Beverly Hoch

Beverly Hoch (born August 26, 1951[1]) is an American coloratura soprano and music educator who has had an active performance career in operas, concerts, and on recordings since the late 1970s. She has been teaching at Texas Woman's University since 2007.[2]

Life and career

Born in Marion, Kansas, Beverly was the daughter of Wharton Hoch and great-granddaughter of E. W. Hoch.[3] Hoch earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Friends University in 1973 before pursuing formal musical studies. She earned a Bachelor of Music degree from Oklahoma City University in 1975, and a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Wichita State University in 1978 where she was a pupil of George Gibson.[1] She also studied opera briefly at Sarah Lawrence College where she performed her first opera role, Zerlina in Don Giovanni in 1978.[4] She studied voice privately in New York with Michael Trimble (1977–1982) and Ellen Faull (1982–1986).[1]

Hoch won the regional division of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in 1977 before winning the Young Concert Artists contest in 1979.[5] She made her debut at the Santa Fe Opera as Iza in La Grande-Duchesse de Gérolstein in 1979.[6] She made her professional recital debut at the 92nd Street Y in January 1980. In his review of her performance, The New York Times music critic Donal Henahan wrote, "Miss Hoch's voice is pure and agile, which satisfies the basic requirements of a coloratura soprano, but it also has an attractive vibrato that lends itself to warmth and color. Like many coloraturas, she can use it in a precise instrumental style, and did so dazzlingly."[5]

In 1980 Hoch portrayed the Dew Fairy in Hansel and Gretel at the Wolf Trap Opera.[7] In 1981 she opened the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center's season with a concert of music by Stravinsky and Haydn at Alice Tully Hall.[8] In 1984 she portrayed Tiny in Britten's Paul Bunyan at the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis.[9] In 1985 she recorded the role of Clomiri in Handel's Imeneo with the Brewer Baroque Ensemble for Schwann Records.[10]

In 1986 Hoch portrayed Olympia in The Tales of Hoffmann at the Hawaii Opera Theatre and was Philine in Mignon at the Wexford Festival Opera.[11] In 1987 she recorded the album Great Coloratura Solos with the Hong Kong Philharmonic for MCA Records.[12] In 1988 she appeared at the Royal Swedish Opera as the title heroine in Lucia di Lammermoor. In 1989 she portrayed the title role in Lakmé at the Arizona Opera. The following year she recorded the role of the Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute with the London Classical Players and the Schütz Choir of London for EMI.[13]

In 1990 Hoch portrayed Ann Page in The Merry Wives of Windsor at the Washington National Opera.[14] In 1991 she portrayed the Queen of the Night in The Magic Flute at the Glyndebourne Festival Opera.[11] In 1992 she was a featured soloist with the American Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall.[15] Other highlights of her career include portraying Adele in Die Fledermaus at the Strasbourg Opera House, Blondchen in Die Entführung aus dem Serail at the Opéra National de Lyon, and the role of Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos in opera houses throughout Germany. As a chamber musician she frequently performed with the Bach Aria Group for many years. Additionally, Hoch was a soloist at the wedding of Caroline Kennedy to Edwin Schlossberg in 1986[16].

In 1997 she married jazz artist Michael Steinel.[17]

gollark: Why is it sometimes dark?
gollark: Why can't I go there and look at it if it's so real and extant?
gollark: How can something both be falling down due to gravity and staying up there every night?
gollark: The Moon obviously cannot exist as claimed.
gollark: Yes. I know lots of things about the alleged "celestial body" "orbiting" us.

References
  1. Nicolas Slonimsky, Laura Diane Kuhn (2001). Baker's Biographical Dictionary of Musicians. Schirmer Books.
  2. "Texas Woman's University, Ms. Beverly Hoch (accessed 5 March 2017)". Archived from the original on March 6, 2017. Retrieved March 6, 2017.
  3. "Beverly J. Hoch, Michael Steinel". New York Times. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  4. Raymond Ericson (June 24, 1978). "Sarah Lawrence Arts Center Presents Intimate 'Don Giovanni'" (PDF). The New York Times. p. 11.
  5. Donal Henahan (January 27, 1980). "Beverly Hoch, Coloratura Winner of Met Auditions" (PDF). The New York Times.
  6. "Beverly Hoch". Santa Fe Opera Archives. Retrieved November 3, 2015.
  7. "Hansel and Gretel". Wolf Trap Opera Archives. Retrieved November 3, 2015.
  8. "A Festival Of Stravinsky And Haydn". The New York Times. August 18, 1981.
  9. Donal Henahan (June 17, 1984). "Opera: Britten's 'Bunyan' Produced In St. Louis". The New York Times.
  10. Gerald Gold (November 17, 1985). "Record Notes; Collectors Of Handel Have Reason To Rejoice". The New York Times.
  11. "Beverly Hoch". Operissimo concertissimo. Retrieved November 3, 2015.
  12. Rick Rogers (November 27, 1988). "Singer's Voice, Career Take A Big Leap". The Oklahoman.
  13. Paul Gruber (1993). "The Metropolitan Opera Guide to Recorded Opera". W. W. Norton & Company. p. 342.
  14. James R. Oestreich (January 30, 1990). "Review/Opera; Nicolai, Massenet and Argento In Washington Triple-Header". The New York Times.
  15. Allan Kozinn (January 14, 1992). "Classical Music in Review".
  16. "Beverly Hoch Music". Texas Woman's University. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  17. "Marion natives Tidwell and Hoch combine pipes, voice for recital". Marion County Record. January 3, 2002.
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