Biography
Echalaz represented South Africa in the Cardiff Singer of the World in 2005 and, in 2008, made her debut at Covent Garden in the world première of Sir Harrison Birtwistle's opera The Minotaur, as well as singing the title role of Tosca for Opera Holland Park to unanimous critical acclaim: "Amanda Echalaz's Tosca was thrillingly sung. Echalaz is now set to be the leading Tosca of her generation. With unforced, candid tone, elegant movement and expressive face... every note and nuance is true." Anna Picard, The Independent.
In the 2009/10 season, Echalaz sang Liù Turandot and the title role of Tosca at English National Opera, and reprised Tosca for the Salzburg Landestheater. She also sang the title role of Madama Butterfly for Cape Town Opera and returned to Opera Holland Park to sing Amelia Un ballo in maschera. Sensationally, she triumphed at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden when she took over at short notice from an indisposed Angela Gheorghiu in the title role of Tosca. The 2010/11 season saw Echalaz make her debut at the Berlin Staatsoper as Tosca and make some important role debuts, returning to the Berlin Staatsoper to sing Elisabetta Don Carlo and performing the role of Maddalena Andrea Chénier at the Bregenz Festival, Austria.
Highlights of the 2011/12 season included Tatyana Eugene Onegin in a new production with English National Opera; a role debut in the title role of Salomé at La Monnaie, Brussels; and further performances of Tosca at the Berlin Staatsoper. Echalaz concluded the season with her US debut as Tosca with Santa Fe Opera.
Future seasons will see debuts at the Metropolitan Opera, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Canadian Opera Company, Polish National Opera and l'Opéra national du Rhin, as well as returns to the Royal Opera House and La Monnaie, Brussels. Forthcoming roles include Alice Falstaff; the title roles of Manon Lescaut, Tosca, and Madama Butterfly; and Amelia Un ballo in maschera.
Echalaz's concert repertoire includes Vaughan Williams' Sea Symphony, the Brahms and Verdi Requiems, Handel's Messiah, Mendelssohn's Elijah, Dvoák's Stabat Mater, Strauss' Four Last Songs and Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder.
Amanda Echalaz is represented by Zemsky Green.