Hailed as “confident and charismatic” (Bachtrack), Nigerian-American Soprano Victoria Lawal enjoys a diverse repertoire, ranging from staple works of the canon to stage plays and world premieres. With a growing emphasis on Italian opera, Victoria most recently covered Norina in Don Pasquale at Festival Napa Valley as a Maria Manetti Shrem Fellow. Victoria also joined the Festival Orchestra Napa singing excerpts as Magda (La Rondine), Contessa (Le nozze di Figaro) and the title role of Donizetti’s Lucrezia Borgia. Victoria also looks forward to an upcoming double debut at Detroit Opera, as the Rooster in The Cunning Little Vixen led by Yuval Sharon and Maestro Roberto Kalb.

 

In the 2022-2023 season, Victoria debuted the role of the High Priestess in Aida with Tulsa Opera led by Maestro Francesco Milioto. On hours notice, Victoria jumped in for opening night and subsequent performances of Heartbeat Opera’s critically acclaimed Lady M. Victoria then joined Opera Theatre of St. Louis for the summer season. Victoria covered the roles of Despina (Così fan tutte), Mrs. Hayes (Susannah), and the title role of Treemonisha. With the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, Lawal was heard in scenes as Liza in Pique Dame and Mrs. Fiorentino in Street Scene.

 

In the 2021-2022 season Lawal was seen in recital, joined by pianist Mark Robson in a versatile program featuring songs by Julianna Hall, Respighi, Chabrier, Barber and Theodosia Roussos. On Film, Victoria starred in The Knock, a world premiere, commissioned by The Glimmerglass Festival. Hailed as "Smooth-voiced yet strong" (The New York Times), Lawal debuted the role of Marzelline (Marcy) in Heartbeat Opera's touring production of Fidelio. Victoria then enjoyed a house and role debut as Musetta with Opera Birmingham. After a company debut as Erste Dame in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, Victoria returned to Glimmerglass to reprise her role in the 2022 expansion of The Passion of Mary Cardwell Dawson, which features both excerpts from Carmen, and original music by Carlos Simon. Victoria performs as Isabelle/Micaëla alongside Denyce Graves, in the titular role. In tandem, Lawal covered the role of Micaëla in what marks Graves' directorial debut.

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Engagements impacted by the global pandemic include Beethoven's Mass in C, Mozart's Requiem, and two World Premieres. With Beth Morrison Projects, Victoria was engaged to workshop the role of Sabine in Adoration and was to join Helsinki's Sibelius Academy, creating the role of Svitlana in All the truths we cannot see, depicting the 1986 Chernobyl Crisis.

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Highlights of the 2019-2020 season included debut with the Angeles Chorale singing Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem, a role debut as Helena in Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream and originating the role of Opal in the World Premiere of The Body Female, commissioned by LA Opera.