Soprano Karen Slack’s voice sparkles with brilliance and warmth in the roles of Mimi, Cio-Cio San, Violetta, Suor Angelica, Liu, Luisa Miller, Arabella, Desdemona, Countess, Donna Anna, Tatyana, and Serena. She is also perfectly suited as soloist for the concert works of Strauss, Brahms, and Beethoven.
Karen is the featured opera soloist in Lionsgate and Tyler Perry Studios’ new major motion picture and soundtrack “For Colored Girls” released in November 2010. She recently sang Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 with the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, and Christmas concert with Cincinnati May Festival. In Spring 2011, she sings Verdi Requiem with the Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra at the Mondavi Center (Davis, California).
The New York Times described her singing as “warmly expressive, especially in her brilliant top.” The Financial Times labeled her “a radiant spinto soprano.” And, The San Francisco Chronicle claimed she “was suitably grandiose of voice – she boots a large gleaming sound.” Her May 2009 performance of Verdi Requiem with Madison Symphony Orchestra garnered this review “Slack had a lovely dark tone color, harnessing a captivating depth of emotion especially in the final “Libera me.” And her recent debut as Violetta with Sacramento Opera was praised by Sacramento Bee: “Karen Slack…turned the opera into a showpiece for her powerful and expressive soprano with her performance of the Violetta role…”
Karen made her Metropolitan Opera debut in 2006 in the title role of Luisa Miller and quickly followed that with performances at San Francisco Opera, Carnegie Hall, Santa Fe Opera, Opera Company of Philadelphia and Melbourne Symphony (Australia).
Karen has carefully laid a foundation to serve her well for longevity. While a student at Curtis Institute, she was noticed by Santa Fe Opera and given a coveted place in their apprentice program. San Francisco Opera rewarded her with an invitation to participate in the Merola Opera Program and followed that with an Adler Fellowship.
Karen has gained international attention as winner of several high-profile competitions: 2007 Jose Iturbi Competition, 2006 Portland Opera Lieber Award, 2005 Florida Grand Opera Competition, 2004 Finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, 2000 George London Award, and, most recently, second prize in the 2008 Montserrat Caballé International Singing Competition.
Recent engagements include the role of Cilla in the relatively new, American opera Margaret Garner for Michigan Opera Theater, soprano soloist for Verdi Requiem with Madison Symphony Orchestra, Serena in Porgy and Bess for San Francisco Opera and Washington National Opera, and Violetta in La Traviata for Sacramento Opera and West Bay Opera.