Aimée Puentes, soprano, has sung leading opera roles including, Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Despina in Così fan tutte, Micäela in Carmen, Sister Constance in Dialogues des Carmélites, Pamina in The Magic Flute, Musetta in La Boheme, Nannetta in Falstaff, Valencienne in The Merry Widow, Paquette in Candide, and Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro. She has performed with the San Francisco Opera, Arizona Opera, Pensacola Opera, New Orleans Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Chautauqua Opera, Opera San Jose, Opera Southwest, West Bay Opera and Sacramento Opera. Her upcoming operatic engagements include Zerlina in Don Giovanni with Pacific Repertory Opera, and Oscar in Ballo in Maschera with Festival Opera.
Ms. Puentes is equally comfortable with the oratorio, and concert repertoire, in which her experience is extensive. She has performed as the soprano soloist in such works as The Haydn Creation, Handel Messiah, Orff Carmina Burana, Handel Israel in Egypt, Rutter Requiem, Mahler Symphony No.4, Mozart Verperae Solemnis, and Mass in C minor, Handel Ariodante, Dvorak Stabat Mater, and an all-Verdi concert. Her recent performances include Haydn Lord Nelson Mass with The Camerata Singers, and Brahm's Requiem with The Oakland Symphony. Upcoming engangements include Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 with The Peninsula Symphony, Haydn's Dona Nobis Pacem and Mass in time of war with The Diablo Valley Philharmonic, an evening of pops with The Santa Cruz Symphony, and The Messiah with The Tucson Symphony.
Ms. Puentes has been the recipient of numerous awards including the winner of the Palm Beach Opera Vocal Competition, a semi-finalist in the Loren L. Zachary Society Competition, finalist in the YWCA Studio Club Music Scholarship Competition, and a three time West Coast regional finalist of The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. As a Metropolitan Finalist, Ms. Puentes was also awarded the IIE International Vocal Competition Award.
Ms. Puentes can be heard on a recording as Della in The Gift of the Magi by David Conte with The San Francisco Conservatory New Music Ensemble.
" Much of the lead cast is stellar, especially Aimee Puentes, an opera singer in her first musical production as Maria. Where Maria could be a wallflower, Puentes gave her bite and sass. Not only is her voice beyond elegant, she is also a gifted actress who conveys Maria’s emotional range without a drop of excess. When she sings of a “beautiful sound” in “I Feel pretty,” it could very easily be that coming from this abundantly talented woman.
- Monterey County Herald
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" Puentes and Staufenbiel both have operatic backgrounds and it shows. Appropriately fragile in appearance, Puentes has a powerful voice and stage presence."
- Gasca
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"Puentes delivered a classy, balanced characterization of her role (Delia in The Gift of the Magi) as well as some thrilling vocal moments."
- San Francisco Classical Voice, Ching Chang
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