Mezzo-soprano Erin Neff’s dynamic performance abilities and radiant sound have earned her the veneration of her musical peers and made her an audience favorite throughout the country. Equally at home in the operatic, lied and oratorio repertoires, Ms. Neff is much sought after in the vocal profession.
Erin Neff made her solo debut with the San Francisco Opera as Blanche in their 2000 production of Louise and since then has returned to make several appearances with the company, including productions of Rigoletto, The Bonesetter’s Daughter, Simon Bocca Negra and The Marriage of Figaro. She has also sung with Berkeley Opera, Santa Rosa Symphony, Ensemble Parallele, Livermore Valley Opera, Composer’s Inc, North Bay Opera, San Francisco Lyric Opera, Festival Opera and Sacramento Oper, Pacific Orchestra. Roles in Ms. Neff’s repertoire include Damon (Acis and Galatea); Sextus (La clemenza di Tito); Hansel (Hansel and Gretel); Dorabella (Così fan tutte); Cherubino (Le nozze di Figaro); Tisbe (La Cenerentola); Suzuki (Madama Butterfly); Margret (Wozzeck); Flora (Traviata).
Ms. Neff is a frequent recitalist and featured soloist in the Mendocino Music Festival, the Jewish Music Festival and the Telluride Chamber Music Festival. She was invited to the prestigious 2006 Gilmore International Keyboard Festival singing the Alto solo in Rossini’s Petite Messe Solonelle and a concert of all Janáček music. She has also been heard at the San Francisco Symphony singing the Alto Solo in Beethoven’s Choral Fantasia.
Ever a fan of 20th century music and living composers she seeks out opportunities to present these works.
She recently debuted the songs of composer Chris Praetorius in the world Premiere of his song cylce “SONGS OF MATHILDE” ; Jude Navarri’s song cycle at San Francisco’s Theatre Artaud; Songs by Jack Perla and the World Premiere of Allan Shearer’s Opera ” The Dawn Makers”
Ms. Neff also works collaboratively with visual and multimedia artists developing installations for museums. She has worked with Artist Mike Arcega and more recently with artist, Lewis de Soto. Her work has been seen at the SJICA, Oakland Museum, Stanford Gallery, and she is presently developing a new installation for Riverside Arts Center that will be sung in the American Indian language of Cahuilla.
Ms. Neff was on staff at UCSF for ten years teaching voice and now runs her own private voice studio and group voice classes.