ABOUT

"Indyana Schneider’s imperiously cruel Jezebel created a vivid antagonist without sacrificing vocal beauty.” - OperaWire, 2025

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British-Australian mezzo-soprano Indyana Schneider was recently described as ‘outstanding’ in the Guardian and ‘a fabulous young mezzo, the voice full of crimson depth and character’ in Opera Magazine. This summer, she finished two years as a Young Artist with the International Opera Studio of the Zurich Opera.

 

In 2024/25 at the Zurich Opera, Indyana sang the lead female role in the world premiere of Jonathan Dove’s In 80 Tagen um die Welt, as well as Marchesa Melibea in Rossini's Il Viaggio A Reims, and in various contemporary operas: Jakob Lenz (Rihm) and Wir pfeifen auf den Gurkenkönig (Penderbayne).

 

She also covered Komponist, Stefano, Nicklausse, and Page (Salome), completing her season singing the Königin and Alt 1 in a dramatised production of Mendelssohn’s Elias, directed by Andreas Homoki, and then in concert with Cecilia Bartoli, in scenes as Dorabella to Bartoli’s Fiordiligi, Annio to her Sesto, and as Cherubino.

 

Indyana’s 2023/24 season included roles at the Zurich Opera such as Hermia (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) and Femme Grecque (Iphigénie en Tauride), as well as a guest appearance at the Sydney Opera House to sing Zweite Dame (Die Zauberflöte) and cover Christophe Dumaux as Orfeo (Orfeo ed Euridice). Last season, Indyana also covered the Komponist in Garsington Opera’s new production of Ariadne auf Naxos, for which she won their Helen Clarke Award.

 

Further career highlights to date include singing Zita opposite Sir Bryn Terfel’s Gianni Schicchi, conducted by Domingo Hindoyan with the Liverpool Philharmonic, her German debut at the Theater für Niedersachsen as Mércèdes in Carmen, and a tour singing Carmen in Carmen with Kent Chamber Opera.

 

On the concert stage, Indyana recently sang Zemlinsky's Maiblumen blühten überall in concert with members of the Zurich Philharmonia and Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in Borken for the 800 Jubiläums-Konzert with the Westfalen Philharmonie. She looks forward to returning to Zurich to sing Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, and to touring a song recital with pianist Lidiia Vodyk.

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Education:

Indyana studied a Bachelor of Music at Magdalen College, Oxford University and a Master of Opera at the Hochschule für Musik, Theater, und Medien, Hannover. During her studies, she sang a range of roles including Carmen and Meg Page (Falstaff), and composed the music for Sir Jonathan Bate’s new production of Twelfth Night, in which she also played the part of Feste.

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She has received awards from the Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge Foundation and the Walter und Charlotte Hamel Opernwettbewerb, and has sung in masterclasses with: Sir Antonio Pappano, Brigitte Fassbaender, Dame Emma Kirkby, Stephen Langridge, Katie Mitchell, Andreas Scholl, James Conlon, and Dame Ann Murray.

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For a detailed CV, please contact Indyana at: indyana.schneider@hotmail.com