“…brought down the house with her vocal prowess and comedic ability… a vocal powerhouse who can belt like nobody’s business and then bring a tear to your eye with a tender ballad… Amanda could easily be Dame Edna’s more skilled singing cousin or Angela Lansbury’s naughty little sister. A fabulously fun foray into song and storytelling delivered by a versatile luminary in the entertainment industry… brought the sold-out crowd to their feet!”
Jen Bush, artsindependent.com
Amanda Reckonwith came to prominence as the first soprano ever to perform a highly controversial (and completely naked) staging of Lucia di Lammermoor, at the Baths of Caracalla (where she made quite a splash). Famed pianist Liberace was at the baths (as usual) that night and immediately took Amanda under his wing, introducing her to the world on his television program, where she holds the record for the most appearances by a singer on a television program, 77 times!
From there she was noticed by the avant-garde opera director Peter Sellout, who cast her in many of his updated opera staging’s, including Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutti, Le Nozze di Figaro, and Don Giovanni (once again, naked).
Her rise in opera continued as she performed in opera houses and concert halls throughout the united States, South America, Great Britain, Spain, The Netherlands, West Berlin, and the Eastern-Bloc (when those things existed); And, with such legendary artists as soprano Vera Galupe-Borszkh, and tenor Juan Pondalinguini. She excelled in roles like Aida, Butterfly, Arianna Lecouvreur, and Lakme. However, fame was cut short when Amanda met and married her first husband, millionaire Jamie Ferdinand Castro, who, soon after their honeymoon, was arrested as one of Columbia’s most notorious drug lords. During and after the trial, Amanda first withdrew from performing in an effort to “let the dust settle.”
Then, in 1995, returning to the opera and concert stage (after the Castro years), Amanda appeared several times at both Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, most notably under the baton of P.D.Q Bach. Her career seemed on the rise again when she was immediately tapped for the Broadway “Bus and Truck” of CHICAGO, the Musical, starring in that show at four different NYC theaters (NY City Center, The Richard Rogers, The Schubert, and The Ambassador), and with countless luminaries of the Broadway, television and cinematic worlds.
Several subsequent marriages (and children) later, proved too much for Amanda, who suddenly retired from both singing, and public life, becoming a recluse and sharing only the occasional high-tea/diet fad/fashion tip with legendary diva and mentor Maria Mangiare Caccatore. The ensuing years are unchronicled and shrouded in mystery, making her one of “Time-less” magazine’s “Most Intriguing people” of the century.
Now, (legally allowed to return to stage) after a 25-year retirement/rest cure, (and possible incarceration) Amanda is considered her generation’s leading “Spento” soprano, otherwise known on Broadway as a “belter,” (although she prefers the term “Mixologist”). Touring the world with her partner in music, Maestro Marco Carouomo, she continues to regale audiences and transcend taste with her unique interpretations of Broadway, Great American Songbook, and Popular favorites.
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