Elissa Pfaender, Mezzo-Soprano

Praised for “exuding power in every detail of her body language and voice,” and her “remarkably rich, powerful mezzo,” Mezzo-Soprano Elissa Pfaender is gaining recognition for her captivating performances around the world. The 2025/2026 season includes a return to Deutsche Oper Berlin for performances of Marcellina in Le Nozze di Figaro, a role and house debut of Maddalena in Rigoletto at Palm Beach Opera, and a return to Wolf Trap Opera for a role debut of Olga in Eugene Onegin.

In the 2024-2025 season, highlights included performing as Anna Kennedy in Maria Stuarda at Teatro Real Madrid, directed by Sir David McVicar. She also performed at Deutsche Oper Berlin as Dritte Dame in Die Zauberflöte, and reprised the role of Second Secretary in Nixon in China. In summer 2025, she performed the title role of Carmen and debuted the role of Marcellina in Le Nozze di Figaro at Wolf Trap Opera.

As Carmen, Ms. Pfaender’s performance gained much acclaim, as “Pfaender dominated both physically and vocally…as if Bizet were writing the role with her in mind,” (BroadwayWorld.com), and “No easy task to take on as iconic of a role as Carmen, Pfaender made it look like she was born to play her…creating a memorable performance,” (OperaToday.com).

Ms. Pfaender was recently named a winner of the 2023-2024 Opera Foundation Award, where she joined the Deutsche Oper Berlin ensemble for Waltraute in Die Walküre and Nancy T’ang, the First Secretary in Nixon in China. She 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 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 and more.