“The Darling Divas” is not comprised of your stereotypical opera singers. These beautiful thirty-somethings make opera more appealing to a younger generation, while also enchanting and embracing the older set, making music highly approachable.

In Act 1, Ms. Hines and Ms. Miller perform a mix of masterwork opera arias and duets in gorgeous gowns and creations by famous red-carpet designer, Carmen Marc Valvo in an exclusive arrangement with “The Darling Divas”. In Act II, everything changes. The “divas” wear jeans, sit on stools, use mics and play to the audience, café society style.

Friends for over ten years since their days at Juilliard, Ms. Miller and Ms. Hines are both award winning artists who continue active careers in the opera world. Each of them has performed many roles at the Metropolitan Opera, the New York City Opera, and other national and international companies.

Cosmopolitan yet unpretentious, an evening with “The Darling Divas” is pure magic - they are hip and beautiful, charismatic and elegant. Ms. Hines and Ms. Miller share a magnetic stage presence in their performances. They make musical masterpieces more accessible by bringing them “home” - closer to your heart.

BIOGRAPHIES

Jennifer Hines ~ Mezzo-soprano Jennifer Hines made her Metropolitan Opera debut in Moses und Aron with Maestro James Levine conducting and subsequently sang in the Met’s heralded Ring Cycle, 2004-05 season. She recently made her recording debut in the title role of Astor Piazzola's Maria de Buenos Aires, Murry Sidlin conducting, released on the Koch label. Ms. Hines will be making her Portland Opera debut in the 2007-08 season as Bertarido in Rodelinda and will perform as soloist in Beethoven's Missa Solemnis with the National Philharmonic, in the Christmas Oratorio with the Washington Bach Consort, Messiah with American Bach Soloists, Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 with Green Bay Symphony, and in Mendelssohn's Elijah with the Cathedral Choral Society. In summer 2007, she performed Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 with the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Mann Music Center and at the Bravo! Festival in Vail. At New York City Opera, she has sung Mercedes in Carmen, Suzuki in Madama Butterfly conducted by George Manahan, the Second and Third Ladies in Die Zauberflote, Princess Nicolette in The Love for Three Oranges, and the Siren in Rinaldo, with Harry Bicket conducting. Ms. Hines made her Seattle Opera debut as Flosshilde and Rossweisse in Wagner's Ring Cycle and made her Washington National Opera debut singing the same roles. She returns to Seattle Opera to reprise her roles in ’09. Jennifer Hines is a native of Long Island and holds both Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the Juilliard School. She is a former Apprentice Artist with Santa Fe Opera, Tanglewood Music Center participant, and member of Seattle Opera's Young Artist Program.

Tonna Miller ~ Soprano Tonna Miller made her L.A. Opera debut this summer as Fortuna in L’Incoronazione di Poppea. She also made her Opera Pacific debut as Papagena in Die Zauberflote and Carmina Burana with Madison Symphony. She recently performed the title role in Gilbert and Sullivan’s Patience with New York City Opera opposite renowned English tenor Michael Ball; returned to the Metropolitan Opera as Barbarina in Le Nozze di Figaro, sang Jano in Jenufa and Papagena in Die Zauberflote with Houston Grand Opera; Yum-Yum in The Mikado with Orlando Opera; the title role in The Ballad of Baby Doe with Augusta Opera; Johanna in Sweeney Todd with Opera Colorado and Toledo Opera; Zerlina in Don Giovanni with Nashville Opera; and Sophie in Der Rosenkavalier with Michigan Opera Theatre. With New York City Opera, she has performed Johanna, Yum-Yum, Papagena, Frasquita in Carmen and Helen Niles in Mourning Becomes Electra. She has performed Naiade in Ariadne auf Naxos with Santa Fe Opera, Nannetta in Falstaff with Glimmerglass Opera and several roles with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. Ms. Miller returns to Opera Pacific this January as Papagena in Die Zauberflote. She hails from Texas.