Brittany Renee
Hailed for her “luminous tones” and “lush voice,” and praised by Opera News for her “plush soprano bloom,” Grammy Award winning American soprano Brittany Renee is amazing audiences with her finesse and shimmering stage presence.
This past winter, Ms. Renee made her Lyric Opera of Chicago debut in the leading role of Destiny/Loneliness/Greta in Terence Blanchard and Kasi Lemmon’s Fire Shut Up in My Bones, of which Chicago Classical Review wrote she “was uniformly excellent from top to bottom…”. Earlier in the 21-22, season Ms. Renee made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Evelyn in their own production of the instantly-beloved opera. Praised by critics, her portrayal as Evelyn “offered an uplifting lightness, a lovely, crystalline soprano that was all youthful excitement – more from her, please!” – (Gabrielle Ferrari, Parterre Box), and “masterfully oozed vocal and physical sensuality” – (David Salazar, OperaWire). She also performed Annie in the Met’s historic production of Porgy & Bess, which won Best Opera Recording at the 63rd annual Grammy Awards. In summer 2022, Brittany Renee was heard in the Metropolitan Opera’s Summer Recital Series in Central Park, and performed a solo recital with the Florentine Opera as part of their Al Fresco Recital Series.
In the current season, Ms. Renee returns to the Met for performances of Sadie Griffith in a new production of Terrance Blanchard’s Champion, Giannetta in L’elisir d’amore, and Ancella in David McVicar’s new production of Cherubini’s rarely performed Medea, which will open the season. She will also join them for their new production of Don Giovanni, as well as for revivals of Rigoletto and Peter Grimes. Upcoming seasons see her house debut with the San Francisco Opera in a leading role, in addition to returns to the Met and Lyric Opera of Chicago.
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Artist Bio
Hailed for her “luminous tones” and “lush voice,” and praised by Opera News for her “plush soprano bloom,” Grammy Award winning American soprano Brittany Renee is amazing audiences with her finesse and shimmering stage presence.
This past winter, Ms. Renee made her Lyric Opera of Chicago debut in the leading role of Destiny/Loneliness/Greta in Terence Blanchard and Kasi Lemmon’s Fire Shut Up in My Bones, of which Chicago Classical Review wrote she “was uniformly excellent from top to bottom…”. Earlier in the 21-22, season Ms. Renee made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Evelyn in their own production of the instantly-beloved opera. Praised by critics, her portrayal as Evelyn “offered an uplifting lightness, a lovely, crystalline soprano that was all youthful excitement – more from her, please!” – (Gabrielle Ferrari, Parterre Box), and “masterfully oozed vocal and physical sensuality” – (David Salazar, OperaWire). She also performed Annie in the Met’s historic production of Porgy & Bess, which won Best Opera Recording at the 63rd annual Grammy Awards. In summer 2022, Brittany Renee was heard in the Metropolitan Opera’s Summer Recital Series in Central Park, and performed a solo recital with the Florentine Opera as part of their Al Fresco Recital Series.
In the current season, Ms. Renee returns to the Met for performances of Sadie Griffith in a new production of Terrance Blanchard’s Champion, Giannetta in L’elisir d’amore, and Ancella in David McVicar’s new production of Cherubini’s rarely performed Medea, which will open the season. She will also join them for their new production of Don Giovanni, as well as for revivals of Rigoletto and Peter Grimes. Upcoming seasons see her house debut with the San Francisco Opera in a leading role, in addition to returns to the Met and Lyric Opera of Chicago.
Highlights of previous seasons include her role debut as Micaëla in Carmen with Opera Orlando, the role of Bess in Porgy & Bess at the Teatro Regio Torino, and the soprano soloist in Handel’s Messiah at Lincoln Center under the auspices of the National Chorale.
Despite myriad cancellations due to COVID-19, Brittany welcomed new and innovative virtual performances. Described by the Wall Street Journal as “an ingenious project,” Ms. Renee was blessed to stretch her contemporary wings in the award-winning world premiere opera series Tales from a Safe Distance with Decameron Opera. Through her voice she brought to life the illustrated role of BOSS in Resonance Works SourDough: Rise Up. In addition, in a new partnership with Thomas Hampson, The Hampsong Foundation, Courtney’s Stars of Tomorrow, and the streaming platform IDAGIO, she headlined the concert series Feel the Spirit, dedicated to the study, preservation, and performance of the Negro Spiritual.
International debuts have included performances at the Semperoper Dresden, The Charles Bronfman Auditorium in Tel Aviv, Israel, the Teatro Petruzzelli in Bari, Italy, The Magnetic Opera Festival in Elba, Italy, and Opera on the Avalon in Canada. US appearances have included performances with Opera San Jose, Knoxville Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Chautauqua Opera, Crested Butte Music Festival, The Handel Choir of Baltimore, and the Greensboro Symphony Orchestra.
Concert engagements include performances as a guest artist and model representing the designer PYER MOSS at the CFDA Vogue Fashion Gala, collaborator and jazz soloist with the Minneapolis based group VOXSPEX, a featured artist with the Wynton Marsalis’ U.S. Tour of the Abyssinian Mass with Chorale Le Chateau and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, appearances with the critically acclaimed American Spiritual Ensemble, and a tour with the Siena Chamber Orchestra in Italy. A frequent recitalist, Ms. Renee has performed in her hometown at the University of Minnesota’s Monday Guest Artist Recital Series at the Lloyd Ultan Recital Hall where she also had the privilege to conduct her own masterclass with the students.
Brittany Renee has been the recipient of awards including Senior Grand Prize Winner: Young Patronesses of the Opera, Audience Favorite: Harlem Opera Theater Competition, Scholarship Recipient: The Denver Lyric Opera Guild Competition Award, Rosalind Jackson Memorial Award: Crested Butte Music Festival, The Miriam Goodman Award: Chautauqua Opera, and Regional Finalist: Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.
Updated September 27, 2022
Video
“Dove sono” – Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro
“Rejoice Greatly” – Handel’s Messiah
“Er ist’s” – Wolf’s Morike Lieder
“Fix me, Jesus” – Arranged by Uzee Brown, Jr.
“Every Time I Feel the Spirit” – arranged by Robert Morris
Pictures
Press
"Impressive, showing a lush lyric soprano that especially shone during her solo 'Saria possible.'" – OperaWire
Giannetta in L’Elisir d’Amore – "In the role of Giannetta, Brittany Renee was impressive, showing a lush lyric soprano that especially shone during her solo 'Saria possible.' She sang this passage with staccato phrases, a quiet piano sound, and gorgeous legato phrases. Her comic timing was sensational as she interacted with the women’s chorus...in the ensembles, her voice also shone, especially in 'Io già m’immagino che cosa brami' where her patter work resonated through all the voices. Her interactions with Schultz were also crucial in helping audiences understand who this character was and why she was always around.”
"a formidable artist" – Voce di Meche
MET Summerstage – “This was the first time we heard Soprano Brittany Renee and found her to be a formidable artist [...] She rose to the challenge of Violetta's Act I aria from Verdi's La Traviata negotiating the two opposing sides of Violetta's character. In the cabaletta ‘Sempre libera’ we heard some impressive fireworks--just right for a party girl in denial. We don't claim to know anything about jazz but Duke Ellington' "In a Sentimental Mood" sounded just fine to us and illustrated her versatility.”
"...plush soprano blooms thrillingly on top..." – Opera News
Carmen – "Brittany Renee's plush soprano blooms thrillingly on top, especially in her rendition of "Je dis que rien ne m'epouvante," which demonstrates strength rather than fragility."
"...more from her please!" – Parterre Box
Fire Shut Up in my Bones – “Brittany Renee as Evelyn offered an uplifting lightness, a lovely, crystalline soprano that was all youthful excitement, more from her please!"
"... oozed vocal and physical sensuality..." – OperaWire
Fire Shut Up in my Bones – "...masterfully oozed vocal and physical sensuality."
"...sang in luminous tones about her own gorgeousness." – South Florida Classical Review
La boheme – “As the beautiful Musetta, Brittany Renee Robinson gave an assured performance that communicated desirability and jealousy without the stock, over-the-top diva gestures that so often accompany this role. In Musetta’s Waltz she caressed an embarrassed waiter and sang in luminous tones about her own gorgeousness."
"...conveyed with regal sorrow..." – Orlando Sentinel
Le nozze di Figaro – “nicely captures the Countess’s sadness, poignant among the frivolity and conveyed with regal sorrow by the excellent Brittany Renee.”