Canadian soprano Emma Fekete is praised for “her distinctive voice, well-mastered vocal technique, presence imbued with simplicity and truth, and radiant personality…”. Featured in Opera Canada as Artist of the Week, Emma is the 2024 South Carolina District Winner of the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition and virtual finalist of the Premiere Opera Foundation Award. Furthermore, she is a 2024 winner of the Sylva Gelber Music Foundation Award and a recipient of career development bursaries from the Fondation Père Lindsay and the Fondation Jeunesses musicales du Canada.
This season (2024-2025), Emma sings Adina in an adaptation for children of
L’elisir d’amore (Un Elixir d’amour) with Opéra National de Bordeaux, Opéra de Reims and Théâtre des Champs-Élysées, as well as Zerlina in
Don Giovanni with Opéra du Royaume, and participates in L’Académie de la Voix at La Fondation des Treilles with acclaimed soprano Nelly Miricioiu.
Emma made her French debut at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence in the summer of 2024 as Yniold in Katie Mitchell’s highly praised revival of
Pelléas et Mélisande, conducted by Susanna Mälkki. Her performance garnered glowing reviews from the international press:
“… the timbre of a nightingale, a child of the night” (Classykeo), “Emma Fekete did extremely well composing the role of the here-petite Yniold…” (OperaWire),
“… penetrating high notes that cut through the space. Particularly dynamic, the interpretation of this young singer gives a salutary and communicative energy to the stage…” (Ôlyrix).
A former artist-in-residence at the Atelier lyrique de l’Opéra de Montréal (2022-2024), Emma delivered compelling performances in L’incoronazione di Poppea (Poppea), Carmen (Frasquita), Le nozze di Figaro (Barbarina), L’enfant et les sortilèges (Bergère, Pastourelle) and Mozart’s Requiem. While in Montréal, Emma collaborated with Orchestre métropolitain, Orchestre de l’Agora, Orchestre classique de Montréal, Les Violons du Roy and the Société d’art vocal de Montréal.
A graduate of the Conservatorium van Amsterdam, she has worked in the Netherlands with OPERA2DAY, De Nederlandse Bachvereniging and the Nederlands Philharmonisch Orkest. As a member of Jonge Grote Zangers, Emma sang at the Amsterdam Concertgebouw and the Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ.
