Rachelle Durkin
SOPRANOAustralian/American soprano Rachelle Durkin became an established solo artist at The Metropolitan Opera singing leading roles for many years – most notably Norina in Don Pasquale, Lisa in La sonnambula, Clorinda in La Cenerentola, Miss Schlesen in Phillip Glass’ Satyagraha, Frasquita in Carmen and many others.
Most recently, she sang Tytania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream for the Adelaide Festival, the New Year’s Eve Gala Concert with The Vienna Pops Orchestra, Violetta in La traviata for Victory Hall Opera (the subject of the documentary UNSUNG), Donna Anna in Don Giovanni for Pittsburgh Opera and the title role in Tosca for Opera Queensland.
A highly adept interpreter in a wide range of repertoire spanning from the baroque to modern masterpieces, Rachelle’s other noteworthy performances include: Kumudha in John Adams’ A Flowering Tree for The Perth International Arts Festival; the title role in Alcina (c: Richard Hickox), Armida in Rinaldo (c: Trevor Pinnock) and Angelica in Orlando for Opera Australia. Rachelle received Helpmann Award nominations for all four of the aforementioned appearances. She received her fifth nomination for Haydn’s Armida with Pinchgut Opera (c: Antony Walker).
Other highlights have included Romance at the Met – Opera’s Most Romantic Moments (an iTunes exclusive with tenor Matthew Polenzani); soloist in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with Detroit Symphony Orchestra (c: Leonard Slatkin) and West Australian Symphony Orchestra (c: Asher Fisch), performances with Bryn Terfel and Lisa McCune at Leeuwin Estate Winery and Gala Concerts with Placido Domingo and José Carreras.