The celebrated mezzo-soprano sings at the December 21st Playing and Preserving concert at St. Mary’s, Hamilton Village.
Mezzo-soprano Chrystal E. Williams is the featured singer at the final community concert for Playing and Preserving, December 21. Opera News described her as “fiery and gorgeous” — and we agree that she is both of those things, plus incredibly talented. Fresh from her Metropolitan Opera debut, we want to share our top 3 reasons to celebrate this exceptional artist who joins cellist Thomas Mesa, organist Greg Zelek and the Play On Philly Symphony Orchestra this month in Philadelphia.
1. Met Opera Debut This Year
The Virginia native made her Metropolitan Opera debut in New York last month as Maketaten in Akhnaten, following a career full of accomplishments. Just this season, Chrystal appears with Minnesota Opera, Seattle Symphony, and Orchestra 2001. In 2020, she and co-creator Brazilian accordionist Felipe Hostins, will launch “Forrópera” in partnership with Astral and Esperanza Arts Center, bringing together the Brazilian tradition of Forró with Opera.
2. Leading Roles
Chrystal’s resume is extensive. She has sung leading roles with Birmingham (U.K.), Washington National, Sarasota, and Knoxville operas, in addition to Opera Delaware, Glimmerglass, Caramoor, and many others. Her solo career includes performances with the Cairo Symphony, Norrköping Symphony Orchestra (Sweden), and The Philadelphia Orchestra under Yannick Nézet-Séguin.
3. Visionary Philanthropist
Perhaps our favorite fact about Chrystal is that she founded The Chrystal E. Williams Scholarship in 2004 to help students wishing to pursue a career in the Performing Arts. This scholarship is funded in part by an annual concert she performs in her hometown of Portsmouth, Virginia.
We love Chrystal, and so do leading critics in the arts. Her work is “strong and so assured,” and “poised, polished, in complete command of the vocal calisthenics.” Chrystal’s talent is unmissable, so we hope you will join us when she comes to sing at our final community concert for Playing and Preserving, December 21, at St. Mary’s, Hamilton Village. The event is free and open to the public, but RSVPs are encouraged. Reserve now!
