Karen Foster Soprano
Biography
For her debut as Isolde in Tristan und Isolde in a new production with Den Norske Opera (Norwegian Opera). Of her performance, Kultur-og-underholdning declared, “She internalized the strength of Wagner’s character,” while Dagbladet wrote, “Karen Foster as Isolde is an elegant dramatic soprano,” and Aftenposten observed, “Karen Foster’s Isolde fills the palette of emotions with conviction and flexibility.”
Ms. Foster recently performed Der Ring des Nibelungen in her Grand Théâtre de Genève debut, singing Helmwige in Die Walküre and Third Norn in Götterdämmerung, and covering Brünnhilde; and returned to the role of Gerhilde in Die Walküre with Bayerische Staatsoper, under the baton of Maestro Kirill Petrenko, and with Dallas Symphony Orchestra. She sang debuts with NOrwalk Symphony, Columbus Symphony Orchestra and Canton Symphony Orchestra as soloist in Verdi's Requiem, and with Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra as Isolde in Tristan und Isolde.
An accomplished Wagnerian singer, Ms. Foster has performed Sieglinde in Act I of Die Walküre and the Wesendonck Lieder with Adelphi Orchestra; Gerhilde with Bayerische Staatsoper and in a recorded performance with Hong Kong Philharmonic (Naxos); Helmwige with Düsseldorf’s Deutsche Oper am Rhein; and as guest soloist at the German Embassy in the Immolation Scene from Götterdämmerung, presented by the Wagner Society of Washington D.C., with whom she has also performed excerpts from Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 and Das klagende Lied at the Kennedy Center.
Other highlights include a recording of Schleppträgerin in Elektra with WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln, under the baton of Semyon Bychkov (Profil Medien); the title role of Turandot with New Rochelle Opera; Leonora in Il trovatore with Westfield Symphony Orchestra; and Verdi’s Requiem with New York Choral Society. Ms. Foster has sung on the roster of Lyric Opera of Chicago for the Der Ring des Nibelungen, Lohengrin, and Strauss’ Die Frau ohne Schatten. Her repertoire also includes Giorgetta in Il tabarro, Ariadne in Ariadne auf Naxos, and Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni.
Ms. Foster previously won Third Prize in the Lauritz Melchoir International Singing Competition. She is an alumna of Santa Fe Opera’s Apprentice Program, where she performed segments from Verdi’s Macbeth, and Wagner Theater at Mannes, where she sang Wellgunde in Das Rheingold and Helmwige.
5-21-2022