The 2025/26 season is in full swing, and Mascarade Opera alumni are already making waves across the international opera scene. These highlights capture standout roles and achievements from September through the end of 2025…with plenty more still to come.
William Desbiens (Mascarade Artist 2021–24) – Baritone
William appears at the Solti Gala with Rising Stars and performs at Staatsoper Hamburg the roles of Second Nazarene (Salome), Sagrestano (Tosca), and Der Perückenmacher (Ariadne auf Naxos).
Garrett Evers (Mascarade Artist 2024–25) – Tenor
Garrett joins the Ensemble at Staatstheater Meiningen, singing Rodolfo (La bohème), Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni), Edwin (Die Csárdásfürstin), and Walther von der Vogelweide (Tannhäuser).
Gabriel Fortunas (Mascarade Artist 2022–24) – Bass
Gabriel performs Zuniga in Carmen at Theater Würzburg.
Matthew Gibson (Mascarade Artist 2022–23) – Répétiteur
Matthew began his role as Solo Répétiteur at Oper Leipzig in September.
Xavier Hetherington (Mascarade Artist 2020–21) – Tenor
Xavier appears at Cadogan Hall in a rare Rossini programme and with Opera North as Philip Fork in Pass the Spoon, a genre-bending new work.
Marianna Hovhannisyan (Mascarade Artist 2021–23) – Soprano
Marianna appears as Papagena in Die Zauberflöte at the Royal Opera & Ballet.
Hovhannes Karapetyan (Mascarade Artist 2023–24) – Baritone
A member of the Staatstheater Wiesbaden Ensemble, Hovhannes sings Barone Douphol (La traviata) and Kuno (Der Freischütz).
Aebh Kelly (Mascarade Artist 2021–24) – Mezzo-soprano
A member of the Hamburg Staatsoper Studio, Aebh performs Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel, alongside roles including Der Page der Herodias (Salome), Dryade (Ariadne auf Naxos), and Sandmännchen (Hänsel und Gretel).
Gabrielė Kupšytė (Mascarade Artist 2020–21) – Mezzo-soprano
A member of the Oper Leipzig Ensemble, Gabrielė performs Dorabella (Così fan tutte), Hänsel (Hänsel und Gretel), Clotilde (Norma), and the Second Lady (Die Zauberflöte).
Grisha Martirosyan (Mascarade Artist 2021–23) – Tenor
Grisha was awarded Second Prize at Operalia, one of the world’s most prestigious vocal competitions.
Hear Grisha sing “Largo al Factotum” from Il barbiere di Siviglia at Operalia here.
Aaron Godfrey Mayes (Mascarade Artist 2021–23) – Tenor
Aaron appears as Don Ramiro in La Cenerentola at English National Opera and was named a Finalist in the Paris Opera Competition.
Caterina Meldolesi (Mascarade Artist 2022–24) – Soprano
Caterina steps in as Elisabetta in Don Carlo at Teatro Petruzzelli and makes her role debut as Santuzza in Cavalleria rusticana this August in Cortina d’Ampezzo.
Hear Caterina in a short excerpt as Santuzza here.
Daniils Pogoriless (Mascarade Artist 2022–24) – Baritone
Daniils was a Finalist and Special Prize recipient (Marina Rebeka Award) at the Jāzeps Vītols V International Vocal Competition, and won First Prize at Havets Röst 2025 (The Voice of the Sea) in Mariehamn, Åland.
Peter Smith (Mascarade Artist 2023–24) – Repetiteur
Peter joins the Nationaltheater Mannheim as Assistant Chorus Director.
Angel Vargas (Mascarade Artist 2020–21) – Tenor
Angel performs Ferrando in Così fan tutte with Opera Minnesota and Papá in The Farolitos of Christmas with Opera Southwest.
Listen to Angel rehearsing for The Farolitos of Christmas composed by Hector Armienta here.
Luiza Willert (Mascarade Artist 2022–24) – Soprano
Luiza has joined Staatsoper Stuttgart as a Studio Member.
