Daveda Karanas

A winner of the 2008 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Greek-American mezzo-soprano Daveda Karanas has been hailed for her “capacious power” and “a voice lustrous and exciting” (San Francisco Chronicle).  Ms. Karanas made her San Francisco Opera debut as Mamka in Boris Godunov as a first year Adler Fellow with the prestigious San Francisco Opera Center.  As an Adler Fellow, she has performed in scenes as Amneris in Aïda and Brangäne in Tristan und Isolde, as well as covering the role of Fricka in Das Rheingold conducted by Donald Runnicles.  She also participated in San Francisco Opera’s Verdi Requiem with Donald Runnicles conducting.

Next season, Karanas will conclude her Adler Fellowship in performances of the Mistress of Novices in Suor Angelica with Patrick Summers conducting, as well as covering Azucena in Il trovatore and Frugola in Il tabarro.  Future seasons will also see Karanas at Seattle Opera and in concerts with Arizona Opera.

The 2006 – 2007 Season included her debuts with the Boston Symphony Orchestra conducted by James Levine in Schönberg’s Moses und Aron as Vierte nackte Jungfrau and Chicago Opera Theater as Ericlea in Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria conducted by Jane Glover.  She also performed the role of Tisbe in Cinderella with the Merola Opera Program, conducted by Martin Katz.

Ms. Karanas holds a Master of Music degree from Arizona State University.  While earning her degree, she performed such roles as Judith in Bluebeard’s Castle, Mère Marie in Dialogues of the Carmelites, and the Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors.  She was also a member of the Boston University Opera Institute where she performed the role of Zia Principessa in Suor Angelica and the Lady with a Hat Box in Postcard from Morocco.