Biography
Lily Arbisser possesses an "individual-timbred soprano" (Opera News) that "floats effortlessly" (www.feastofmusic.com) over the orchestra. Known for delivering insightful performances, she is quickly establishing a reputation as a soloist of great versatility and depth. In recent seasons, Arbisser debuted such roles as Monica in Menotti’s The Medium at the Phoenicia International Festival of the Voice, Jeannette in the Chevalier de Saint-Georges’ L'Amant Anonyme with the little OPERA theatre of NY, as well as Pamina in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte with Opera Seabrook. She also enjoyed a fruitful collaboration with pianist, Jason Wirth, in numerous performances of Poulenc’s La voix humaine. This summer Arbisser join's Will Crutchfield's new company, Teatro Nuovo, as an Apprentice Artist where she will be studying the role of Ilia in Mozart's Idomeneo.
Increasingly in demand on the concert stage, Arbisser is a frequent soloist with choral groups in and around the New York area, most recently appearing in Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass with Ars Choralis of Woodstock, NY and Handel’s Laudate pueri with the Harford Choral Society. Other concert credits include the title role in Handel’s Theodora with the Columbia University Bach Society, as well as the soprano soloist in Handel’s Israel in Egypt during the American Handel Society Festival and in Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana with both the Stonewall Chorale of New York City and Ars Choralis of Woodstock, NY.
A native of Davenport, Iowa where public schools champion the arts, Arbisser was an avid instrumentalist from an early age, distinguishing herself on cello, French horn, and piano. At the age of seventeen, she was featured as the piano soloist in a performance of Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue with the Quad City Wind Ensemble. She graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Princeton University with a Bachelor of Arts in Art and Archaeology and a Certificate in Vocal Performance. She holds a Master of Music degree from Mannes College the New School for Music. - last updated: 4/14/2018