Jennifer Zetlan, Soprano

Biography

Soprano Jennifer Zetlan is swiftly garnering recognition for her artistry and captivating stage presence.  She has debuted on the stages of the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, Seattle Opera, and Florida Grand Opera.  She has received critical acclaim for her portrayal of Emily Webb in Our Town at Aspen Music Festival and with Juilliard Opera Center; The New York Times said: “Jennifer Zetlan…sings beautifully and affectingly.  The part could not be in better hands.”

Ms. Zetlan begins her 2010 – 2011 season as Xenia in a new production of Boris Godunov at the Metropolitan Opera, including a performance broadcast worldwide as part of the Metropolitan Opera’s ‘LIVE! in HD’ series.  She will make her debut with Santa Fe Opera in the summer of 2011 as Sardula in The Last Savage, and will be heard in performances of Messiah at Carnegie Hall with the Oratorio Society of New York and Musica Sacra.  In the summer, she will be featured with the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra in performances of Haydn’s Harmoniemesse.  In recital, Ms. Zetlan will join Martin Katz for concerts of Schumann & Wolf, presented by 5ive Boroughs Music Festival.

In the 2009 – 2010 season she made her company debut with Seattle Opera as The Flier in the world premiere of Daron Hagen’s Amelia.  She was heard as Laoula in New York City Opera’s production of L’étoile and appeared with Nashville Opera as Madeline Usher in The Fall of the House of Usher.  In concert, Ms. Zetlan performed Tan Dun’s Silk Road for percussion and soprano and sang the North American premiere of Tavener’s Requiem for the Sacred Music in a Sacred Space series for the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola in New York City.  In the summer, she made her debut at the Spoleto Festival USA in performance of Mozart’s Coronation Mass. Of her performance at Carnegie Hall for The Marilyn Horne Foundation, The New York Times said: “Jennifer Zetlan offered an enchanting rendition…with a radiant, agile voice, and excellent control.”

Ms. Zetlan began the 2008–2009 season as a featured soloist in New York City Opera’s Looking Forward concert series. She performed the role of the Boxer’s Wife in Schwergewicht, oder Die Ehre der Nation at Juilliard Opera Center under James Conlon, and made her Avery Fisher Hall debut with the Juilliard Orchestra in Bernstein’s Kaddish Symphony, conducted by Alan Gilbert.  Ms. Zetlan made her New York recital debut under the auspices of the Marilyn Horne Foundation’s On Wings of Song series at Christ and St. Stephen’s Church, which was later broadcast on WQXR.  Further performances in the 2008–2009 season included Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 at Carnegie Hall with New York Youth Symphony and a return to the opera stage as Nannetta in Juilliard Opera Center’s production of Verdi's Falstaff and as Tytania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream at The Princeton Festival.  For her performances with New York City Opera in the 2008–2009 season, Ms. Zetlan received the Dr. Marcia Robbins-Wilf award.

In recent seasons, Ms. Zetlan made her debut as Musetta in La bohème with The Princeton Festival and as Gretel in Hänsel und Gretel at Aspen Music Festival.  She has been heard in the title role of The Cunning Little Vixen with Aspen Music Festival, as First Madrigal Singer in Manon Lescaut with Florida Grand Opera, and as Tytania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Diana in La Calisto at The Juilliard School.  Performances with New York’s Liederkranz Foundation include Marianne in Romberg’s The New Moon, Fifth Maid in Elektra, and Monica in The Medium.

Ms. Zetlan has appeared as a soloist and chamber musician with the Aspen Music Festival, New York Festival of Song, Alexander Paley Music Festival in Richmond, VA, Foothills Chamber Music Festival in Winston-Salem, NC, and The Artist Series of Sarasota.  Committed to performing new works, she sang at the 2007 Opera America New Works Showcase and participated in New York City Opera’s VOX Showcase of American Composers in 2008 and 2009 and is frequently involved with the new works initiative co-sponsored by the Metropolitan Opera and Lincoln Center Theater.

(from jenniferzetlan.com)