Who is Rachel Bersier?

Rachel Sparer Bersier, Soprano, has sung throughout the United States and Europe and has been heralded in the press for her interpretation of Richard Strauss’ “Ariadne auf Naxos” in England: “(Opera Festival) Broomhill was lucky to have Rachel Bersier from New York as Ariadne, for this is an astonishing talent. I have never heard a singer so obviously gifted for roles like Brunnhilde and Isolde, with an attack and timbre like Varnay’s or Nilsson’s… A glorious sound, which made a spell-binding effect.” — Tom Sutcliffe,The Guardian.

PERFORMING CAREER

Leading roles include Turandot, Norma, Donna Anna (Don Giovanni), Elisabeth in Wagner’s Tannhauser and Mathilde from Mascagni’s “Silvano” which she performed to critical acclaim at Carnegie Hall in New York and recorded for Elysium Recordings Inc. Her oratorio and concert works include R. Strauss’ Vier Letzte Lieder, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Dvorak’s Stabat Mater, Elijah; Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, and Verdi’s Requiem which she continues to enjoy performing.

EARLY YEARS

Born and raised in New York City, she was awarded the first prize in the Wagner Division of the Liederkranz Competition and was a finalist in the Lucia Albenese Competition in Los Angelos as well as the Francesco Vinas Competition in Barcelona. Amongst other awards and scholarships she was a regional finalist in the Metropolitan Opera Young Artist Competition

TEACHING ACTIVITY

Rachel, teacher at the Schweizer Akademie für Musik und Musikpädagogik (Kalaidos University of Applied Sciences Switzerland) is regularly invited to give Master Classes across Europe. She teaches in Germany, France, Italy, Montenegro and has recently being invited to teach at the Académie Internationale d’Été de Nice. From her home base of Switzerland, she teaches over 60 private students combined from her studios in Geneva, Lausanne and Fribourg, and organizes regular Opera Workshops as well as audition classes for young professional singers.

www.rachelbersier.com

TESTIMONIALS

“…As my professional engagements began to steadily increase, Rachel’s coaching and philosophy came at a great time.  In studying with her privately and in her master class setting, she helped me to develop a freedom in my overall approach to singing as a lyric-coloratura.  I learned how to really “feel” my voice in a way that I had never felt before with other coaches.  Rachel’s exercises are gentle and neutral in a way that allows the singer, in his or her own personal way, to truly explore and connect with the physical sensations that occur during sound production.  I felt the “elusive” corners of my vocal techniques go away, so that I could be much decisive in approaching a phrase and how exactly I wanted to sing it.  She helped me to unify my whole range from absolute bottom to top, as well as develop my “pianissimo” singing…“

Lisa Lulis – professional soprano and voice teacher (living in Basel)

“…La technique enseignée par Rachel Bersier est extrêmement efficace et ses cours de chant m’aident à progresser depuis trois ans déjà. Ma voix s’est élargie et enrichie grâce à ses conseils. Rachel m’aide à optimiser ma voix dans tous les registres grâce à une plus grande prise de conscience des passages. Mes sensations au niveau du larynx se sont affinées. Grâce à des indications très précises, je parviens beaucoup mieux à rendre toute la palette de nuances qu’exige une partition. La technique de Rachel permet aussi bien d’aborder le répertoire baroque que le répertoire classique et romantique. Je peux donc aussi bien chanter les airs du Messie de Haendel que le rôle de Marguerite dans la Damnation de Faust de Berlioz. En cherchant à équilibrer les registres de tête et de poitrine, la gestion du souffle devient évidente et je ne me fatigue pas.
Les conseils de Rachel me sont également très précieux pour mon enseignement au Conservatoire de Genève. Mes élèves bénéficient donc indirectement de son enseignement.“

Valérie Bonnard, Mezzo-soprano, Professeur de chant au Conservatoire de Genève

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