Big, bold, lithe and lyrical
MSUM soprano showcases vocal versatility
From concert halls in Africa to Carnegie Hall in New York City, internationally-acclaimed singer 
Robin Allebach has sung on many of the world’s most famous stages. She brings her dramatic soprano voice and charismatic presence to MSUM’s Weld Hall Saturday, Oct. 30 at 3 p.m., when she presents “The Art of the Dramatic,” a recital of music composed by Richard Strauss, J. S. Bach, Giuseppe Verdi, Josef Marx and Miguel Sandoval. Allebach selected the music partly to demonstrate that dramatic soprano voices can have flexibility, and can sing with beauty and ease.
Allebach’s big voice and personality have landed her some big gigs. The late conductor Sir Georg Solti personally selected Allebach to record the Bach B Minor Mass with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. The recording won a Grammy award. In addition to Solti, she’s sung under conductors Daniel Barenboim, Zubin Mehta, Leonard Slatkin, James Levine, James Conlon, Michael Tilson Thomas, John Nelson, Nicholas McGegan, Bruno Bartoletti, Claudio Abbado and Nicholas McGegan – all top names in the international world of music.
Allebach’s credits include performances with Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Chicago Opera Theater, Grant Park Symphony, Chicago Reading Orchestra, the German Language Society of Chicago, Milwaukee Opera, Sparling Theatrical Productions, Didier LePauw’s Parisian Salon Concerts , Chanticleer Opera Theater, Bowen Park Opera Company, Chicago Celebrating Chopin, the Beverly Foundation for the Performing Arts, Alliance Francais, Bluffton Choral Society, the Zimriya Fest (Israel), the Europa Cantat (Switzerland) and a recital in the Karawa, the Congo.
Born and raised in Menahga, Minn., Allebach currently serves on the faculty of Bemidji State University, Moorhead State University and Valley City State University. She is the founder and artistic director of the Fargo Moorhead Festival of Singing, which opens its first season in February
Allebach is accompanied by pianist Susan Nagel and flutist Deb Harris, faculty members at MSUM and Concordia. The performance is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Robin Allebach at (773) 203-1441 or allebach@mnstate.edu.