A series of sensational debuts have highlighted Canadian soprano Ambur Braid as a ‘revelation’ (Das Opernmagazin, 2022). From Eva in Schreker’s Irrelohe for Opéra de Lyon to Salome in Barrie Kosky’s production for Oper Frankfurt, her sumptuous voice and enigmatic stage presence continue to leave a striking impression on audiences and critics alike.
Praised as being “born to play Salome” (Bachtrack, 2023), Ambur Braid made an acclaimed return to the role this season at Canadian Opera Company in Atom Egoyan’s production under Johannes Debus. Having previously received huge critical acclaim for her performance in the role in Barrie Kosky’s production for Oper Frankfurt in 2020, Ambur Braid returns to the theatre in 2023/24 as a guest to reprise this unforgettable Salome.
Last season in Frankfurt saw Ambur Braid make several role debuts including a passionate Chawa in Rudi Stephan’s die Ersten Menschen, a new production by Tobias Kratzer, conducted by Sebastian Weigle and recorded for CD release. She also performed Angèle (The Tsar Has his Photograph Taken) in Keith Warner’s production under Yi-Chen Lin, as well as singing her first European performances in the eponymous role of Tosca in Andreas Kriegenburg’s production conducted by Carlo Montanaro. Other notable roles and company debuts include both Eva in Schreker’s Irrelohe for Opéra de Lyon and Stephana in Umberto Giordano’s rarely performed Siberia for the Bregenz Festival; a role debut as Norma at Oper Frankfurt conducted by Erik Nielsen, as well as Ariadne (Ariadne auf Naxos) under Thomas Guggeis. Recent concert highlights include Schmitt’s La Tragédie de Salomé with Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra under Alain Altinoglu and Beethoven’s Symphony No.9 with National Arts Centre Orchestra, Ottawa.
In 2023/24, Ambur Braid returns to Opéra de Lyon as die Färberin (die Frau ohne Schatten) under Daniele Rustioni and makes another role debut at Oper Frankfurt as Rachele (Halévy’s La Juive) under Henrik Nánási. She also makes her role and company debut as Senta (der fliegende Holländer) in Herbert Fritsch’s production for Komische Oper Berlin.
Ambur Braid has received degrees from the Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto and San Francisco Conservatory and is a studio alumna and former ensemble member of the Canadian Opera Company.