Re’ut Ben-Ze’ev has won critical acclaim for her “intense expression and pure voice” (Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung), “impassioned” (The New York Times) interpretations and “emotionally and vocally masterful performance” (New Music Connoisseur.)
She has performed standard operatic and concert repertoire as well as cutting-edge collaborations. She appeared throughout Canada, Europe, Israel, and the United States in venues such as Lincoln Center, Spoleto Festival, USA, Lucille Lortel Theater, Bayreuth Museum of Art, The American Academy in Berlin, the Israel Vocal Arts Institute, the Tel-Aviv Museum of Art, Young Artist Showcase on WQXR, Kol Hamusika, and on TV internationally.
Ben Ze’ev collaborates regularly with leading composers such as Pulitzer Prize winning composers Yehudi Wyner, David Del Tredici, and Samuel Adler. She has also collaborated with artists such as clarinetist Alexander Fiterstein, former artistic director of the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Fred Sherry, conductor and former principle clarinetist of Berlin Philharmonie, KarlHeinz Steffens, members of the Israel and the Berlin Philharmonic, actor Theodore Bickel, and choreographer Yasmeen Godder. In addition, she was nominated for the Bessie Award along with Ms. Godder for her performance with Godder’s Dance Company. Ms. Ben-Ze'ev was also a finalist in the Lotte Lenya and Kurt Weill Competition.
Ms. Ben-Ze’ev has recorded multiple CDs on the Naxos Label for the Milken Archive of Jewish American Music. She has also recorded for Furious Artisans, OtherMinds and YIVO Labels.
As a concert soloist, Ms. Ben-Ze’ev has sung a wide range of repertoire as Hayden’s ARIANNA A NAXOS, Mozart’s C MINOR Mass, Gounod’s ST. CECILIA MASS, Mahler’s LIEDER EINES FAHRENDEN GESELLEN, and Britten’s PHAEDRA, with St. Cecilia Chorus and Orchestra (David Randolph, Conductor), Heidelberg Symphony, Germany, Israel Contemporary Ensemble, ProArte Symphony, CA, and Israeli Defense Forces Orchestra among others.
Ben-Ze’ev’s operatic roles include Donna Elvira in Mozart’s DON GIOVANNI (California Music Festival), Barab’s A GAME OF CHANCE (Israel Vocal Arts Institute), Adalgisa (David Jones Opera Ensemble of NewYork), Paride PARDIE ED ELENA (California Music Festival), and Cherubino (the Naples’ Opera Piccola). Other roles include Sesto from LA CLEMENZA DI TITO, Octavian (DER ROSENKAVALIER), Anna (DIE SIEBEN TODSÜNDEN), and Charlotte (WERTHER.)
Highlights of recent and upcoming projects include CHANA’S STORY with Pulitzer Prize winning composer David Del Tredici at the piano at the ASCAP Awards Ceremony in Lincoln Center, appearances with The Israel Chamber Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Jewish Festival Orchestra (Lucas Richman, conductor) the Arcos Chamber Orchestra, staged performances of PIERROT LUNAIRE with the Israel Contemporary Ensemble, a solo recording of early Schoenberg works for Arabesque Recordings with conductor-pianist William Hicks and for Albany Records Dalit H. Warshaw’s KIDDUSH HALEVANA. She is also to premiere S. Dembski’s opera RAVENS AND CROWS (libretto by the distinguished surrealist artist Leonora Carrington) as well as premiere and tour the role of Zarathustra in the video-opera ROPE & CHASM, based on episodes from Nietzsche’s THUS SPOKE ZARATHUSTRA, by M. Greenbaum and appear in the Israeli documentary: The Friends from my Class.
Ms. Ben-Ze’ev was Artist-In-Residence for the Israeli Consulate in Miami and Puerto Rico (1998-1999). She studied theater in Israel at the Thelma Yelin High School of Arts, where she also toured as the vocal soloist of its Big Band. Re'ut studied at the Mannes College of Music, NYC, under a special agreement with Mignon Dunn. She continues her vocal studies with David Jones and coach/conductor William Hicks and pursues “Method” acting studies with Terese Hayden-a protégé of Lee Strasberg.
The Houston Chronicle says: “…the intense performance…revealed Nuptial Scene to be an appealing work of art music…” The Dance Insider describes: “…A vivid presence with a lusty, rich voice...” And as sited by mezzo soprano Mignon Dunn, “She has an important voice…a naturally beautiful, warm voice and I really prize her.”
