Kelley O'Connor Mezzo-soprano

Possessing a voice of uncommon allure, musical sophistication far beyond her years, and intuitive and innate dramatic artistry, the Grammy® Award-winning mezzo-soprano Kelley O'Connor quickly has emerged as one of the most compelling performers of her generation.

During the 2010-11 season the California native’s impressive calendar includes performances of Berio’s Folk Songs with Daniel Harding and the London Symphony Orchestra at the Berlin Festival, excerpts from Roussel’s Padmâvatî with Christoph Eschenbach and the National Symphony Orchestra, Bach’s Missa Brevis in F Major with Franz Welser-Möst and the Cleveland Orchestra, Lieberson’s Neruda Songs with Stéphane Denève and the Seattle Symphony as well as with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Mahler’s “Resurrection” Symphony both with David Robertson and the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra and with Edo de Waart and the Milwaukee Symphony, and Britten’s Spring Symphony with Robert Spano and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. The artist returns to the New York Philharmonic for staged performances of Janáček’s The Cunning Little Vixen under the baton of Alan Gilbert and she joins Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic on an international tour offering performances of Bernstein’s “Jeremiah” Symphony. Ms. O’Connor makes her Lyric Opera of Chicago debut as Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the company’s new production by Neil Armfield conducted by Rory Macdonald.

Ms. O’Connor has received unanimous international critical acclaim for her numerous performances as Federico García Lorca in Ainadamar. Ms. O'Connor created the role for the world premiere at Tanglewood under the baton of Robert Spano and subsequently has sung the part in New York, London, Los Angeles, Chicago, Santa Fe, Ojai, Atlanta, and Adelaide. Ms. O’Connor’s discography includes Ainadamar with Robert Spano and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with Franz Welser-Möst and the Cleveland Orchestra, both commercially available on Deutsche Grammophon.

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