[Sandström's Messiah]

Having a great time making my debut with New England Philharmonic and Cantata Singers singing singing as the soprano soloist in Sven-David Sandström’s Messiah.

In a fitting conclusion for a city that hosted the American premiere of Handel’s Messiah in 1818, NEP joins forces with Cantata Singers and vocal soloists on Sunday, April 28, at 3 pm in Jordan Hall to present A Messiah for Our Time. Sven-David Sandström’s dramatic 2009 setting of the Messiah’s well-known text will be performed for the first time on the East Coast. Co-conducted by Tianhui Ng and Cantata Singers Music Director Noah Horn, the season finale marks the first collaboration between the two organizations.


Cantata Singers, Noah Horn, Music Director (Co-conductor)

New England Philharmonic, Tianhui Ng Music Director (Co-conductor)


Maggie Finnegan, soprano
Maria Dominique Lopez, mezzo-soprano
Dylan Morrongiello, tenor
Leroy Davis, bass-baritone

[The Voyage of Edgar Allan Poe]

Virginia Poe in Dominick Argento + Charles Nolte’s opera The Voyage of Edgar Allan Poe with Odyssey Opera and the subsequent recording with Boston Modern Opera Project.

“Soprano Maggie Finnegan, as Virgina Poe, had the prettiest voice,
and her rendition of Argento’s lyrical setting of Poe’s “Annabel Lee”
was one of the production’s loveliest moments.”
— Lloyd Schwartz, Musical America Worldwide
““Maggie Finnegan’s pure-toned Virginia was likewise agreeable, soaring in her haunting Act 2 scenes.””
— Jonathan Blumhofer, Boston Classical Review
““Maggie Finnegan sang with vigor and passion”

”The most poignant moment occurred in Act II, scene VII, when Finnegan sang a touching snippet of Poe’s poem “Annabel Lee,” accompanied only by a lone, droning bell. She delivered Poe’s wonderfully tone-pained lyrics... with crystalline precision and emotional depth. In the same scene, Tantsits and Meglioranza joined Finnegan. A ravishing trio ensued with a wellspring of emotion and fascinating dynamic contrast.””
— Jared Hackworth, The Boston Music Intelligencer

Production photos by Kathy Wittman / Ball Square Films

[Eurydice - Boston Lyric Opera]

“Maggie Finnegan, Alexis Peart, and Neal Ferreira made for a gut-busting trio in the roles of stones in Hell.”
— Aaron Keebaugh, The Arts Fuse

[Opera America Award]

Boston Lyric Opera and Opera Philadelphia’s film SVADBA has won the Opera America’s award for Digital Excellence in Opera, Artistic Creation! This was one of my favorite projects to work on, and I am so thrilled it’s getting the attention it deserves.

Svadba
Opera by Ana Sokolović

A Boston Lyric Opera production, co-produced with Opera Philadelphia.

Produced by Boston Lyric Opera, Opera Philadelphia, Bradley Vernatter, Jessica Johnson Brock, David B. Devan, Anderson Nunnelley, Hannah Shepard.

Conducted by Daniela Candillari.

Thank you to OPERA America for this exciting recognition, thank you to everyone involved with the creation of Svadba, and congratulations to all the other 2023 Artistic Creation nominees!

To celebrate, Svadba will be streaming for free on Boston Lyric Opera’s YouTube Channel through February 2024.

[Webern with BASS]

It was awesome returning to Brooklyn Art Song Society to sing Webern’s Opus 25 as a part of a concert of music from the Second Viennese School.

“Finnegan, accompanied by pianist Michael Brofman, set the standard for the singing, with excellent intonation and articulation, and a palpable sense of expression and meaning. ”
— New York Classical Review, George Grella
“Finnegan’s light timbre and trilling vibrato was the right sound for the Webern songs. ”
— New York Classical Review, George Grella
“Soprano Maggie Finnegan revealed her vocal prowess during the opening phrase of No.1 “Wie bin ich froh!” as she precisely blossomed on ‘froh’ and ‘grün’ through her upper register and sent chills down the spine. Her voice has a pleasant exactness that, instead of pushing listeners, invites them in to enjoy every detail. Finnegan smiled through her eyes in “Wie bin ich froh.” She made Hildegard Jone’s text feel special, especially as she sang “noch einmal bin ich ganz ins Werden hingestellt und bin auf Erden,” “once again I have found myself entirely surrounded by becoming, and am on the earth.”

No.2 “Des Herzens Purpurvogel fliegt durch Nacht” was rich and grounded in Finnegan’s timbre. Her voice mulled over Jone’s text “Doch rastet endlich er am Ast des Todes, müd’ und flügelschwer, dann müssen sie zum letzten Blick verbeben,” “Death, weary and with heavy wings, then they must take their last look around before they dyingly tremble.” One could feel Finnegan’s intent to convey Jone’s message. It was a profound interpretation.

No.3 “Sterne, Ihr silbernen Bienen der Nacht” was full of glitter and sparkle in Finnegan’s voice. She painted a lucid remembering of night’s heavenly bliss through her voice’s warmth and sustainability. There was no separating of any part of the text as Finnegan drew a clear connectivity between the notes. Her voice was like a glossy part of a body of water at night, awaiting to be stirred but never becoming waves.”
— Jennifer Pyron, Opera Wire

[Guest Artist @ Vanderbilt University]

I am so excited to be spending a few days at the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University in Nashville to give a solo recital with Jennifer McGuire and teach a masterclass. Huge thanks to Amy Jarman and the whole team at Vanderbilt who invited me!

Incident, Hannah Kendall + Fleur Adock

Tesla’s Pigeon, Melissa Dunphy + Various Poets

Hvolf, Anna Thorvaldsdottir + Sigurbjörg Þrastardóttir

Luonnon Kasvot, Kaija Saariaho + Pentti Saarikoski

Setting Sail, Juliana Hall + Emily Dickinson * world premiere *

Our recital was a HUGE success! Visiting Vanderbilt was pure joy!

Jennifer McGuire, Dashon Burton, Patrick Dailey + Jeffrey Williams.

Masterclass

[VALIS]

VALIS at the MIT Media Lab has been a total blast! Tod Machover’s music is some of the most compelling and soulful I’ve ever had the privilege of singing and hearing, and the whole team is a DREAM to work with!

The VALIS team