Elise Quagliata

Elise Quagliata recently sang the role of Minskwoman in Dove’s Flight with Utah Opera, and the title role in Carmen with Pensacola Opera. Before the Covid-19 shutdown, she was in production with Minnesota Opera creating the role of Pellegrina in the world premiere of Prestini’s Edward Tulane. In recent seasons she sang Elle in Poulenc’s La Voix Humaine with Des Moines Metro Opera, Carmen with Kentucky Opera and with the Chattanooga Symphony & Opera, Hannah After in As One with Pensacola Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera and Bay Chamber Concerts, the Minkswoman in Jonathan Dove’s Flight with Des Moines Metro Opera, Emilia in Verdi’s Otello with Austin Opera, and as Zosia in the premiere of Jake Heggie’s Out of Darkness: Two Remain with The Atlanta Opera.  

A frequent interpreter of contemporary, American music, Quagliata has sung the role of Sister Helen Prejean in Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking in six productions. Opera News cited her “passionate interpretation” and “exceptional technical finesse”. Quagliata will be making her debut with Opera Idaho with the role in April 2022. She was also praised by The New York Times for her “rich, expressive voice and passionate delivery” of Heggie’s song cycle on Sister Helen’s poetry, The Deepest Desire, performed in Los Angeles and New York with the composer at the piano. She originated the role of Joan Clarke in Justine Chen’s The Life and Death(s) of Alan Turing with Chicago Opera Theater, and sang the New York premiere of Wallace’s Hopper’s Wife as Hedda Hopper with New York City Opera.  

A celebrated Carmen, Quagliata has been praised for her “fierce charisma with vocal finesse.” She has sung many productions, as well as the New York City Opera world tour of Carmen in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. Other notable opera roles include Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd, Maria in Maria de Buenos Aires, Jo in Little Women, Olga in Eugene Onegin, and Suzuki in Madama Butterfly, to name a few.  

Quagliata’s solo orchestral credits include Prokofiev’s cantata Alexander Nevsky, Elgar’s The Dream of Gerontius, Mahler’s Rückert Lieder, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Verdi’s Requiem, Brahms’ Alto Rhapsody, Montsalvatge’s Cinco Canciones Negras, DeFalla’s El Amor Brujo, and DeFalla’s Sombrero Tres Picos.  

In July 2022, Quagliata will star as Ginny in the world premiere of Kuster and Campbell’s A Thousand Acres for the 50th Anniversary season of Des Moines Metro Opera.