Biography

American mezzo-soprano Rachel Abbate enjoys an exciting musical career, having performed in venues throughout the United States and Western Europe. Equally comfortable on the operatic and concert stages, Ms. Abbate performs works spanning from Handel to today’s leading composers in contemporary music as well as musical theatre repertoire.

Ms. Abbate’s notable operatic roles include Jo March in Adamo's Little Women, the title role in Handel’s Giulio Cesare in Egitto, Bradamante in Handel’s Alcina, Carole/Natalia in the Southern California premiere of Adam Gorbs’ opera Anya17, Mercédès in Bizet’s Carmen, Eva in Martinů’s Veselohra na mostě (Comedy on the Bridge), and Dinah in Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti. She has performed on the concert stage as the alto soloist in a number of works, including Schubert’s Mass in A-flat Major, Bach’s Magnificat in D, and Mozart’s Requiem.

With an ability and passion for crossing over into theatre repertoire, Ms. Abbate has portrayed roles such as Lily Craven in The Secret Garden, Penelope Pennywise in Urinetown: The Musical, the Witch in Sondheim's Into the Woods, and Truvy Jones in Robert Harling’s Steel Magnolias.

Ms. Abbate has received several awards from competitions and organizations. In 2017, she won 1st Place in the National Federation of Music Clubs' collegiate auditions in the category of Women’s Voice. In 2014 and 2015, Ms. Abbate was a national semi-finalist in the Classical Singer Magazine Vocal Competition. She was also a recipient of the Louisiana Federation of Music Clubs' Past Presidents State College Award.

A native of Destrehan, LA, a small town outside of New Orleans, Ms. Abbate recently earned her Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Rice University and the Shepherd School of Music in Houston, TX, where she studied voice with Julie Simson. She is also the recipient of the Nancy D. and Robert J. Carney Endowed Scholarship in Voice. Ms. Abbate earned her Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA, where she studied voice with Dr. Lori Bade.

2024 Upcoming events

Little Shop of Horrors

Rachel is thrilled to be performing the role of **Crystal** in River Region Drama Guild’s production of **Little Shop of Horrors**! This will be her first RRDG show since 2011. Fun fact: Her 1st major role ever was playing Little Red in RRDG’s production of Into the Woods back in 2007!
**October 17-19** @ 7:30 PM
**October 19-20** @ 2 PM
*NEW SHOWS ADDED:* **October 24** @ 7:30 PM & **October 27** @ 2 PM
Learn more

Evvina Puccini

Rachel will be making her Opera Festa debut in a series of gala concerts that will feature Puccini’s greatest opera hits!
**November 1:** 7:30 PM @ St. Dominic’s Parish Church in New Orleans, LA
**November 3:** 3 PM @ St. George’s Episcopal Church in New Orleans, LA

music

“Back to Before” from the musical Ragtime. Recorded as a part of Rachel’s video series “Screlting Saturdays”, where she sings her favorite “belty” musical theatre songs.

Jo’s aria “Couldn’t I Unbake the Breads?” from Adamo’s Little Women performed on July 12, 2019 with Opera in the Ozarks.

Purcell's The Blessed Virgin's Expostulation performed on February 18, 2018. Christopher Turbessi, harpsichord; Janaesha Browder, cello. Rice University, Houston, TX.

Joseph Horovitz' Lady Macbeth performed on February 18, 2018. Christopher Turbessi, piano. Rice University, Houston, TX.

Mahler's Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen performed on March 31, 2017. Jennifer Lee, piano. Rice University, Houston, TX.