Jane Archibald

Jane Archibald is a Canadian operatic soprano from Nova Scotia. Born in Truro, she began her professional opera career in Canada before joining the San Francisco Opera as an Adler Fellow. Her career was elevated by a performance as Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos in 2007, a role she has reprised more than any other. Her first solo CD was the winner of a 2012 Juno Award for Classical Album of the Year.

Early life and education Jane Archibald was born in Truro, Nova Scotia. Her father was a physician, and her mother worked for the government. She attended high school at Cobequid Educational Centre, and went on to earn a Bachelor of Music from Wilfrid Laurier University. She began taking solo voice lessons at the age of 11, and sang in choirs such as the First Baptist Girls' Choir during her youth.

Career Archibald began her career in professional opera in Canada, before joining the San Francisco Opera as an Adler Fellow in 2005, making her debut as Elvira in Rossini's L'Italiana in Algeri. After undertaking a training program through San Francisco Opera, she sang her debut at the Vienna State Opera as Queen of the Night in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte. Her career gained momentum in 2007 when she stepped in as Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos by R. Strauss at the Geneva and Vienna State Operas, earning critical acclaim. Zerbinetta became one of Archibald's signature roles, reprised more than any other. During her time with the Vienna State Opera, she sang other roles such as Sophie in Der Rosenkavalier by R. Strauss.

Archibald made her debut with the Metropolitan Opera as Ophélie in Hamlet by Ambroise Thomas in 2010, stepping in for the French soprano Natalie Dessay. In 2013, she returned to the Metropolitan Opera as Adele in Die Fledermaus by J. Strauss. With the Canadian Opera Company, she performed the title role in Sémélé by Marin Marais in 2012 and 2015. Her first solo CD was released by ATMA Classique and was the winner of a 2012 Juno Award for Classical Album of the Year.

In 2017, Archibald was appointed as the artist-in-residence for the Canadian Opera Company's 2017/2018 season, during which she sang Konstanze in Mozart's Die. Her other roles have included the title role in Handel's Alcina with the Glyndebourne Festival and Cunegonde in Bernstein's Candide with the London Symphony Orchestra.

Personal life Archibald is married to the tenor Kurt Streit, which whom she has two children. She met him in 2009 while singing a performance of Haydn's Orlando Paladino with the Berlin Philharmonic.

Discography