Elissa Pfaender, Mezzo-Soprano

25/07/2026

Final EUGENE ONEGIN today at Wolf Trap Opera! What fun it was to sing Olga… Her vibrant demeanor, zest for life and love, with a hint of sass… I will miss her and this cast very much ❤️

CAST:
Eugene Onegin: Finn Sagal
Tatiana: Magdalena Kuźma
Lensky: Daniel O'Hearn
Olga: Elissa Pfaender
Madame Larina: Aubrey Odle
Filipyevna: Cecelia McKinley
Prince Gremin: Sergio Martínez
Monsieur Triquet: jack hicks
Zaretsky: John Arlievsky

CREATIVE TEAM:
Conductor: Steven White
Director: Emma Griffin Emma Griffin
Costumes: Christopher Ford Christopher Ford
Scenic Design: Lee Jellinek
Lighting Design: Alejandro Farjado
Hair and Makeup Design: Anne Nesmith Anne Nesmith
Russian Diction and Chorus master: Ksenia Leletkina

📸: Rich Kessler

10/07/2026

On release today from Naxos!!!

😍 Brandneue Alben, DVDs und Blu-rays, Singles (Digital Only) – JETZT auf naxos.de 😍
► https://t1p.de/nxdKW2826 👀

Unter anderem
➽ auf DVD / Blu-ray: 'Maria Stuarda' von Donizetti mit den Solisten Aigul Akhmetshina, Lisette Oropesa, Ismael Jordi, Roberto Tagliavini, Andrzej Filończyk und Elissa Pfaender in einer Inszenierung von David McVicar am Teatro Real 🔗 https://nxd.lnk.to/2110782NBD0192VIN!DE

➽ mit der Live-Aufnahme von Fromental Halévys Oper 'La Juive' u.a. mit den Solisten Ambur Braid, John Osborn, Gerard Schneider, Monika Buczkowska-Ward und Simon Lim unter der Leitung von Henrik Nanasi an der Oper Frankfurt; 🔗 https://www.naxos.de/neuheiten/0730099061179/

➽ mit dem Album 'un///known' des Trio E.T.A. mit Werken von César Franck, Edvard Grieg und Johannes Brahms; 🔗 https://swrclassic.lnk.to/SWR19172CDFA!DE

•*¨*•♫♪¸¸.• 💿 Freitag ist ! 💿 •*¨*•♫♪¸¸.•

18/06/2026

So happy to share that our beautiful production of MARIA STUARDA at Teatro Real is now released on DVD through Naxos Records! Being a part of this production and team was so special, and I’m so glad that it can now be shared with audiences worldwide!

👑 Link in bio for how to get a copy

Lisette Oropesa 𝑨𝒊𝒈𝒖𝒍 𝑨𝒌𝒉𝒎𝒆𝒕𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒂 Andrzej Filończyk Ismael Jordi Gareth Mole Greg Eldridge José Miguel Pérez-Sierra Hannah Postlethwaite

21/05/2026

HALLO, HEIDELBERG!!! 🇩🇪🎶

I am beyond thrilled to announce that I am officially moving to Germany in the fall to join the ensemble at !

The new Spielzeit for 2026-2027 has just been announced, where I will sing a variety of roles and concerts, including Teresa in INNOCENCE, Baba the Turk in THE RAKE’S PROGRESS, The Beggar Woman in SWEENEY TODD, and more.

I am so looking forward to joining this ensemble, working with a fantastic team, and finally making Europe my home base. More information to come… but LOS GEHT’S!!! ✨

📸: The talented for the season booklet, on the streets of Heidelberg

13/05/2026

As has announced their 2026/2027 season, I am elated to sing the role of Tetyana in the season opener and world premiere of MATKI CHERSONIA (Mothers Of Kherson) by American playwright George Brant and Ukrainian composer Maxim Kolomiiets.

Conducted by Keri-Lynn Wilson and directed by Barbara Wysocka, this co-production with The Metropolitan Opera explores fundamental themes of suffering, oppression, parental love, and the power of community during the Russian-Ukrainian War. It is an honor to be a part of this world premiere, with 5 performances in Warsaw, opening on October 16, 2026! 🇵🇱


📸:

03/05/2026

Looking back on RIGOLETTO with ❤️‍🔥 🔪 What a joy it was to making my debut in this powerhouse role. Missing this cast, crew, and production immensely!

“As the killer’s sister Maddalena, Elissa Pfaender gave an effective performance as the seductress…her rich voice contributing to the success of the last-act quartet,” -South Florida Classical Review

“The mezzo-soprano Elissa Pfaender was a thrillingly seductive Maddalena,” -The New Criterion

“A must highlight, the mezzo-soprano Elissa Pfaender is a luxury interpreter as Maddalena,” -El Lugareño


📸: Bruce Bennett Photography

08/04/2026

✨MET DEBUT✨

It is both an immense honor and pleasure to share that I will be making my Metropolitan Opera debut in May of 2027 in Wagner’s masterpiece, PARSIFAL. Conducted by the inimitable Yannick Nézet-Séguin and production by François Girard, I will be both singing the role of Zweiter Knappe and covering a Blumenmädchen.

Ever since I started singing, it has been a dream of mine to perform at The MET, and I am elated to be a part of its 2026-2027 season! The production opens on May 20 with a run of 5 performances, including a Live in HD broadcast shown around the world (even in my little hometown movie theater in Wisconsin!!!) on June 5.

I am full of gratitude, and more exciting news and updates for the 2026/2027 season to come ✨



📸:
✨

24/03/2026

Such thrill to be here at ! So looking forward to the next 2 months in Munich, working on the premiere of OF ONE BLOOD by Brett Dean. LOS GEHT’S! 🇩🇪

20/03/2026

If looks could kill… 🔪❤️‍🔥

BEYOND excited to debut as Maddalena here at alongside a stellar cast! Join us for a weekend of killer performances!!! ✨

14/03/2026

Repost from
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A curse. A betrayal. A tragedy that changes everything.

Next weekend, Verdi’s Rigoletto arrives at the Kravis Center with a stellar cast of international artists, including the tenor voices behind the legendary aria “La donna è mobile.”

👉 Swipe to meet the cast.

📅 March 20–22
🎟️ Tickets in bio