Biography
Kristine Opolais is one of the most sought-after sopranos on the international scene, with an established reputation
amongst the world’s pre-eminent singing actresses. Opolais has appeared at The Metropolitan Opera, Wiener
Staatsoper, Staatsoper Berlin, Bayerische Staatsoper, Teatro alla Scala, Opernhaus Zürich, and the Royal Opera House.
She collaborates with renowned conductors including Daniel Barenboim, Sir Antonio Pappano, Sir Simon Rattle, Sir
Mark Elder, Andris Nelsons, Fabio Luisi, and Kirill Petrenko.
In the 2024/25 season, Kristine will make her debut at Oper Leipzig, singing Katerina Izmailova in Lady Macbeth of
Mtsesnk, conducted by Andris Nelsons and also returns to her signature role of Cio-Cio San in Madama Butterfly at
Tenerife Opera and Sofia Opera. On the concert scene, she will sing Shostakovich's Symphony no.14 at Finnish National
Opera and Gewandhaus Leipzig, gala concerts in Antwerp, Krakowand Saltillo, Mexico with Stephen Costello and a
recital at Shanghai Oriental Art Center with collaborator Agnese Eglina.
Highlights of Ms. Opolais’ 2023/24 season included a a concert performance of Shostakovich’s Lady Macbeth of
Mtsensk with the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall and at Boston Symphony Hall, led by Andris Nelsons.
She will revive the role of Katerina Izmailova in a major return to Hamburgische Staatsoper to finish the season. Last
season also saw her greatly-anticipated return to the title role of Verdi’s Aida, in a new production at Lithuanian
National Opera. She joined celebrated pianist Agnese Egliņa for a series of recitals in Latvia, Hungary and Brazil.
Other recent highlights include Opolais singing the role of Cio-Cio San at the Teatro Municipale Giuseppe Verdi
Salerno. Critics raved about her “highly moving” performance, saying she “leads the character with perfection, she is
THE Madame Butterfly, and she has endless power over the personality.”
Kristine Opolais has been celebrated for her distinctive performances at The Metropolitan Opera, including her
appearances in La bohème, Madama Butterfly, and new productions of Manon Lescaut and Rusalka, which received
international broadcasts as part of the Met’s Live in HD cinema series. In 2018, Opolais returned to the Met to sing
Suor Angelica, a role she previously recorded on the Orfeo label. Famously in 2014, she made history at the Met with
two role debuts in 18 hours. She gave an outstanding performance in the title role of Madama Butterfly, only to step in
the following day for a matinée of La bohème, which was broadcast into theatres worldwide.
Opolais’ appearances at the Royal Opera House, where she has been heralded as “the leading Puccini soprano of
today” (The Telegraph), include the title roles in Tosca, Manon Lescaut, and Madama Butterfly. She also has a
significant relationship with the Bayerische Staatsoper, which began in 2010 when she made her debut as Rusalka in
Martin Kušej’s new production.
Opolais has made solo concert and recital appearances at the Salzburg Festival, BBC Proms, Tanglewood Festival, the
Musikverein Wien, Baden-Baden Festspielhaus, Royal Opera House Muscat, Royal Concertgebouw, and Carnegie Hall.
She has appeared with the Berliner Philharmoniker, Gewandhausorchester Leipzig, the Concertgebouworkest,
Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks, Filarmonica della Scala and the NHK Symphony Orchestra. Opolais’
discography includes a DVD of “Tosca” in Baden-Baden with the Berliner Philharmoniker, conducted by Sir Simon
Rattle.