertoire includes: Zerlina(Miskolc 2000, Dusseldorf 2000), Idamante (Cluj-Napoca 1998, Budapest, 1999), Cherubino ( Wiener StaadtsOper 1999), Dorabella (Budapest 1999 – broadcast on Hungarian Television), Rossweise (Geneva 2000), Mrs. Meg Page (Verona 1997).
Viktoria Vizin , a Kecskemet (Hungary) native, studied at the Franz Liszt Conservatory in Szeged. She won the International Singing Competition 'Nicolae Bretan' in Cluj-Napoca , Romania in 1996 and the Belvedere Competition, Austria in 2000. In 2001 she completed her Master’s and Ph.D in Romania. She resides in the greater Chicagoland area and is on the Voice Faculty at DePaul University School of Music.