Margaret Plummer

Management: Australasia and non-exclusive Asia

Charlotte, Werther, Lyric Opera, Melbourne

“Starring as dear Charlotte, Margaret Plummer provides a shining presence on stage, her wide, open face easily conveying Charlotte’s torment and gaining our affection and empathy……..Plummer’s gorgeous voice rang out true and clear as she gave a sensitive, carefully measured performance”.

Simon Parris: Man in chair

“…..Plummer glistens with nurturing pride in the role. Relaxed in voice and exhibiting purity, breadth and expression, she steals the night with her enigmatic stage presence”.

Aussietheatre

Flora, La Traviata, Vienna State Opera

“As Flora, Margaret Plummer displays a truly beautiful voice, genuine acting talent and empathy with Violetta’s fate”. (translated from the German)

OnLine Merker

Varvara, Katya Kabanova, Vienna State Opera

"Margaret Plummer’s………… Varvara managed to ooze seductive charm while resisting any hint of vulgarity - and further, testified that a bel-canto basis is as much an asset for this repertoire as in any Italian Fach."

The Opera Critic

Siebel, Faust, Vienna State Opera

"Margaret Plummer gives an exemplary role debut as Siébel" (translated from the German)

OnLine Merker

Hänsel, Hänsel and Gretel, Vienna State Opera

In the title roles, two charming protagonists - Chen Reiss as Gretel, nicely paired Margaret Plummer’s delightfully-romping Hansel, with both artists boasting immaculately-produced instruments, finely-tuned and perfectly intoned, to underscore their realistic interaction (and not undemanding choreography).

The Opera Critic

Title role, Carmen, Longborough Festival

There are impeccable performances in the lead roles of Don José (Dutch tenor Peter Gijsbertsen) and Carmen herself…….This is Plummer’s Longborough debut………She has a powerful voice, and commanding stage presence. 

Oxford Prospect Arts

Auntie, Peter Grimes, La Scala Milan

Margaret Plummer was a spirited, butch Auntie, the owner of the local pub, her mezzo warm and strong.

Bachtrack

Australian mezzo-soprano Margaret Plummer was engaged as a principal artist at the Vienna State Opera for eight seasons. During this time Margaret has performed a vast range of repertoire for the company including Hänsel (Hänsel and Gretel), Mercedes (Carmen), Waltraute (Die Walküre), Flosshilde (Das Rheingold and Die Götterdämmerung), Second Norn (Die Götterdämmerung), Blumenmädchen (Parsifal), Siebel (Faust), Varvara (Katya Kabanova), Tebaldo (Don Carlos), Page (Salome), Fenena (Nabucco), Meg Page (Falstaff) also for Hamburg State Opera, Tisbe (La Cenerentola), Hermia (A Midsummer Night’s Dream), Wood Sprite (Rusalka) and Fjodor (Boris Godunov).

This year Margaret returns to the Vienna State opera in a number of roles, including Emilia (Otello), Kitchen Boy (Rusalka) and Clover in the Vienna premiere season of Raskatov’s Animal Farm. She also returns to the Sydney Symphony as Siegrune (Die Walküre, Simone Young conducting), to the Melbourne Symphony for Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 and to Sydney Philharmonia Choirs for Messiah.

In 2023 Margaret’s key engagements included her debuts at La Scala, Milan as Auntie in Peter Grimes, and at the Bayreuth Festival as Blumenmädchen and 2nd Knappe (Esquire) in Parsifal. She also returned to the Sydney Symphony Orchestra as Flosshilde in Das Rheingold and to Sydney Philharmonia Choirs in Bach’s Christmas Oratorio.

Prior to winning the 2014 Vienna State Opera Award, Margaret performed extensively with Opera Australia including performances in Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour as well as in regional touring productions. She has also been engaged as Carmen (title role) by Longborough Festival, Charlotte (Werther) and Marguerite (La damnation du Faust) for the Tiroler Landestheater, Innsbruck, in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the Vienna Philharmonic, Haydn’s Theresienmesse with the Savaria Symphony Orchestra, Berg’s Seven Early Songs with the Tirol Symphony Orchestra. In Australia she has been heard as Hexe (Hänsel and Gretel) with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, as Phoebe (Castor et Pollux) and Diane (Iphigenie en Tauride) for Pinchgut Opera, as Dorabella (Così fan tutte) for Pacific Opera and in Mozart’s Requiem with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra.

Margaret holds a Bachelor of Music from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

Margaret Plummer is managed by Graham Pushee: graham@artsmanagement.com.au
February 2024
This biography is for general information purposes only and not for publication.
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