Xiu-Ru Liu

Xiu-Ru Liu, Mezzo-Soprano

829 North Beatty Street
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15206
(412) 661-4162

Exceptional strength and versatility describe Ms. Liu in every aspect of her vocal and stage artistry. Glamorous and lithe in appearance -- with a voice that scales to any orchestra -- Ms. Liu transforms effortlessly from dignified concert diva to operatic femme fatale.

Ms. Liu reveals a world of emotions with just a glance...mesmerizing as Suzuki
Opera Review, May 2000

Ms. Liu was born in Beijing, Peoples' Republic of China, and counted among the first generation of artists to conquer the Cultural Revolution in the always sunny "Forbidden City." As a U.S. citizen, Ms. Liu is American in every sense but with no loss of her heritage. As she sings her first note, the cross-cultural depth of her ability stops the heart and warms the soul.

Magnificent voice...her dramatic ability created a wonderful feeling of pathos
Otaria, vol II #4

Versatile repertoire ranges from the Classical Chinese Repertory to Harry Burleigh, with everything in between. Last year, she appeared on national television in a live broadcast from The Crystal Cathedral, in Los Angeles, in a presentation of classical sacred songs. She has performed entire recitals featuring the music of Harry Burleigh, at times accompanied only by classical guitar.

Ms. Liu added a sympathetic presence to Filippyevna's every appearance
Opera News, Feb 1999

More traditionally, Ms. Liu has triumphed in such diverse roles as Maddalena in Rigoletto, Ulrika in Un Ballo in Maschera, Azucena in Il Trovatore, the 3rd Dame in Die Zauberflote, Erda in Das Rheingold, and Suzuki in Madame Butterfly, with German and Italian opera companies as well as with the Washington, D.C. Opera, Opera Delaware and the Natchez Opera Festival.

A fiery, vengeful Azucena, a level of vocal color and musical discrimination rarely heard
Ira Schwarz

Concert soloist engagements have included Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Verdi's Requiem, Mozart's Requiem, Brahm's Alto Rhapsody, Handel's Messiah, Mendelssohn's Elijah and Bach's B Minor Mass, with U.S. and international symphony orchestras.

Creamy, sexy, elegant & charming, and always feminine
"Xiu-Ru" in Chinese

Education
Xiu-Ru Liu graduated with distinction from the Central Conservatory ("Jun-Yong;" 'the best,' or 'best of the nation') of Music, Beijing, China, earning the US-equivalent Bachelor of Music, after she was discovered and first entered the prestigious institution as a second-year student.

Warm, crisp projection, even in the low register, a wonderful rich sound
Rochester Dem. & Chronicle

After living, teaching, and performing classical opera in Beijing and throughout China for 30 years, Ms. Liu came to the United States at the beckoning of Beverly Sills, who encouraged her to study in the US.
She was awarded a full scholarship by the Eastman School of Music and selected for leading roles in many operas and oratorios. In 1990, she received not only her Master's Degree but also the high honors Performance Certificate from Eastman.
A true mezzo. . .
Beverly Sills, after hearing Ms. Liu while visiting China

Opera Performances and Opera Roles
After graduation, her professional opera performances in the U.S. and Europe have included principal Alto and Mezzo roles such as Maddalena in Rigoletto, Ulrika in Un Ballo in Maschera, Azucena in Il Trovatore, the 3rd Dame in Die Zauberflote, Erda in Das Rheingold, Suzuki in Madame Butterfly, with German and Italian opera companies as well as with the Washington, D.C. Opera, Opera Delaware and the Natchez Opera Festival. Ms. Liu has performed as Suzuki, Madame Butterfly, Delaware Opera, 2000; Azucena, Il Trovatore, Grand Opera Taiwan, 1999; Filippyevna, Eugene Onegin, Delaware Opera, 1998; Suzuki, Madame Butterfly, Opera Italiana di Milano, 1997; Azucena, Il Trovatore, Opera Italiana di Milano, 1996; Ulrika, Un Ballo in Maschera, Opera Italiana di Milano; Maddalena, Rigoletto, Natchez Opera Festival, 1995; Azucena, Il Trovatore, Rochester Opera, 1994; Erda, Das Rheingold, Heidenheim Opera, 1994; 3rd Dame, Die Zauberflote, Heidenheim Opera, 1993; Jiao Mu, Savage Land, Washington D.C. Opera, 1992; Carmen, Carmen, International Music Festival, Hong Kong, 1990; Arnata, L'incoronazione di Poppea, Eastman Opera Theater, 1989; Ramiro, La Finta Giardiniera, Eastman Opera Theater, 1988; Old Lady, Candide, Eastman Opera Theater, 1988; Endimione, La Calisto, Eastman Opera Theater, 1987; Rebecca Nurse, The Crucible, Eastman Opera Theater, 1986; and Carmen, Carmen, China Central Opera, 1986, among others. Oratorio Appearances and Oratorio Concert (as Mezzo Soprano, Mezzo Contralto, or Alto Soloist)
She has also performed as a soloist in Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Verdi's Requiem, Mozart's Requiem, Brahm's Alto Rhapsody, Handel's Messiah, Mendelssohn's Elijah and Bach's B Minor Mass with symphony orchestras in the U.S. and abroad. Last year she appeared on national television in a live broadcast from Crystal Cathedral, Los Angeles, singing sacred songs. Ms Liu has performed as Alto, Mezzo Contralto, or Mezzo Soprano soloist in the Mozart Requiem, with the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh in 1998; Verdi Requiem with the Shadyside Music in a Great Space Series, 1997; also the same with the Taipei City Symphony, Taiwan, and the Plymouth Symphony, Plymouth, Massachusetts, 1992; Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with the Plymouth Symphony, Plymouth, Massachusetts, 1992; Mendelssohn's Elijah, with the Rochester Oratorio Society, NY, 1991; Bach's Canata 182 with the Rochester Bach Festival, NY, 1990; Handel's Messiah with the Cornell Chamber Singers, Ithaca, NY, 1988 and with the Shadyside Music in a Great Space series in 1995; Bach's B Minor Mass with the Eastman Chorus with performances in Rochester, NY, Buffalo, NY, Ft. Worth, TX, and Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., 1987; Brahm's Alto Rhapsody, Shadyside Music in a Great Space Series, Pittsburgh, PA 1996; and Handel's Messiah, with the Pensacola Symphony, FL, 2000, also among others.

Solo Recitals
Ms. Liu's solo recitals have given her every opportunity to explore the breadth of her musical gifts, and to perform rarely heard material in intimate, electrifying circumstances, including major efforts in Pittsburgh, PA 1997, 1998; Rochester, NY, 1996, 1994, 1992, 1989; Durango, CO, 1995 ; Hamburg, Germany, 1993; Mannheim, Germany 1991; Germany 1999 and 2000 (with her husband, bass-baritone Guenko Guechev); and Ludwigshafen, 2000. Conductors
Xiu-ru Liu has performed with conductors Peter Leonard, Paulette Haupt, Rudolf Schlegel, Donald Neuen, David Harman, David Blackburn, Kenneth Merrill, Marco-Maria Canonica, Tamas Bolberitz, Nicoletta Conti, Susan Davenny Wyner, Roger Wilhelm, David Lawton, and Francis Graffeo. She has had the opportunity to work with stage directors Wolfgang Weber, Richard Pearlman, Stan Garner, Leon Major, George Koff, Udo Schoen, Beth Greenberg, and Stephanie Sandine.

Languages
Ms. Liu is musically fluent in German, French, Italian, English, Russian, and of course, Chinese.

	829 North Beatty Street Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15206 (412) 661-4162 Exceptional strength and versatility describe Ms. Liu in every aspect of her vocal and stage artistry. Glamorous and lithe in appearance -- with a voice that scales to any orchestra -- Ms. Liu transforms effortlessly from dignified concert diva to operatic femme fatale. Ms. Liu reveals a world of emotions with just a glance...mesmerizing as Suzuki Opera Review, May 2000 Ms. Liu was born in Beijing, Peoples' Republic of China, and counted among the first generation of artists to conquer the Cultural Revolution in the always sunny "Forbidden City." As a U.S. citizen, Ms. Liu is American in every sense but with no loss of her heritage. As she sings her first note, the cross-cultural depth of her ability stops the heart and warms the soul. Magnificent voice...her dramatic ability created a wonderful feeling of pathos Otaria, vol II #4
Versatile repertoire ranges from the Classical Chinese Repertory to Harry Burleigh, with everything in between. Last year, she appeared on national television in a live broadcast from The Crystal Cathedral, in Los Angeles, in a presentation of classical sacred songs. She has performed entire recitals featuring the music of Harry Burleigh, at times accompanied only by classical guitar. Ms. Liu added a sympathetic presence to Filippyevna's every appearance Opera News, Feb 1999 More traditionally, Ms. Liu has triumphed in such diverse roles as Maddalena in Rigoletto, Ulrika in Un Ballo in Maschera, Azucena in Il Trovatore, the 3rd Dame in Die Zauberflote, Erda in Das Rheingold, and Suzuki in Madame Butterfly, with German and Italian opera companies as well as with the Washington, D.C. Opera, Opera Delaware and the Natchez Opera Festival. A fiery, vengeful Azucena, a level of vocal color and musical discrimination rarely heard Ira Schwarz
	Concert soloist engagements have included Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Verdi's Requiem, Mozart's Requiem, Brahm's Alto Rhapsody, Handel's Messiah, Mendelssohn's Elijah and Bach's B Minor Mass, with U.S. and international symphony orchestras. Creamy, sexy, elegant & charming, and always feminine "Xiu-Ru" in Chinese Education Xiu-Ru Liu graduated with distinction from the Central Conservatory ("Jun-Yong;" 'the best,' or 'best of the nation') of Music, Beijing, China, earning the US-equivalent Bachelor of Music, after she was discovered and first entered the prestigious institution as a second-year student. Warm, crisp projection, even in the low register, a wonderful rich sound Rochester Dem. & Chronicle
After living, teaching, and performing classical opera in Beijing and throughout China for 30 years, Ms. Liu came to the United States at the beckoning of Beverly Sills, who encouraged her to study in the US. She was awarded a full scholarship by the Eastman School of Music and selected for leading roles in many operas and oratorios. In 1990, she received not only her Master's Degree but also the high honors Performance Certificate from Eastman.	A true mezzo. . . Beverly Sills, after hearing Ms. Liu while visiting China
Opera Performances and Opera Roles After graduation, her professional opera performances in the U.S. and Europe have included principal Alto and Mezzo roles such as Maddalena in Rigoletto, Ulrika in Un Ballo in Maschera, Azucena in Il Trovatore, the 3rd Dame in Die Zauberflote, Erda in Das Rheingold, Suzuki in Madame Butterfly, with German and Italian opera companies as well as with the Washington, D.C. Opera, Opera Delaware and the Natchez Opera Festival. Ms. Liu has performed as Suzuki, Madame Butterfly, Delaware Opera, 2000; Azucena, Il Trovatore, Grand Opera Taiwan, 1999; Filippyevna, Eugene Onegin, Delaware Opera, 1998; Suzuki, Madame Butterfly, Opera Italiana di Milano, 1997; Azucena, Il Trovatore, Opera Italiana di Milano, 1996; Ulrika, Un Ballo in Maschera, Opera Italiana di Milano; Maddalena, Rigoletto, Natchez Opera Festival, 1995; Azucena, Il Trovatore, Rochester Opera, 1994; Erda, Das Rheingold, Heidenheim Opera, 1994; 3rd Dame, Die Zauberflote, Heidenheim Opera, 1993; Jiao Mu, Savage Land, Washington D.C. Opera, 1992; Carmen, Carmen, International Music Festival, Hong Kong, 1990; Arnata, L'incoronazione di Poppea, Eastman Opera Theater, 1989; Ramiro, La Finta Giardiniera, Eastman Opera Theater, 1988; Old Lady, Candide, Eastman Opera Theater, 1988; Endimione, La Calisto, Eastman Opera Theater, 1987; Rebecca Nurse, The Crucible, Eastman Opera Theater, 1986; and Carmen, Carmen, China Central Opera, 1986, among others.	Oratorio Appearances and Oratorio Concert (as Mezzo Soprano, Mezzo Contralto, or Alto Soloist) She has also performed as a soloist in Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, Verdi's Requiem, Mozart's Requiem, Brahm's Alto Rhapsody, Handel's Messiah, Mendelssohn's Elijah and Bach's B Minor Mass with symphony orchestras in the U.S. and abroad. Last year she appeared on national television in a live broadcast from Crystal Cathedral, Los Angeles, singing sacred songs. Ms Liu has performed as Alto, Mezzo Contralto, or Mezzo Soprano soloist in the Mozart Requiem, with the Bach Choir of Pittsburgh in 1998; Verdi Requiem with the Shadyside Music in a Great Space Series, 1997; also the same with the Taipei City Symphony, Taiwan, and the Plymouth Symphony, Plymouth, Massachusetts, 1992; Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with the Plymouth Symphony, Plymouth, Massachusetts, 1992; Mendelssohn's Elijah, with the Rochester Oratorio Society, NY, 1991; Bach's Canata 182 with the Rochester Bach Festival, NY, 1990; Handel's Messiah with the Cornell Chamber Singers, Ithaca, NY, 1988 and with the Shadyside Music in a Great Space series in 1995; Bach's B Minor Mass with the Eastman Chorus with performances in Rochester, NY, Buffalo, NY, Ft. Worth, TX, and Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., 1987; Brahm's Alto Rhapsody, Shadyside Music in a Great Space Series, Pittsburgh, PA 1996; and Handel's Messiah, with the Pensacola Symphony, FL, 2000, also among others.
Solo Recitals Ms. Liu's solo recitals have given her every opportunity to explore the breadth of her musical gifts, and to perform rarely heard material in intimate, electrifying circumstances, including major efforts in Pittsburgh, PA 1997, 1998; Rochester, NY, 1996, 1994, 1992, 1989; Durango, CO, 1995 ; Hamburg, Germany, 1993; Mannheim, Germany 1991; Germany 1999 and 2000 (with her husband, bass-baritone Guenko Guechev); and Ludwigshafen, 2000.	Conductors Xiu-ru Liu has performed with conductors Peter Leonard, Paulette Haupt, Rudolf Schlegel, Donald Neuen, David Harman, David Blackburn, Kenneth Merrill, Marco-Maria Canonica, Tamas Bolberitz, Nicoletta Conti, Susan Davenny Wyner, Roger Wilhelm, David Lawton, and Francis Graffeo. She has had the opportunity to work with stage directors Wolfgang Weber, Richard Pearlman, Stan Garner, Leon Major, George Koff, Udo Schoen, Beth Greenberg, and Stephanie Sandine.
Languages Ms. Liu is musically fluent in German, French, Italian, English, Russian, and of course, Chinese.