Kristine Opolais

Kristine Opolais is one of the most sought after sopranos on the international scene today, appearing at the Metropolitan Opera New York, Wiener Staatsoper, Deutsche Staatsoper Berlin, Bayerische Staatsoper, Teatro alla Scala and Royal Opera House Covent Garden. She is working with such conductors as Daniel Barenboim, Antonio Pappano, Daniel Harding, Louis Langrée, Andris Nelsons, Marco Armiliato, Marc Minkowski, Fabio Luisi, Kirill Petrenko, Nicola Luisotti, Semyon Bychkov, Alain Altinoglu and Kazushi Ono. In the 2016/17 season Opolais continues her notable collaboration with the Metropolitan Opera, in three productions, returning for Manon Lescaut (Eyre), opposite Marcelo Álvarez, La bohème (Zeffirelli) and in Spring 2017 Opolais takes to the stage in an anticipated new production of Rusalka (Mary Zimmerman). All titles will be broadcast in HD. Opolais maintains this strong relationship with the Met, ever since her debut as Magda in La Rondine in 2013. Famously, in 2014 Opolais made history at the Met, making two role debuts within 18 hours. She gave a renowned performance in Madama Butterfly, only to step in for a matinee of La bohème the next day, which was additionally cinema broadcast around the world. Opolais wowed audiences around the globe, the performance receiving wide critical acclaim. Opolais continues her association with the Bayerische Staatsoper. This strong relationship began in 2010 when Opolais made her debut, to wide acclaim, as Rusalka. Since this time Opolais has appeared in numerous titles: Madama Butterfly, Manon Lescaut, Tatjana in Onegin, Amelia in Simon Boccanegra, Vitellia in Clemenza di Tito and most recently appearing as Margherita in Boito’s Mefistofele. In the coming season Opolais reprises her debut role as Rusalka in the house once more. Furthermore, Opolais enjoys a collaboration with Royal Opera House, where she has particularly cemented her title as "the leading Puccini Soprano of today" (The Telegraph), appearing as Cio-Cio San, Floria Tosca and Manon Lescaut. Opolais has also appeared at Opernhaus Zürich as Jenůfa, Teatro alla Scala in The Gambler and Pagliacci and this season returns to the Wiener Staatsoper in one of her signature roles, Madama Butterfly. Opolais notably makes her debut performances with the Berlin Philharmonic this season, in “Tosca” with Sir Simon Rattle at the Festspielhaus Baden-Baden and at the Philharmonie, Berlin. In recent seasons, Opolais' concert performances have included appearances at Salzburg Festival, BBC Proms, and Tanglewood Festival, where Opolais is a regular guest – this season headlining in a concert performance of Aida, a role Opolais is gradually returning to. Opolais has appeared with the Concertgebouworkest, Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln and Filarmonica della Scala. Highlights in 2016/17 include Opolais’ debut performances with the Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, in a signature Czech programme. Opolais also makes her return to the Musikverein, after her debut last season, and to the Konzerthaus Dortmund. Opolais is also hotly in demand for gala concert performances, and takes on a Baltic tour, her return for the first time in four years, with dates in Latvia and Lithuania. DVD recordings include Royal Opera House’s Manon Lescaut, in which Opolais sings the title role opposite Jonas Kaufmann. Deutsche Staatsoper’s Prokofiev's The Gambler, under the baton of Barenboim and Rusalka from the Bayerische Staatsoper. CD recordings include those with WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln of Suor Angelica, released with Orfeo and nominated for a BBC Music Magazine Award, Simon Boccanegra on the Decca label and collaborating with Jonas Kaufmann on his Grammy recognised Puccini disc with Sony.