Jeanine De Bique

INTERNATIONALLY acclaimed Soprano

Recently described as a "revelation” and “breath-taking from start to finish” (NRC, Netherlands), Trinidadian soprano Jeanine De Bique is recognized as an artist of “dramatic presence and versatility” (Washington Post, USA) and possessing “genuine star quality” (New York Amsterdam News).

Appearances in the 2018/19 season included the title role of Handel’s Rodelinda at Opéra de Lille, role debuts as Donna Anna in Don Giovanni for Opéra National du Rhin and as Aida in the world premiere of Caruso a Cuba by Micha Hamel at Dutch National Opera, Mahler’s Symphony no 4, conducted by Teodor Currentzis, in Milan, St Petersburg, Munich and Budapest, Handel’s Messiah with the Melbourne Symphony, New Year’s concerts with the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Handel arias and Mozart’s Requiem with the Budapest Festival Orchestra, conducted by Iván Fischer, at the Hollywood Bowl and Lincoln Center. Ms De Bique concludes the season with returns to the BBC Proms in the role of Iphis in Handel’s Jephtha with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Richard Egarr and to the Ravinia Festival for Mahler’s Symphony no 8 with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Marin Alsop.

In 2017, Ms De Bique gave highly acclaimed debuts at the Salzburg Festival as Annio in a new production of La Clemenza di Tito by Peter Sellars and at the BBC Proms and the Aldeburgh Festival with the Chineke! Orchestra in works by Handel. This was followed by concerts of La Clemenza di Tito throughout Europe with Musica Aeterna, conducted by Teodor Currentzis, Handel's Messiah with the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, her house debut at Dutch National Opera as Annio in Peter Sellars’ Salzburg production, Musetta in La Bohème at Theater St. Gallen, her Berlin debut in Arvo Pärt's Como la cierva sedienta with the Konzerthausorchester under the baton of Iván Fischer and a recital at the Ravinia Festival.

The season 2019/20 will see further important house debuts: as Susanna/Le Nozze di Figaro for San Francisco Opera, as Helena in Ted Huffman’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Deutsche Oper Berlin, conducted by Donald Runnicles, and as Micaëla in Calixto Bieto’s acclaimed production of Carmen at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona. Ms De Bique will also return to Theater St Gallen for her role debut as Cleopatra in Giulio Cesare, to the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra for Mozart’s Exultate Jubilate and Handel’s Messiah, which she will also perform with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic. She will appear at La Seine Musicale in Paris in Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem with Raphaël Pichon, Chapelle de Versailles and Orchestre National de Lyon Auditorium as Angelo in La Resurezzione with Les Nouveaux Caractères and sing Mahler’s Symphony no 2 with the Orchestre National du Capitole de Toulouse with Tugan Sokhiev in Toulouse and at the Philharmonie Paris.

Concert and opera highlights include Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem with the Munich Philharmonic and L’Orchestra della Svizzera Italiana under the baton of Lorin Maazel, with whom she also made her New York Philharmonic debut in Mahler’s Symphony no. 8 at Avery Fisher Hall, Rachel in Kurt Weill's Die Verheissung with the MDR Symphony Orchestra under Kristjan Jaervi, Consuelo in John Adams’ I Was Looking at the Ceiling and Then I Saw the Sky at Teatro dell' Opera di Roma, Sophie in Werther at Theater Basel, Pearl in Morning Star at Cincinnati Opera, Clara in Porgy and Bess for the Royal Danish Opera, Sister Rose in Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking with Central City Opera, Messiah at Boston Baroque and Mozart’s Coronation Mass with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

Ms De Bique is a former member of the Vienna State Opera, where she appeared as Gianetta in L’elisir d’amore, Barbarina in Le nozze di Figaro, Kate Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, Eine Modistin in Der Rosenkavalier and Ada in Wagner’s Die Feen.

She holds a Master degree from the Manhattan School of Music. Her awards include First prize at the Young Concert Artists, Inc Music Competition, the Arleen Auger Prize at the Hertogenbosch International Vocal Competition, Third Prize in the Viotti International Music Competition. She was a prize winner at the Gerda Lissner Vocal Competition (New York), a finalist and study grant award recipient of the 2011 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and received a study grant from the Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation. She is a recipient of the Youth Ambassador for Peace, awarded by the National Commission of UNESCO, Trinidad and Tobago.

Ms. De Bique’s career reflects her commitment to inclusion and justice for those who are disadvantaged. As a recipient of the Youth Ambassador for Peace she has continued to raise awareness of the value of classical music in transforming lives and to dedicate performances to support the well-being and safety of young people.

In Barbados 2008 and 2010, proceeds from her recitals benefitted kids with autism and other disabilities. A fund for promising young organists was established by the Anglican Church there. With the support of the National Cultural Foundation Barbados and the Rotary Club South, she collaborated in 2015 with the World Doctors’ Orchestra to perform Mahler 4 at the Frank Colleymore Hall. The concerts gave visibility to the talent of members of the National Youth Orchestra who performed with the orchestra. Proceeds from that event were used to purchase special auditory equipment for the children's ward of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Musical outreach to children provides her with the unique opportunity to engage their minds, fill their imaginations and infuse them with hope. With the support of the Ravinia Festival, she worked with 4 different schools in Chicago with kids ranging between the ages of 5-17 years and she introduced them to the world of classical music and opera, the rhythms and folk songs of the Caribbean, and their own heritage of African American spirituals.

When Ms. De Bique is not on the stage, she takes restorative breaks to balance the rigor of performances by roaming quiet paths, climbing mountains and pursuing historic places. She also remains very close to her teacher’s vocal technique and training.

Ms. De Bique is conscious of the ways in which she contributes to bringing the still underrepresented Caribbean to the forefront in the field of opera. Being a native of the Caribbean community, Trinidad and Tobago, is something of which she is immensely and justifiably proud.