Edith Davis Tidwell
Edith Davis Tidwell has sung with orchestras and opera companies throughout the United States, including among them, venues in New York City, Dallas, Los Angeles, Kansas City, Indianapolis, Rochester, Syracuse, Nashville, Tucson and Anchorage, Alaska. She was featured as Senta in Der Fliegende Holländer with Edmonton Opera of Alberta and toured Great Britain with Opera North in Leeds, England in the title role of Tosca and in the title role of Ariadne auf Naxos with the Welsh National Opera. Ms. Davis Tidwell made her debut with New York City Opera in 1985 as Liù in Turandot and enjoyed subsequent successes there as the Countess in Le Nozze di Figaro, Liù in revivals of Turandot, and in the title roles of Norma, Madama Butterfly, and Tosca. Lauded by the New York Times in critical acclaim through the years: "languid, exquisitely shaped phrases", "voice is smoothly produced…notes are so beautifully in tune and achieve a lovely soft focus at pianissimo", "a charged intensity that was musically and dramatically compelling", she performed with New York City Opera for seven seasons.
She had a long association with Kentucky Opera, where she sang over 20 leading roles, including Mimì in La Bohème, Desdemona in Otello, Leonora in Il Trovatore, and the title roles in Tosca, Madama Butterfly, and Ariadne auf Naxos. She is also familiar to Louisville audiences for her frequent performances as soloist with the Louisville Orchestra and the Louisville Bach Society and for collaborations with the Louisville Ballet.
Ms. Davis Tidwell enjoys with thrilling gratification the successes of her students who are winning prizes and competitions, performing with major national and international opera companies and various regional operas companies and orchestras across the continent, and teaching in schools and universities.
Ms. Davis Tidwell, an Oklahoma native, is a graduate of the University of Louisville, having earned both the Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in vocal performance. In 1997 she was named University of Louisville Alumni Fellow, and in 1998, the University awarded her the title of Distinguished Professor for excellence in teaching.