Carol Sparrow
Mezzo Soprano
Carol Sparrow has appeared to critical and popular acclaim as
Princess Eboli in Verdi’s Don Carlo at the Komische Oper, Berlin,
and in St. Gallen, Switzerland, as well as in the title role in Carmen
in St. Gallen and many other cities such as Columbus, Greensboro,
Chautauqua, Augusta, Buffalo, Virginia, El Paso, Triangle Opera,
as well as with the New York Pops Orchestra at Carnegie Hall.
As Eboli, the Berliner Kurier reported: “Only Princess Eboli, brilliant
mezzo soprano Carol Sparrow, lent energy and power to the evening,”
and the Frankfurter Allegemeine Zeitung stated: “Eboli, full of
temperament and sung in superior style by Carol Sparrow, took over.”
Critics for Opera News described her portrayal of Carmen by saying,
“In the title role, Carol Sparrow moved with feline grace and provocative
languor, singing with rich, firm tone and secure control.”
Recently she debuted the role of Santuzza in Cavalleria rusticana with Opera Memphis to critical
acclaim. The Commercial Appeal stated that vocally she was “simply stunning, a match up with
Turiddu, husband Randolph Locke, of color, strength, and emotion.” She returned there to make her
highly successful role debut as Azucena in Verdi’s Il trovatore of which the Commercial Appeal said
“Carol Sparrow as the spurned gypsy Azucena delivered music that blended fine tonal quality with
seriousness of character.”
She was engaged by the Metropolitan Opera for Die Walküre and Elektra and at the Opera de Bellas
Artes in Mexico City she has performed Brangaene in Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde and The
Kompanist in Ariadne auf Naxos. Other mezzo soprano roles include Suzuki, Nicklausse,
Maddalena, Flora, and Fenena.
Her 2009 season began with her highly acclaimed portrayal of Despina in Opera Memphis’ production
of Cosi fan tutte set in the 1920’s. With these performances, she has professionally performed all three
female characters in the Mozart comedy. Her season continues with many concerts across the country.
In other recent performances, Ms. Sparrow has performed Musetta in La Boheme with Opera Memphis,
as well as roles in the company’s 2008 productions of Macbeth and La traviata. She also sang Donna
Elvira in Don Giovanni with Opera Columbus and Mary in Die fliegende Hollander with Hawaii Opera
Theater.
On the concert stage, she has appeared numerous times across the country with husband Randolph
Locke, tenor, including touring the United States with New York’s Community Concerts Association.
She was the soloist in Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 in Brussels and Debora in Pizzetti’s Debora e Jaela
with the Netherlands Radio Orchestra. As mezzo soloist, she has sung with the National Orchestra
of Mexico, Connecticut Orchestra, Sarasota Orchestra, Sarasota Chorale Society, and the Flint
Symphony Orchestra in works such as Handel’s Messiah and Beethoven’s Ninth.
As a featured artist with the New York City Opera under Beverly Sills for three seasons, Miss Sparrow
sang over 15 leading and supporting soprano roles, appearing in several national telecasts of “Live
from Lincoln Center” on PBS, and earning a Stanley Tausend Award for outstanding performance. She
also performed leading soprano roles with the Washington Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Pittsburgh
Opera Theater, Sarasota Opera, and the Des Moines Metro Opera where she created the role of
Miranda in Lee Hoiby’s The Tempest.
A native of North Carolina, Miss Sparrow earned her Bachelor of Music Degree from the University of
North Carolina at Greensboro. She was awarded a full scholarship to the University of Cincinnati’s
College-Conservatory of Music and earned her Master of Music Degree, studying with opera greats Italo
Tajo and John Alexander.
While continuing her concert and operatic career, she also teaches Applied Voice, Music Appreciation,
and Opera Workshop at State College of Florida – Manatee/Sarasota and is President and Cofounder ,
along with husband Randolph Locke, of OASIS (Opera for Animals: Singing Is Saving), a charitable
nonprofit organization that raises funds for animal welfare groups by giving concerts or other musical
events using musicians’ donated talents.
January 2010
Carol Sparrow
Mezzo soprano
As Azucena in Il trovatore
“Carol Sparrow as the spurned gypsy Azucena delivered music that blended fine tonal quality
with seriousness of character.” The Commercial Appeal
As Santuzza in Cavalleria rusticana
“Soprano Carol Sparrow, as the lovelorn Santuzza, was his (Randolph Locke’s) match vocally and
her duets with Locke were simply stunning, a match-up of color, strength, and emotion.”
The Commercial Appeal
As Eboli in Don Carlo
“After all, Eboli, full of temperament and sung in superior style by Carol Sparrow, took over. She
was the only one who had more in the end than just words for Carlos.”
Frankfurter Allegemeine Zeitung
“Only Princess Eboli, brilliant mezzo soprano Carol Sparrow lent energy and power to the
evening.” Berliner Kurier
“Princess Eboli (Carol Sparrow) was the wild cat, who forced her lingering way through the
Spanish court ceremony.” Liechtensteiner Vaterland
As Carmen in Carmen
“In the title role Carol Sparrow moved with feline grace and provocative languor, singing with
rich, firm tone and secure control.” Opera News
The new production is carried, as it must be, by the Carmen, sung by a star-in-the-making named
Carol Sparrow . . . It is hot the moment she enters. . . Sparrow’s Carmen is irresistible,
nevertheless, confident, sensual, mocking. And above all, brilliantly sung. Sparrow’s rich, heady
mezzo soprano voice easily encompassed the role’s seductive bottoms and thrilling highs. In the
brilliant final scene, she could fling out her defiance with devastating power.” The New and
Observer, Raleigh
“As Carmen, mezzo soprano Carol Sparrow dominated the stage. Her huge voice seemed capable
of crumbling the Imperial wall as any moment, while also conveying Carmen’s emotions at all
times. During the Habanera, Ms. Sparrow displayed her rich, flexible mezzo well. In the
Seguidilla, Card Aria and Final Scene, her voice and acting combined to create fireworks on stage.
Throughout the evening, Ms. Sparrow sang with supreme musicianship and incredible intonation
while well maintaining her Carmen persona. Her excellent singing-acting talent managed to
portray Carmen’s vulnerabilities as well as her spunk and passion.”
The Augusta Chronicle
As Brangaene in Tristan und Isolde
“The Brangaene was very well sung, as expected, by mezzo soprano Carol sparrow, who possesses
a beautiful lyric voice with great musicality.”
El Nacional (Mexico City)
“Carol Sparrow was an outstanding Brangaene, full of passion.”
Uno mas Uno (Mexico City)
As Maddalena in Rigoletto
“Carol Sparrow commanded attention as Maddalena, her rich mezzo enhancing the ensemble and
shining in solos.” Opera News
As Musetta in La Boheme
“Carol Sparrow brought lots of vital animal spirit to the role of Musetta.”
New York Times
“. . . Sparrow’s steal-the-show Musetta. Sparrow worked her magic throughout the crowded
Café Momus scene, her voice powerfully projected and her movements perfectly timed with
bustle.” Tampa Tribune
As Suzuki in Madame Butterfly
“But Carol Sparrow, as Suzuki was especially impressive as a singer and actress as Butterfly’s
servant, Suzuki. The role is rather dry at first, but when called upon, Sparrow delivered in the
dramatic final act.” Entertainment