Nell Snaidas

Grammy-Nominated artist Nell Snaidas has been praised by the New York Times for her “beautiful soprano voice, melting passion” and “vocally ravishing” performances. Her voice has also been described as “remarkably pure with glints of rich sensuality” (Vancouver Sun); and she has been called “a model of luminous timbre and emotional intensity” (Cleveland Plain Dealer).  

American-Uruguayan soprano Nell Snaidas began her career singing leading roles in zarzuelas at New York City's Repertorio Español. Soon after she was heard singing the role of “Christine” in The Phantom of the Opera throughout Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Other Broadway credits include beating featured in the Actors’ Fund’s production of HAIR (and the Grammy Nominated cast album), singing for the movie-soundtrack of The Producers with Mel Brooks in the booth and participating in the all-star reading of Young Frankenstein directed by Susan Stroman and Mel Brooks.

Thanks to mentors Paul C. Echols and Nico Castel, Nell fell in love with Early Music and Sephardic Song. Specialization in Latin American and Spanish Baroque music, and music of the Sephardim, has taken her all over Europe, North and Latin America. She has been invited to join many leading Early Music ensembles in the capacity of soloist, guitarist, and Iberian/New World language and repertoire consultant. These groups include Apollo’s Fire, The Seattle Baroque Orchestra, Ex Umbris, Ensemble Viscera, El Mundo, Chatham Baroque and at Music Festivals from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and Italy, to Germany, Austria and Switzerland. She has recorded for Sony Classical, Koch, Naxos and Dorian (for whom she served as language coach and soloist on 3 Spanish/New World Baroque cds). She was a featured soloist with El Mundo on “Kingdoms of Castille” in this same repertoire which was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Small Ensemble category. As a recitalist, Nell has joined forces with the Argentine lutenist/conductor Eduardo Egüez, their program “Vaya de Fiesta” features the two in works from Spain and Latin America accompanied by vihuela and baroque guitar.

In addition to her busy performing career, Nell is highly sought out for concert curations. Her award-winning programs have been called, "revelatory" (BBC Music Magazine) "innovative and brilliant" (Cool Cleveland) and having the effect of "painting a vivid portrait of secular and sacred everyday life" (Chicago Tribune). Nell is also the co-Artistic Director of GEMAS:Early Music of the Americas. This concert series in NYC, devoted to the Early Music and Performers of Latin America and Canada, is a project of the Americas Society and GEMS (The Gotham Early Music Scene). More information can be found at www.gemsny.org/gemas.

As a stage director, Nell brings her love of Baroque Gesture together with a modern sensibility that results in vital and dramatic performances. Her work has been seen at Indiana University, the University of Wisconsin/Madison and Queens College with future productions at NYU/Steinhardt School of the Arts and Baroque Chamber Orchestra of Colorado.