She Who Dared - Chicago Opera Theatre
She Who Dared - Chicago Opera Theatre

June 3-8, 2025

Studebaker Theatre; Chicago Fine Arts Building

REVIEWS:

"Meanwhile, Byrd’s wide dramatic palette and flexible voice make the most of thankless roles as the movement’s deserter and Montgomery’s white power brokers."

- Chicago Tribune

"Mezzo-soprano Cierra Byrd gives justice and individuality to multiple characters. Byrd plays the bus driver, the police officer, the judge, a classmate of Claudette, and most touchingly, Jeanetta Reese, who didn't want to be publicly defiant. The fear of reprisal from the racist vigilantes put her on a tightrope. I found that role to be quite powerful. Some people were so fearful that they considered the status quo preferable. Her character is a moment of quiet genius that brings reality back to the surface. The trauma of racism kept some people back in an existence of fear."

- Third Coast Review

"Cierra Byrd (Jeanetta Reese) [...] offered fine work."

- Hyde Park Herald

"An invented character, Jeanetta Reese, a timid housekeeper sung by mezzo Cierra Byrd, can’t find the courage to join the boycotters. “Some of us were happy in the shadows,” she sang, her voice full of anguish and regret."

- Musical America

Thank you all for honoring this production! I put my all into the characters I perform, so the shout-outs are appreciated ✨

Cierra Byrd
Stepping in for Met Opera LYADP

LYADP SCENES

December, I flew back to NYC to cover Kate Pinkerton [Madama Butterfly, Puccini] at my home house, The Metropolitan Opera. The first day of rehearsal was so memorable. I arrived early, and parked at a nearby coffee shop when I received a call from The Lindemann Program. They had a sick mezzo and the annual scenes recital was later that evening! I agreed to step in, missed the first moments of Madama rehearsal and learned the parts on the go. Everything went smoothly and it was so good to hear the progress of my colleagues! I was very proud of them.

Cierra Byrd
Kate Pinkerton [Cover] Madama Butterfly with Met Opera

Madama butterfly

As for the Madama rehearsal, I fangirled as I usually do: Kurzak, Polenzani, and DeShong - and I was being paid to hear it! One of the most elegant productions I've done, and it was such a full-circle moment. Madama Butterfly was my very first opera. When the performance was over, I was so moved that I declared to my parents (at 10 years old) that I would become an opera singer. 20 years later, I’m singing that same music in a sitzprobe at The Metropolitan Opera. I spent alot of time reflecting and thanking God, my family, and many mentors for their help and taking the time to see me. I appreciate you, and you have my gratitude.

Cierra Byrd
[Lucinda Cover] Intelligence with Houston Grand Opera

Intelligence

The minute I stepped back into the states, I was rushed into rehearsals for Jake Heggie’sIntelligence at Houston Grand Opera. I loved my time there. Great weather, a fabulous team, and covering an artist I deeply admire: J’Nai Bridges. It truly was a treat to interact with a brand new Heggie score.

Cierra Byrd
OMAR: Boston Lyric Opera

Omar

Ms. Byrd will join Boston Lyric Opera as “Mother” in the new and innovative “OMAR”.

Music by Rhiannon Giddens & Michael Abels
Libretto by Rhiannon Giddens
Director Kaneza Schaal
Published by and presented with permission of
Subito Music Corporation

Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre
Thursday, May 4, 2023 | 7:30PM
Saturday, May 6, 2023 | 7:30PM
Sunday, May 7, 2023 | 3PM

Sung in English with English surtitles

Cierra Byrd
The Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Program Patron Concert

Met Opera LYADP

The Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Patron Concert

December 15, 7:30p

The Peter Jay Sharp Theater at the Juilliard School

155 West 65th Street

Ms Byrd’s scenes are the last 2 of the program.

1. Sister Helen, a nun who has decided to become a spiritual advisor to a man on death row, grapples with the concept of true forgiveness.

2. Falstaff, a lecherous and crafty man, decides to woo two women in hopes of gaining their fortune. Both women discover that they've received similar letters and, with the help of two friends, resolve to punish him.

Cierra Byrd
Idomeneo - The Metropolitan Opera
Idomeneo - The Metropolitan Opera

Idomeneo

Ms. Byrd returns to The Met stage as ‘Woman of Crete’ in Mozart’s “Idomeneo”. The opera will run until October 20.

“Amani Cole-Felder and Cierra Byrd complemented one another perfectly as women of Crete, their voices blending as one;”

-OperaWire

“As if in tribute to Addison, the Met revival deploys two gifted Black young artists, soprano Amani Cole-Felder and mezzo-soprano Cierra Byrd, in these short but musically telling roles.”

-Classical Voice North America

Cierra Byrd
The Metropolitan Opera 2022 Summer Recital Series
The Metropolitan Opera 2022 Summer Recital Series

Met opera lyadp

The Met’s popular concert series in New York City parks returns with performances in all five boroughs, beginning Monday, June 20, with an evening of arias and duets at Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage in Central Park. The first two recitals feature rising stars soprano Brittany Renee, tenor Ben Bliss, and baritone Justin Austin, accompanied at the piano by Bryan Wagorn. The four subsequent recitals showcase three exciting young artists—soprano Amani Cole-Felder, mezzo-soprano Cierra Byrd, and bass-baritone Vladyslav Buialskyi—with Dimitri Dover on piano.

Learn More

Cierra Byrd
American Lyric Theater - ‘InsightALT: Opera in Eden’ Concert
American Lyric Theater - ‘InsightALT: Opera in Eden’ Concert

American lyric

Ms. Byrd will be featured in two of the three operas:


I WILL FOLLOW YOU INTO THE DARK
Composer: Jasmine Barnes; Librettist: Marcus Yi
Featuring: Brittany Logan, Cierra Byrd and Vladyslav Buialskyi

THE MAGIC CABBAGE
Composer: Johanny Navarro; Librettist: Joshua Banbury
Featuring: Cierra Byrd, Jonah Hoskins, and Samson Setu

Learn More

Cierra Byrd