Praised by the Boston Musical Intelligencer for her "velvet tone that can build to a powerful clarion," Pakistani-American soprano Samina Aslam is rapidly gaining attention for her stunning interpretations of the lyric soprano repertoire. Ms. Aslam will debut with Chautauqua Opera in 2022 as Mukhtar Mai in Kamala Sankaram’s Thumbprint and Constance Fletcher in The Mother of Us All.
In previous seasons, Ms. Aslam debuted as Nedda (Pagliacci) and the title role in Holst’s rarely-performed one-act opera Sāvitri with New Camerata Opera. She joined Opera NEO to debut the fiery title character in Gluck's masterpiece Armide and cover Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte). The San Diego Story lauded her Armide performance, stating “Samina Aslam's ample voice displayed the requisite range of colors to embody the gamut of emotions her character displayed...she was most persuasive in furious declamation."
An exceptionally versatile artist, Ms. Aslam completed a two-year residency with Ars Musica, where she was featured as the soprano soloist in a variety of works including Handel's Messiah, Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle , Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Bach’s B Minor Mass, and Poulenc’s Stabat Mater. Ms. Aslam’s other young artist program credits include Opera North and the Franco American Vocal Academy.
Ms. Aslam was a Resident Artist at the Boston University Opera Institute where she received their prestigious Performer’s Certificate. Her repertoire included the title role in Massenet’s Cendrillon, Zina (Dark Sisters), Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), and Micaëla (La Tragédie de Carmen). She also performed with Boston area institutions including Boston Lyric Opera, Masterworks Chorale, and Opera del West, with whom she performed the role of the Contessa (Le Nozze di Figaro).
Ms. Aslam completed her graduate studies at the Cincinnati College- Conservatory of Music, where she sang Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni ) and performed with Cincinnati area institutions including Cincinnati Opera and the Cincinnati Fringe Festival. Ms. Aslam made her professional operatic debut as the Second Spirit (Die Zauberflöte) with Opéra Louisiane while completing her Bachelor’s degree at Louisiana State University, and took First Prize in the Louisiana NATS Competition. She is also a highschool graduate of the prestigious University of North Carolina School of the Arts.
Samina was born in Anchorage, Alaska and has lived in seven different states across the United States. She currently resides in Brooklyn, New York.
Reviews: Armide, Opera NEO "Opera NEO's lead singers took to the challenge of this rarely performed French opera with zeal and laudable vocal success. Soprano Samina Aslam's ample voice displayed the requisite range of colors to embody the gamut of emotions her character displayed... she was most persuasive in furious declamation." -Ken Herman, San Diego Story, 09/12/2017
Freisinger Chamber Orchestra Concert, Old South Church "Hers was a finely tuned and warmly registered 'Mi chiamano Mimì' from La,bohème. Her bright voicings and marked agility in Mozart's 'Come scoglio' from Così fan tutte..." -David Patterson, The Boston Musical Intelligencer, 09/14/15
Cendrillon, Boston University "Samina Aslam as Cendrillon has a velvet tone that can build to a powerful clarion, and she and [Jesse] Darden [as the Prince] are a quite attractive couple." -Brian Schuth, The Boston Musical Intelligencer, 04/17/15
2023-2024 Engagements Mukhtar Mai in Thumbprint Portland Opera March 2023
Soprano Soloist in Bach's Magnificat Resonance Works February 2024 Re