© Andrew Bogard
Shortly before Christmas, we are delighted to welcome an outstanding new addition to our roster: American mezzo-soprano Irene Roberts in General Management. Praised by the press for “a rich, warm voice, infinite breath control, ample volume ” (San Francisco Chronicle, Sept. 27, 2025) and “a voice of tireless suppleness and carrying physical presence” (Seen and Heard International, Sept. 14, 2024), Irene Roberts has established herself as one of the most exciting young singers in her field.
In the 2025/26 season, she will appear as Brangäne in Wagner's Tristan und Isolde at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, the Dutch National Opera in Amsterdam, and the International May Festival in Wiesbaden. At the Deutsche Oper Berlin, she will also sing Carmen and Kundry (Parsifal).
The highlight of the season will be her role debut as Sieglinde in Tobias Kratzer's new production of Die Walküre at the Bavarian State Opera and the Munich Opera Festival. Once again, she is carefully expanding the boundaries of her repertoire into the "jugendlich-dramatisch" soprano range.
Already in 2024, Irene Roberts was given the opportunity to work with Tobias Kratzer on her debut at the Bayreuth Festival, where she gave a brilliant portrayal of Venus in his acclaimed production of Tannhäuser.
Born in Sacramento, California, the singer has also appeared at venues such as the San Francisco Opera, Atlanta Opera, Teatro La Fenice in Venice, the New National Theatre Tokyo, the Teatro Massimo di Palermo, the Opéra de Lyon, the Tyrolean Festival Erl, and the Macerata Opera Festival, where she has thrilled audiences in various roles such as Amneris (Aida), Marguerite (La Damnation de Faust), Carmen, Ofred (The Handmaid’s Tale), the Composer (Ariadne auf Naxos), Kundry, Brangäne, Venus, and many others.
Irene Roberts is also in demand internationally as a concert singer, performing with the Los Angeles Philharmonic under Gustavo Dudamel, the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra under Daniel Harding, the San Francisco Symphony and Atlanta Symphony Orchestra under Sir Donald Runnicles, and giving recitals at Wigmore Hall in London.
- Tibor Brouwer on the singer: “I had the pleasure of seeing Irene Roberts perform as Carmen at the Deutsche Oper Berlin a few years ago, and I was immediately captivated by her velvet voice and inimitable stage presence. I am truly delighted that we will continue our successful collaboration at the KünstlerSekretariat am Gasteig.”
The entire team of the KSG warmly welcomes Irene Roberts.
