Last summer, Mary stepped in as a last-minute replacement, singing Queen of the Night in Delaware Valley Opera’s The Magic Flute, and garnered an excellent review: “the role was conquered by Mary Thorne who came up Saturday afternoon to play the part. Her flawless delivery of “The Queen of the Night's Aria” was a showstopper” (Sullivan County Democrat.)
Mary began the 2017-2018 season singing Ines in Donizetti's La Zingara, a remounting of the previous season's success with Amore Opera. Indulging her passion for art song, Mary sang the New York City premiere of Jorge Martín's songs, A Cuban in Vermont, in concert at Shetler Studios & Theatres. The holidays included Soloist in Poulenc's Gloria with New Jersey’s Philomusica.
In 2017, Mary returned to Theater 2020 to sing the Beggar Woman in Sweeney Todd helping the company earn an Innovative Theatre Award nomination for Outstanding Ensemble. Mary also returned to Amore Opera to sing the lovelorn Ines in the American premiere of Donizetti's La Zingara.
Mary had an exciting summer 2016 season. Mary sang the role of Königin der Nacht in New York Lyric Opera Theatre's Die Zaubertflöte at the Bruno Walter Auditorium with Metamorphosis Chamber Orchestra. She made her Carnegie Hall debut at Weill Recital Hall with the same company singing Rosalinde's "Csárdás" from Die Fledermaus. The summer season ended with Mary singing chorus in the double bill Aleko/Pagliacci with New York City Opera at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Rose Theater.
Mary opened the 2015-2016 season as a featured sword dancer in St. Jean’s Players’ Brigadoon. She sang in the talent showcase Broadway Performance Project at the 92nd Street Y, directed by Kimberly Vaughn and choreographed by Justin Boccitto. Mary appeared as Mrs. Nordstrom in Sondheim’s A Little Night Music produced by Theater 2020.
Frequently heard in Mozart roles, Mary sang Queen of the Night in Amore Opera's production of The Magic Flute, which was presented by WQXR at The Greene Space. She sang Pamina in Hubbard Hall Opera Theater’s Die Zauberflöte and opened Amato Opera’s final season as Despina in Così fan tutte. She has also sung Susanna, Barbarina, Blondchen, Königin der Nacht, Papagena, and Mademoiselle Silberklang, with New York companies Bronx Opera, Opera Company of Brooklyn, and New York Metro Vocal Arts Ensemble.
As the coquettish Zerbinetta, Mary was praised for her “knowing sexiness, effortless coloratura runs and solid acting skills” in Ariadne auf Naxos with Winter Opera Saint Louis. In another favorite role, she appeared as Gilda in Rigoletto with Long Island Opera.
In concert, Mary appeared with the Richmond Choral Society and Staten Island Philharmonic as First Soprano Soloist in Mozart’s Mass in C Minor. She has appeared with the Simon Sinfonietta of Cape Cod in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and Haydn’s Missa Sanctae Caeciliae for which the Cape Cod Times hailed her an “engaging soloist, bright and agile.” Local appearances include a solo recital on the Concerts at One series presented by New York City’s historic Trinity Wall Street Church and soprano soloist in Fauré’s Requiem and Haydn’s Missa in tempore belli with the West Village Chorale Summer Sings.
An advocate of American opera, Mary enjoys collaborating on new works. Mary took the concert stage at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival singing the title role of former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales in The Gonzales Cantata by Melissa Dunphy. She appeared in the role of Marie in John David Earnest’s opera-in-progress, The Theory of Everything, performed on New York City Opera’s VOX: On the Edge. She also helped create roles in other operas by young composers including: Adam Silverman’s Korczak’s Orphans, Peter Kirn’s Dreams on the Seine, and Dan Shore’s The Beautiful Bridegroom.
In competition, Ms. Thorne was a winner in the Civic Morning Musicals Competition, La Jolla Symphony and Chorus Young Artist Competition, and a finalist in the Capital Region Opera Idol Competition. She earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the City University of New York Graduate Center with her dissertation titled: “Virgil Thomson and Kenneth Koch: Text Setting in the Songs Mostly About Love.” Ms. Thorne also holds degrees from Mannes College of Music (MM) and Point Loma Nazarene University (BA).
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