“Hailed as “smooth-voiced, yet strong” (The New York Times), Nigerian American soprano Victoria Lawal’s recent engagements include  a House and Role debut at Detroit Opera as the Rooster in The Cunning Little Vixen. Additionally, Victoria debuted the role of  Mary Johnson in Opera Parallèle’s Fellow Travelers in which she "[nailed] her tormented, soaring number in the second act" (The San Francisco Chronicle). This spring, Victoria debuts with Opera Saratoga as Mariana in Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Girl en el Mundo, celebrating the life and work of the influential artist. Later in the season, Victoria will join the Chautauqua Opera Company as an Apprentice Artist. There, Victoria  will sing the role of Mrs. Hodge in the first-ever Orchestrated workshop of Lincoln in the Bardo, commissioned by The Metropolitan Opera. A collaboration between Missy Mazzoli, and Royce Vavrek, based on the Booker-prize winning novel will receive its premiere at The Met in 2026. Victoria will also reprise the role of Musetta in Puccini's La Bohème, and sing Mrs. Talbot in Jeremy Gill's Ida by Lamplight, commissioned in celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the Chautauquan Daily. 

 

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.