Menu
Hello OSJ!
I am over the moon to be back at my beloved Opera San José. As an opera singer during the time of COVID, I feel truly #blessed to make music again. Thank you so very much.
I am a born and bred Texan whose love of singing started very early with my girls Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, and Selena. My poor mother endured listening to me belt away in my room for the majority of my childhood. Fortunately when I was in 5th grade a new school opened called the Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts and the rest is history. My studies took me to the Boston Conservatory and eventually I received a young artist position at LA Opera where I discovered that the West Coast really is the Best Coast!!! I love California so much! Hiking, yoga, amazing food, live music everywhere, beauty, nature, art. My dream come true.
I met my husband, a handsome and talented baritone, at Des Moines Metro Opera in 2014 and we are freshly married as of January 2, 2020 (right before the pandemic, phew!). We have a precious pup named Coco and we love to cook together, drink fancy cocktails, and take our fur daughter on long walks around the neighborhood. My most cherished relationships revolve around this tiny, beautiful, artsy world of creatives and I feel so lucky to call singing my full-time job. Thank you again so much for supporting us; I will never forget this chapter of life and OSJ’s generosity towards all of us during the time of COVID.
Vanessa
Biography
Peruvian & Mexican American Soprano Vanessa Becerra has been praised for her “bold and bright” singing (Opera News) and lauded for her “charismatic and eloquent” presence (San Francisco Chronicle).
The 2020-2021 season begins with a return to Opera San José. COVID-19 cancellations include a role/house debuts at Virginia Opera for Le nozze di Figaro (Susanna) and Amarillo Opera for Il barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina), and a return to Opera San José for West Side Story (Maria). Last season, Vanessa debuted at Houston Grand Opera in the world premiere of El Milagro del Recuerdo (La mujer) and Washington National Opera in Don Giovanni (Zerlina). COVID-19 cancellations include a return to Fort Worth Opera for Die Fledermaus (Adele), a role debut with Opera Omaha in Le nozze di Figaro (Susanna), and a role/house debut with Amarillo Opera in Il barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina). Additional recent appearances include Francesca Zambello’s West Side Story (Maria) with Lyric Opera of Kansas City, The Glimmerglass Festival, and Atlanta Opera. She also joined the roster of The Metropolitan Opera and returned to Opera Omaha for Glass’s Les enfants terribles (Lise).
Vanessa debuted with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under the baton of Gustavo Dudamel in Die Zauberflöte (Papagena), San Francisco Symphony with Michael Tilson Thomas in Candide (Paquette), Lyric Opera of Chicago in Fellow Travelers (Miss Lightfoot), Opera Delaware and Baltimore Concert Opera in Werther (Sophie), Opera Omaha in Medea (Glauce), and Atlanta Opera in Sweeney Todd (Johanna). The winter of 2017 saw Ms. Becerra’s return to Opera San Jose as the title role in Alma Deutscher’s Cinderella (featured internationally on Medici.tv) conducted by Jane Glover.
Ms. Becerra is a graduate of the Young Artist Program at the Los Angeles Opera. During her time with LAO, she appeared in Le nozze di Figaro (Barbarina), Die Zauberflöte (Papagena), La traviata (Annina), Gossip 2 in the GRAMMY Award-winning recording of Corigliano’s The Ghosts of Versailles, and as a featured soloist in a concert with bass-baritone Erwin Schrott. Vanessa enjoys a long relationship with The Glimmerglass Festival where she has been seen in Oklahoma! (Laurey), La bohème (Musetta), and in their Young Artist performances of The Magic Flute (Pamina). Other training programs include Wolf Trap Opera Company, Des Moines Metro Opera, and Seagle Music Colony.
Vanessa’s professional debut came in 2014 at Fort Worth Opera in the world premiere of Crozier’s With Blood, With Ink (Young Juana). She received her master’s degree from The Boston Conservatory, and was invited to return and perform as a featured alumna on their 150th Anniversary Gala at Symphony Hall.
Ms. Becerra received her bachelor’s degree from Texas Christian University in her hometown of Fort Worth, TX and is a graduate of the Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts.
Give a Gift in Support of These
Incredible Working Artists
During these unprecedented times, your support has truly never meant more. Give a gift of any amount in support of these artists to ensure that the vibrancy of their craft is shared with every opera-lover in our community.