BRITTANY RENEE
SOPRANO
BIOGRAPHY
Renowned for her “luminous tones” and “opulent voice,” and celebrated by Opera News for her “plush soprano bloom,” GRAMMY Award-winning soprano Brittany Renee is enchanting audiences with her exquisite artistry and radiant stage presence. Her performance is a masterclass in sophistication and finesse, affirming her status as a rising star destined for a luminous future.
This season, Ms. Renee continues to shine, bringing her critically acclaimed portrayal of Musetta in La bohème to The Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, and Houston Grand Opera in her house début. She will also grace the Kennedy Center stage with Washington National Opera as Bess in Porgy and Bess and will be featured at National Sawdust as Esther in the world premiere of Paula Prestini’s Silent Light. On the concert stage, Ms. Renee will appear as a soloist in Brahm’s Reqiuem with the New York Philharmonic, as well as Sanctuary Road with the Buffalo Philharmonic. Looking ahead, Brittany Renee is poised to continue dazzling the operatic world with anticipated returns to The Metropolitan Opera and San Francisco Opera in leading roles, solidifying her position as one of the most compelling voices of her generation.
In the past season, Ms. Renee captivated audiences with her role and house début at the San Francisco Opera as Julie in the groundbreaking opera Omar, a collaboration between Rhiannon Giddens and Michael Abels. She also made a striking return to The Metropolitan Opera, where she portrayed Destiny, Loneliness, and Greta in Terence Blanchard and Kasi Lemmons’ Fire Shut Up in My Bones and covered Micaëla in Carmen. The season concluded with a stunning house début at Opera Theatre of St. Louis as Musetta in La bohème. Additionally, she had the honor of performing in a special benefit concert at The Metropolitan Opera, celebrating Stephen Schwartz's 75th birthday alongside illustrious stars from Broadway, Hollywood, and the operatic world.
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CRITICAL ACCLAIM
"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.”
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"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.”
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"...luscious lyric soprano and magnetic presence..." – Parterre Box
Champion – “Brittany Renee once again shows off a luscious lyric soprano and magnetic presence that promises an exciting career ahead.”
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"...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."
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"...clear, tender tone..." – NYTimes
Fire Shut Up In My Bones – "Brittany Renee sings the tripartite role at the Met with a clear, tender tone."
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"...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!"
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"... oozed vocal and physical sensuality..." – OperaWire
Fire Shut Up in my Bones – "...masterfully oozed vocal and physical sensuality."
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"...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."
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"Renee...displays the requisite range of confident liveliness and flamboyance with a touch of naughtiness" – PoplifeSTL
La boheme – “Brittany Renee achieves another bit of opera theater magic in the final act. In the first three, Renee delivers a Musetta who displays the requisite range of confident liveliness and flamboyance with a touch of naughtiness (Café Momus, anybody?). But it’s her act of kindness toward Mimi in the fourth act that most humanizes the character. Renee’s compassion adds genuine depth to the role."
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"...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.”
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"...a vocally expressive voice of inherent beauty, incorporating a soft, beautiful vibrato..." – William Burnett, Opera Warhorses
Omar – “Minnesota soprano Brittany Renee displayed a vocally expressive voice of inherent beauty, incorporating a soft, beautiful vibrato. Renee’s artistry showed brilliantly in Julie’s affecting aria My Daddy Wore a Cap Like Yours, when Julie recognized that Omar is wearing a Muslim prayer-cap.”