Xenia Puskarz Thomas
Shirley Thomson
Zoe Band
Australian Xenia Puskarz Thomas made her debut as vocal soloist aged 16 on a national tour with Queensland Youth Orchestras going on to further her studies at Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University (QGCU), graduating with first-class honors and the University Medal for Academic Achievement. Subsequently graduating from New York’s elite Juilliard School of Music in 2022, this talented young mezzo-soprano is currently a member of the Opernstudio of the Bayerische Staatsoper.
On the Munich stage, her roles to have included: Kitchenboy in Rusalka, Sandmännchen in Hansel and Gretel, and Dachshund/Woodpecker in The Cunning Little Vixen, Die Vertraute in Elektra, as well as dual roles of Melanto and Minerva (Il Ritorno / The year of magical thinking) at the Cuvilliés Theatre. Xenia Puskarz Thomas has collaborated with conductors including Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla, Henrik Nánási, Titus Engel and Chris Moulds. In addition to her operatic roles, Xenia has enjoyed several concert performances around Germany and Italy with the Operastudio, including soloist in Elias (Mendelssohn) with Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Duncan Ward, as well as soloist in Requiem (Mozart) and Missa Solemnis (Mozart) together with players of Bavarian State Orchestra.
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This season she performs the roles; Mercédès in Carmen conducted by Daniele Rustioni, Zweite Dame in August Everding’s historic production of The Magic Flute, Blumenmädchen in Pierre Audi’s production of Parsifal, conducted by Constantin Trinks, Flora in La Traviata conducted by Francesco Lanzillotte, Hansel in Hansel and Gretel with ATTACCA orchestra at the Prinzregententheater, and Servia in Respighi’s Lucrezia at the Cuvilliés-Theater under Ustina Dubitsky. Xenia Puskarz Thomas will make her debut at Salzburger Festspiele in 2024 as Aglaja in Krzyzstof Warlikowski’s new production of Mieczysław Weinberg’s The Idiot, conducted by Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla at Salzburg’s Felsenreitschule.
National competition success in the final year of her studies included the generous Opera Foundation for Young Australians Lady Fairfax New York Scholarship and the Tinkler Encouragement Award at the IFAC Handa Australian Singing Competition. During her time in Australia, Xenia was a 2019 Melba Opera Trust Scholar supported by the Amelia Joscelyne Scholarship, as well as a 2021 young artist at Opera Queensland. She has performed Cherubino (Le Nozze di Figaro) with Opera Queensland and Dorabella (Così fan tutte) with Brisbane City Opera.
Xenia received her Master’s Degree from the Juilliard School of Music in 2022, under the guidance of professor Edith Wiens, while the recipient of the prestigious full-scholarship Kovner Fellowship. During her time at Juilliard, she performed in the 2022 Alice Tully Hall Vocal Arts Honors Recital with Gracie Francis; Ravel’s Shéhérazade in Pierre Vallet’s Liederabend; Bach’s B Minor Mass conducted by Richard Egarr with Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra; and the role of Aristeo in Luigi Rossi’s Orfeo directed by Mary Birnbaum and conducted by Avi Stein. Puskarz Thomas’ keen interest in early music involves frequent collaborations with New York-based, early music ensemble Twelfth Night, most recently performing Fillide in their performance of Handel’s Cantata Aminta e Fillide, as part of the Music Before 1800 concert series in New York. She will join the ensemble again in May for their Carnegie Hall debut.
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“Xenia Puskarz Thomas delights in her appearance as one of The Bridesmaids.”
“Outstanding soloists came to the production from the Opera studio of the State Opera: Xenia Puskarz Thomas as the youthful, carefree lover Melanto, who vocally and playfully brought humour and laughter.”
“Thomas’ uncommonly dark, creamy mezzo was able to give her opulent voice free rein in the playful Laudamus te, projecting a thought behind each ornament…”
“Xenia Puskarz Thomas, as Cherubino, is a delight. She owns the stage, sings like a dream, and looks convincing.”
“The singing and acting of Xenia Puskarz Thomas as Cherubino stole the show. She conveyed the incoherence of Cherubino’s desires and fears with vocal flexibility and some of the most gorgeous singing of the evening. This was not lost on the first-night audience, who rose in their cheers for her.”
“Thomas’ highly-affectionate phrases and utter sweetness in her voice…”
“Xenia displayed a rich and incisive mezzo, a striking stage presence; she sang with musicality and expressiveness. This was the stand-out vocal performance…”
“I have never seen such a convincingly played pants role as Xenia Puskarz Thomas. She is of the new generation of actor/singers who are changing the way we think of opera.”
“The riveting performance of Xenia Puskarz Thomas, an Australian mezzo with a vibrant, big- scaled voice won me over completely.”
