Mezzo-soprano Katherine Pracht has established herself as a leading opera-singing actress, performing with such prominent companies as Virginia Opera, Central City Opera, Chicago Opera Theater, Opera Philadelphia, Florentine Opera, Madison Opera, Tulsa Opera, West Edge Opera, and Opera on the Avalon (Newfoundland). She has collaborated with esteemed conductors and directors, including Leon Botstein, Kevin Newbury, Adam Turner, Judith Yan, Danny Pelzig, Rob Ainsley, Paula Suozzi, David Bloom, Patrick Hansen, John DeMain, and Corrado Rovaris.
Pracht’s repertoire spans from Baroque to contemporary American opera, with a focus on new works. She has sung over 30 roles composed after 1945, including the 2023 world premiere of Laura Kaminsky’s February. Other contemporary highlights include Kevin Puts’ Elizabeth Cree, Jake Heggie’s Three Decembers, Mary Johnson in Fellow Travelers, Anna Maurrant in Street Scene, Lady Wang in Dream of the Red Chamber, Mark Adamo’s Little Women, Britten’s The Turn of the Screw and Owen Wingrave, and Sondheim’s A Little Night Music.
Ms. Pracht participated in numerous workshops for new operas, including Nu Nah- Hup, The Road to Wellville, Bulrusher, A Thousand Splendid Suns, The News From Poems, The Scarlet Professor, and Rev 23. Additional world premiere performances include Joseph Summer’s Hamlet, Kirke Mechem’s The Rivals, Christopher Dietz’s Dignity, and John Tavener’s Tu ne sais pas. As a concert soloist, she has premiered works by Karl Jenkins and Richard Wernick with renowned ensembles. She frequently collaborates with her husband, baritone Keith Phares.
Ms. Pracht joined Bowling Green State University in 2023 as an Assistant Professor of Voice and is proud to help train the next generation of young singing actors in their craft.
