BIOGRAPHY
Kathryn Henry is rapidly emerging as a compelling voice in the world of opera, praised for her “clean coloratura and silvery voice.” Her performances captivate audiences with their “flawless sense of line” and “shimmering warmth,” blending “dignity and strength with profound sorrow.”
In the 2024/25 season, Ms. Henry makes her Metropolitan Opera debut in Die Frau ohne Schatten and appears with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra as Gutrune and 3rd Norn in Götterdämmerung and Helmwige in Die Walküre as part of their Ring Cycle. Additionally, she sings Contessa in Le nozze di Figaro with North Carolina Opera, Micaëla in Carmen with the Florentine Opera Company, and Mahler’s Fourth Symphony with the Richmond Symphony in Virginia.
An emerging voice with a remarkable affinity for the music of Richard Strauss, Ms. Henry made a notable debut with the Richmond Symphony Orchestra in the 2023/24 season, performing Strauss’ Four Last Songs. That same season, she returned to the Santa Fe Opera to cover the role of the Marschallin and sang Marianne Leitmetzerin in Der Rosenkavalier, conducted by Karina Canellakis in Bruno Ravella’s critically acclaimed production.
Ms. Henry’s artistry has been recognized with a prestigious Grammy nomination for Best Opera Recording, for her striking portrayal of Lucy Harker in the studio recording of the world premiere of John Corigliano and Mark Adamo’s The Lord of Cries. This followed her triumphant debut of the opera at the Santa Fe Opera, where she left an indelible mark on audiences and critics alike. Notably, Ms. Henry stepped into the title role of Janáček’s Jenůfa, as a substitute for Lise Davidsen at the Lyric Opera of Chicago under the baton of Jakub Hrůša. Her performance was celebrated for its depth and emotional resonance.
Previous concert engagements include selections from Norma, in the title role, with Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera, Beethoven 9 with Walla Walla Symphony, and the Fauré Requiem with the Racine Symphony Orchestra. She has also appeared with the Florentine Opera Company as the title role in Pauline Viardot’s Cendrillon and The Santa Fe Opera where she covered the role of Helena in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Ms. Henry has had the distinct honor of working with Sir Antonio Pappano as a member of the Britten Pears Young Artist Programme and fellow soprano and mentor Renée Fleming in Carnegie Hall’s Song Studio. She later joined the Aspen Music Festival as a Renée Fleming Artist where she sang the role of Roxane Coss in Bel Canto. As a member of the Ryan Opera Center at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, she covered Mother in Hänsel und Gretel, debuted in the world premiere of Proximity, and debuted a partial recital with pianist Chris Reynolds on WFMT 98.7FM, Chicago’s classical music station. Ms. Henry also performed selections from Ernani and Fiddler on the Roof in “Sunday in the Park with Lyric” at Millennium Park, under the baton of Maestro Enrique Mazzola.
In her studies as a Toulmin Foundation Scholar at the prestigious Juilliard School in New York City, she was seen on the mainstage as Arminda in La Finta Giardiniera and covered the title role in Janáček’s Káťa Kabanová. She had the honor of celebrating the 80th birthdays of William Bolcom and John Corigliano as part of the New York Festival of Song at Juilliard, alongside legendary pianist Steven Blier. Further opera credits include Governess in The Turn of the Screw, First Lady in Die Zauberflöte, and the title role in Suor Angelica. As a Baumgartner Studio Artist with the Florentine Opera Company, she covered the role of La Contessa in Le nozze di Figaro. Additionally, she has covered Juliette in Roméo et Juliette with Wolf Trap Opera and Mimi in La bohéme with the Chautauqua Institution.
Acclaimed for her interpretation of song and symphonic works, Ms. Henry has appeared as a guest soloist with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, and National Symphony Orchestra. In recital, Ms. Henry has presented a program of women composers with the Green Lake Festival of Music, featuring songs of Clara Schumann, Marguerite Canal, Undine Smith Moore, Libby Larsen, Madison Cunningham, and Joni Mitchell. She has also presented recitals with the Collaborative Arts Institute of Chicago and the Beyond the Aria series at the Harris Theater alongside tenor Lawrence Brownlee and pianist Craig Terry. Other collaborators include Brian Zeger, Craig Rutenburg, and Mikael Eliasen. She was a member of the 2020 Steans Music Institute at the Ravinia Festival and in 2017, was invited to Japan as a guest singer in the Kyoto International Student Music Festival.
Ms. Henry was a finalist in the 2015 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, the 2018 Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers at Houston Grand Opera, the 2021 Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition, the 2021 National Opera Association Carolyn Bailey and Dominick Argento Vocal Competition, and the 2022 Vincerò World Singing Competition. She has also won awards in the Musicians Club of Women Vocal Competition and the Opera Index Vocal Competition and was a semi-finalist in the 2020 James Toland Vocal Arts International Singing Competition. Following her debut at Santa Fe Opera, she was awarded the Lillian Caroff Mayer Award for outstanding talent and work as a part of the Apprentice Singer program.