Emma Curtis
Contralto

" an impressive array of vocal colours ... her deeper register is outstanding " Gramophone

In 2006 Ms. Curtis created the role of Galatée in the world premiere of L'Astrée (Pastorale) by Gérard Pesson for Staatstheater Stuttgart, and in 2007 Ms. Curtis created the leading role of L'Ainée in the world premiere of Jacques Lenot's J'étais dans ma maison et j'attendais que la pluie vienne at Opera de Genève in a production by Christophe Perton, conducted by Daniel Kawka.   June 2006 saw the release of Ms. Curtis's debut album Calliope, with The Frolick on Avie Records.

This versatile contralto specializes in Baroque repertoire, but can also be heard in operas including: Schoenberg's Moses und Aron, and Janacek's Makropulos Case. Ms. Curtis has worked with conductors including Thomas Adès, Leonard Slatkin, Nicholas McGegan, Kwamé Ryan, Trevor Pinnock, Sylvain Cambreling, Jean-Claude Malgoire and Lothar Zagrosek. Ms. Curtis has appeared in new productions directed by Jossi Wieler, Peter Konwitschny, Hans Neuenfels, Christopher Mattaliano and Catherine Turocy, and in stagings by Joachim Schlömer, Edward Berkley and Axel Mantey. She studied 1997-1999 with her mentor Marilyn Horne, and has also had the privilege to work with Thomas Hampson and Teresa Berganza. Emma Curtis has been a full-time member of the Solo Ensemble at the Staatstheater Stuttgart from 2003 to 2006.

As a Baroque specialist Ms. Curtis has performed the title role in Cavalli's Giasone for Aspen Music Festival 2005 conducted by Harry Bicket, Irene in Handel's Atalanta at the 2005 International Handel-Festival in Göttingen, Germany, conducted by Nicholas McGegan, Bertarido (Handel's Rodelinda) in Santa Barbara, and Cleofe in Handel's La Resurrezione at the 2003 Lufthansa Baroque Festival in London, with Trevor Pinnock and The English Concert, and in concerts with William Christie and Les Arts Florissants. In 2004 she performed Les Leçons de Ténèbres by Marc Antoine Charpentier, plus the world premiere of Les Leçons de Ténèbres by Philippe Fénelon, with La Grand Ecurie et la Chambre du Roy.

Ms. Curtis's concert appearances include Sibelius's Jokamies with the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Thomas Adès and Janáçek's Diary of One who Disappeared at the Aldeburgh Festival, and Vaughan Williams' Serenade to Music with Leonard Slatkin and the BBC Symphony Orchestra at the First Night of the BBC Proms 2001.

Ms. Curtis has furthered her passion for the theater with studies and performances in Mime, Mask and Commedia dell'Arte.

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