Rachelle Durkin BIO
Australian/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 Titania 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 appearances above. 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.
Rachelle Durkin, soprano
Prized for her spontaneity, vocal agility, and dramatic risk-taking, Australian soprano Rachelle Durkin began her career by winning the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, the start of her 20 years as a Principal Artist at the MET.
Of the many roles Durkin has performed and covered at the Met, the most notable are Norina/ Don Pasquale, which won her a thunderous standing ovation, Lisa/ La Sonnambula, Clorinda/ La Cenerentola, Miss Schlesen/ Satyagraha, Frasquita/ Carmen, and First Flower Maiden/ Parsifal (also with The Salzburg Festival). Recent performances include Donna Anna/ Don Giovanni for Pittsburgh Opera, her acclaimed Tosca with Opera Queensland, Fox/ The Cunning Little Vixen and Musetta/ La Boheme with the West Australian Opera, and Céphise in Sympathy with Victory Hall Opera.
Roles
Musetta — La Bohème(2025)
Mrs Schlesen — Satyagraha in Concert(2023)
Adina — The Elixir of Love(2015)
Adina — The Elixir of Love(2014)
Norina — Don Pasquale(2014)
Norina — Don Pasquale(2013)
Eurydice — Orpheus in the Underworld(2013)
Most recently, she sang Titania 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 appearances above. 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.
Rachelle Durkin, soprano
Prized for her spontaneity, vocal agility, and dramatic risk-taking, Australian soprano Rachelle Durkin began her career by winning the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, the start of her 20 years as a Principal Artist at the MET.
Of the many roles Durkin has performed and covered at the Met, the most notable are Norina/ Don Pasquale, which won her a thunderous standing ovation, Lisa/ La Sonnambula, Clorinda/ La Cenerentola, Miss Schlesen/ Satyagraha, Frasquita/ Carmen, and First Flower Maiden/ Parsifal (also with The Salzburg Festival). Recent performances include Donna Anna/ Don Giovanni for Pittsburgh Opera, her acclaimed Tosca with Opera Queensland, Fox/ The Cunning Little Vixen and Musetta/ La Boheme with the West Australian Opera, and Céphise in Sympathy with Victory Hall Opera.
Roles
Musetta — La Bohème(2025)
Mrs Schlesen — Satyagraha in Concert(2023)
Adina — The Elixir of Love(2015)
Adina — The Elixir of Love(2014)
Norina — Don Pasquale(2014)
Norina — Don Pasquale(2013)
Eurydice — Orpheus in the Underworld(2013)