Elissa Pfaender, Mezzo-Soprano

Praised for “exuding power in every detail of her body language and voice,” Mezzo-Soprano Elissa Pfaender was recently named a winner of the 2023-2024 Opera Foundation Award. In the 2024-2025 season, she returns to Teatro Real, where she will perform the role of Anna Kennedy in the theatre’s premiere of Maria Stuarda, directed by Sir David McVicar. Later in the season, she returns to Deutsche Oper Berlin, performing the role of Dritte Dame in Die Zauberflöte, and reprising the role of Second Secretary in Nixon in China. In summer 2025, she will reprise the title role of Carmen and debut the role of Marcellina in Le Nozze di Figaro at Wolf Trap Opera.

This past season, she joined the Deutsche Oper Berlin ensemble for Waltraute in Die Walküre and Nancy T’ang, the First Secretary in Nixon in China, and also joined the ensemble of Teatro Real where she was responsible for Maddalena in Rigoletto, Zofia in Halka, Medoro in Orlando, and Neris in Médée. In the 2022-2023 season, Ms. Pfaender returned to Opera Theatre of Saint Louis for Mrs. McLean in Susannah and joined Opera North in her role debut as the title role of Carmen. She also sang Zulma and covered the title role of Isabella in L’Italiana in Algeri with Tulsa Opera, sang Alisa in Lucia di Lammermoor with New York City Opera, and was a Vocal Fellow at the Ravinia Steans Music Institute, under the direction of Kevin Murphy, which concluded with a solo performance with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in their “Tchaikovsky Spectacular,” under the baton of George Stelluto.

As an Opera Theatre of Saint Louis Gerdine Young Artist, she created the role of Dr. Muriel Elsie Landau in the world premiere of Tobias Picker’s Awakenings, where she was praised for her “mellifluous mezzo...and chest tones of chilling power,” (Operatoday.com). Additionally, she sang Third Lady in Die Zauberflöte, and covered the title role of Carmen. With New York City Opera, she covered the roles of Mama and Signora Olga in the world premiere of Ricky Ian Gordon’s The Garden of the Finzi-Continis and also frequently performs with the company as a featured soloist in concerts in Bryant Park and Central Park.

Ms. Pfaender has also been a young artist with the Savannah Voice Festival, under the direction of Sherrill Milnes, Manchester Music Festival, Sarasota Opera, and The National Endowment for the Arts YoungArts Foundation. During her tenure with Sarasota Opera, Ms. Pfaender was awarded the prestigious “ Anne J. O’Donnell Outstanding Apprentice Artist Award” by the Sarasota Opera Guild for her talent, skills and musicianship. Ms. Pfaender’s has been the recipient of many awards from The Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, The Gerda Lissner Foundation, The Opera Foundation, The NEA YoungArts Foundation, The National Opera Association, and The Orpheus National Music Competition. She holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the prestigious Oberlin Conservatory of Music, and her Master of Music from Westminster Choir College.