American Mezzo-Soprano Emily Fons has made several exciting role and company debuts in recent seasons that have set her apart as a versatile, powerful, and engaging performer. Ms. Fons was hailed by Opera News as one of opera’s rising stars and one of the best singing actresses of her generation, and received a Grammy nomination for her work on Jennifer Higdon’s Cold Mountain.

Ms. Fons has been lauded for her virtuosic abilities in Baroque and Bel Canto repertoire, her winning portrayals of opera’s traditional “trouser roles”, and the dramatic commitment and musicality she brings to modern works. In the past few seasons Ms. Fons has sung with The Santa Fe Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, The International Händel Festspiele, the Cleveland Orchestra, Dallas Opera, San Diego Opera, Opera Omaha, Boston Lyric Opera, the Florentine Opera, Madison Opera, Opéra de Lille, the Ongaku-Juku Festival, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis.

The 2017-2018 season begins with Ms. Fons returning to the Cleveland Orchestra as the mezzo-soprano soloist in the Mozart Requiem. Ms. Fons then makes her company debut with Opera North Carolina reprising the role of Ruby Thewes in Jennifer Higdon’s Grammy nominated opera Cold Mountain. Ms. Fons created the role of Ruby in the opera’s premiere at the Santa Fe Opera in 2015. Ms. Fons will then make a role and company debut with Kentucky Opera as Sister Helen Prejean in Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking. Ms. Fons will appear in recital in her hometown of Milwaukee, followed by two performances as the title role in Ravel’s L’enfant et les Sortilèges under the baton of Maestro Ozawa, first with the Berlin Philharmonic, and then in Japan as part of the Seiji Ozawa Music Academy in Tokyo, Kyoto, and Nagoya.

Recent notable performances include the title role in Rossini’s La Cenerentola in a new production by Jean Bellorini for Opéra de Lille, Stéphano in Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette with the Santa Fe Opera, Cherubino in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro in Claus Guth’s acclaimed production at the Canadian Opera Company, Dorabella in Opera Omaha’s new production of Cosi Fan Tutte, a role debut as Donna Elvira in Mozart’s Don Giovanni with the Florentine Opera, the title role in Handel’s oratorio Susanna with the International Händel Festspiele, and the title role in Ravel’s L’enfant et les Sortilèges with maestro Seiji Ozawa.

Ms. Fons is enjoying a successful international career while also staying committed to performing in and giving back to her community and home state through master classes, recitals, and by working with the high quality opera companies that Wisconsin is fortunate to have.

Emily will be making her debut with Haymarket Opera Company as the title role in Cesti's L'Orontea!