“[...]Damrau’s vocal delicacy, [is] able to open a phrase with a delicate crescendo, while often ending them with soft holds as if she were embracing the syllables to the fullest.”
– Operawire
Soprano Diana Damrau has been performing on the world’s leading opera and concert stages for two decades.
Her vast repertoire spans title roles in Anna Bolena (Zurich Opera House, Vienna State Opera), I Masnadieri, Capriccio (Bavarian State Opera), Roméo et Juliette (La Scala, Metropolitan Opera), Lucia di Lammermoor (La Scala, Bavarian State Opera, Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera House), Manon (Vienna State Opera, Metropolitan Opera) and La Traviata (La Scala, Metropolitan Opera, Royal Opera House, Opéra National de Paris and Bavarian State Opera) as well as Queen of the Night in Die Zauberflöte (Metropolitan Opera, Salzburg Festival, Vienna State Opera, Royal Opera House, Bavarian State Opera).
The Metropolitan Opera has been a second home in which she has performed many of her signature roles, been broadcast in HD to cinemas globally and made seven role debuts since her own debut there as Zerbinetta in 2005. Highlights have included new productions of Rigoletto (Gilda), Il Barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina), Le Comte Ory (Adèle) and Les Pêcheurs des Perles (Leïla), as well as title roles in La Traviata, Manon, La Sonnambula, La Fille du Régiment and Roméo et Juliette. She was also the first singer in Metropolitan Opera history to perform the roles of Pamina and Queen of the Night in different performances of the same run of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte.
"Vocally, her phrasing choices were marvelously precise, fresh and personal — and all of a piece with her physical portrayal of the character. [...]Damrau masterfully maintained melodic continuity without sacrificing effect. This was acting of Shakespearean caliber."
– WQXR
The soprano has performed contemporary works for the opera stage in roles written especially for her, most notably as the title role in Iain Bell’s operatic adaptation of Hogarth’s A Harlot’s Progress (Theater an der Wien, 2013) and as Drunken Woman/Gym Instructress in Lorin Maazel’s 1984 (Royal Ballet & Opera, 2005).
Diana Damrau has established herself as one of today’s most sought-after interpreters of song, regularly performing at most worldwide renowned venues. She enjoys a close artistic partnership with pianist Helmut Deutsch, tenor Jonas Kaufmann, and harpist Xavier de Maistre.
Recording exclusively for Warner / Erato, Diana Damrau made her recording debut with Arie di Bravura – a collection of Mozart and Salieri arias. Subsequent solo releases were awarded the ECHO and the OPUS Klassik prize amongst others. She performed Strauss’ Vier letzte Lieder at Carnegie Hall with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra under Mariss Jansons, and the recording was released in 2020. Furthermore, she features on various complete opera recordings on both CD and DVD.
Much in demand on the concert and recital circuit, Diana Damrau has held residencies in major cities in Europe such as the Barbican Centre in London, toured extensively in South America and Asia and performed New Year’s Eve concerts with the Berliner Philharmoniker.
Diana Damrau is Kammersängerin of the Bayerische Staatsoper (2007) and holder of the Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art (2010). She is a recipient of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (2021). She has also been selected Singer of the Year (Opernwelt, International Opera Award London, Opera News, Gramophone Editor’s Choice) and since 2020 an asteroid bears her name.
