Karen Foster Soprano
Biography
Karen Foster is a distinguished dramatic soprano renowned for her compelling portrayals in major operatic roles. Her debut as Isolde in Tristan und Isolde at Den Norske Opera earned high acclaim, with critics praising her as “an elegant dramatic soprano” who brings “a full palette of emotions, conviction, and flexibility” to the role.
Ms. Foster made her Grand Théâtre de Genève debut in Der Ring des Nibelungen, singing Helmwige in Die Walküre and the Third Norn in Götterdämmerung, while also covering Brünnhilde in Die Walküre, Siegfried, and Götterdämmerung. She has performed Gerhilde in Die Walküre with the Bayerische Staatsoper under Maestro Kirill Petrenko and with both the Hong Kong Philharmonic and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra under Maestro Jaap van Zweden. Additionally, she has been on the roster of Lyric Opera of Chicago for productions of Die Walküre, Die Frau ohne Schatten, and Lohengrin.
A sought-after concert artist, Ms. Foster has performed Verdi’s Requiem with the Norwalk Symphony, Columbus Symphony Orchestra, and Canton Symphony Orchestra. She has also appeared as Isolde in Tristan und Isolde (Act II) with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and as Sieglinde in Die Walküre (Act I) with the Adelphi Orchestra. At the Kennedy Center, she was a soloist in Mahler’s Symphony No. 8, and most recently, she performed Mahler’s Rückert-Lieder with the Riverside Orchestra in New York.
Her recordings include Schleppträgerin in Elektra with WDR Sinfonieorchester and Gerhilde in Die Walküre with the Hong Kong Philharmonic.
3/15/2025