Kallen Esperian - History

History

After earning her degree at the University of Illinois, Kallen Esperian went on to win the Luciano Pavarotti International Voice Competition in 1985. She made her debut in Philadelphia as Mimi in La Bohème in 1986 and subsequently appeared in the film, Distant Harmony while in China with Pavarotti. Since then she has sung at most of the world's important opera houses and has specialised in Italian opera and especially in Verdi roles.

Esperian has appeared with Pavarotti in his annual concert, Pavarotti Plus, in 1991 at Lincoln Center and in 1995 at the Royal Albert Hall in London. These concerts have been televised and have been released internationally on CD and video. In 1991, she partnered Pavarotti in Verdi's Luisa Miller at the Met and in 1993, she appeared in the Met Gala celebrating the 25th anniversary of Pavarotti and Placido Domingo at the house. She sang Desdemona to Pavarotti's Otello and Leonora in Il Trovatore with Pavarotti and Domingo both singing Manrico.

She also sang Cio Cio San in Madama Butterfly in 2004, a role she first performed for the Nederlandse Opera in Amsterdam in 2002 as well as for New Orleans Opera, Opera Carolina in Charlotte, and the Nashville Opera as well as concerts in Johnstown, Memphis, and Mexico City.

In 2004 and 2005 Esperian sang Cio Cio San with the Metropolitan Opera of New York in the fall and winter season's performances of Madama Butterfly. The role of Cio Cio San like most other characters she has portrayed is quickly becoming a signature for her.

In 2007, Kallen recorded a CD of rock and jazz classics, which includes a cover of Immigrant Song by Led Zeppelin. She also recorded vocals for two songs on the album Aristocrunk, with Memphis rappers Lord T & Eloise.