Julia Bentley

ISEA1997

Mezzo-soprano Julia Bentley received her musical education in Bloomington, Indiana and Vienna, Austria. She has been an apprentice with the Santa Fe Opera and the Chicago Lyric Opera, and has appeared as a principal artist at operas throughout the country in roles including Carmen, Rosina, and Cinderella (by both Rossini and Massenet), receiving praise as being one of the finest singing actresses on any stage. She is an active recitalist, and has been featured as an oratorio soloist with George Manahan, Raymond Leopard, John Mauceri and Robert Shaw. Noted for her passionate interpretation of contemporary works, she has appeared in Chicago’s Orchestra Hall as a featured artist for the Illinois Humanities Festival, and performed Le Marteau sans Maitre with members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in honor of Pierre Boulez’s 70th birthday.