Bio: Frequently lauded as “sultry,” “elegant,” and “compelling,” Lebanese-American mezzo-soprano Janara Kellerman has made a name for herself among opera lovers and critics alike. Hailed by Opera News for her “keen dramatic instincts” and “voluptuous tone,” Ms. Kellerman is delighting audiences throughout the world. This season Ms. Kellerman will join the Lima Symphony as the Alto Soloist in MAHLER 2ND SYMPHONY, return to the Mineola Choral Society as the Alto Soloist in DVORAK STABAT MATER and make a role debut as the title role in Massenet’s HÉRODIADE with New Amsterdam Opera. Future engagements include a performance at the Washington National Cathedral and Lincoln Center and a return to the Mineola Choral Society as the Alto Soloist in Mozart's CORONATION MASS IN C.
In the 2017-2018 season Ms. Kellerman debuted at Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall as the Alto Soloist in BEETHOVEN NINTH SYMPHONY and VAUGHAN WILLIAMS SERENADE TO MUSIC. She also joined Orchestra Iowa as the Alto Soloist in BEETHOVEN NINTH SYMPHONY, the Taghkonic Chorale and Maestro Steven Fox as the Alto Soloist in ROSSINI PETIT MESSE SOLENNELLE, and the Princeton Festival as SUZUKI (MADAMA BUTTERFLY). She returned to New Amsterdam Opera for a concert performance of ORTRUD in the Act II duet from LOHENGRIN.
Other recent engagements include SANTUZZA (CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA) with Musica Viva Hong Kong, AMNERIS (AÏDA) and FENENA (NABUCCO) with New Jersey State Opera, PREZIOSILLA (LA FORZA DEL DESTINO) with New Amsterdam Opera, LITTLE BUTTERCUP (HMS PINAFORE) with Opera Saratoga and Lyric Opera San Antonio and AZUCENA (IL TROVATORE) with the Westfield Symphony. In previous seasons she debuted with Opera Delaware as a Featured Artist in their Inside the Opera Studio/Ladies Night Concert Series and covering the role of ARSACE (SEMIRAMIDE), with Union Avenue Opera as MRS. HERRING (ALBERT HERRING) with MidAtlantic Opera in the title role in DIDO AND AENEAS, with Fresno Grand Opera as the OLD LADY (CANDIDE) and with New York City Opera covering IRAS (ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA) and MALCOLM (LA DONNA DEL LAGO).
Ms. Kellerman also recently returned to Cedar Rapids Opera as MAMMA LUCIA (CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA) after singing the title role in CARMEN with them in 2014. Ms. Kellerman is gaining critical attention for her portrayal of CARMEN after making her debut in the role with Des Moines Metro Opera. She has since performed the role with Northern Lights Music Festival, Ballet Tucson, August Opera and Opera Columbus, and covered the role for New York City Opera. The Des Moines Register writes: “When Janara Kellerman struts on stage and launches into the famous Habanera’s slinky chromatic descent, it’s easy to forget everyone else. Her voice is simultaneously agile and strong…With her thick black hair, smoldering gaze and brazen swagger, Kellerman casts a spell more potent than any cloud of smoke. She deftly combines her character’s dramatic sense of abandon with the score’s demand for vocal control.”
A sought-after concert artist, Ms. Kellerman made her Carnegie Hall debut as the Mezzo Soloist in the New York première of PAULUS TO BE CERTAIN OF THE DAWN. With the Topeka Symphony she was the Alto Soloist in the world première of Robert Aldridge’s grand oratorio PARABLES, and later reprised it with Montclair State University, where she also stepped in last minute to sing SHARON FALCONER (ELMER GANTRY). She was the Alto Soloist for the New Jersey Symphony’s VERDI REQUIEM under the baton of Maestro Jacques LaCombe with soloists Marianne Fiset, Russell Thomas and Peter Volpe, which was released as a commercial recording in 2015. Other New York City area concert performances include the Alto Soloist in DURUFLÉ REQUIEM, BACH B MINOR MASS and MENDELSSOHN MAGNIFICAT, and a return engagement with Mineola Choral Society as the Alto Soloist in MENDELSSOHN ELIJAH.
In the 2017-2018 season Ms. Kellerman debuted at Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall as the Alto Soloist in BEETHOVEN NINTH SYMPHONY and VAUGHAN WILLIAMS SERENADE TO MUSIC. She also joined Orchestra Iowa as the Alto Soloist in BEETHOVEN NINTH SYMPHONY, the Taghkonic Chorale and Maestro Steven Fox as the Alto Soloist in ROSSINI PETIT MESSE SOLENNELLE, and the Princeton Festival as SUZUKI (MADAMA BUTTERFLY). She returned to New Amsterdam Opera for a concert performance of ORTRUD in the Act II duet from LOHENGRIN.
Other recent engagements include SANTUZZA (CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA) with Musica Viva Hong Kong, AMNERIS (AÏDA) and FENENA (NABUCCO) with New Jersey State Opera, PREZIOSILLA (LA FORZA DEL DESTINO) with New Amsterdam Opera, LITTLE BUTTERCUP (HMS PINAFORE) with Opera Saratoga and Lyric Opera San Antonio and AZUCENA (IL TROVATORE) with the Westfield Symphony. In previous seasons she debuted with Opera Delaware as a Featured Artist in their Inside the Opera Studio/Ladies Night Concert Series and covering the role of ARSACE (SEMIRAMIDE), with Union Avenue Opera as MRS. HERRING (ALBERT HERRING) with MidAtlantic Opera in the title role in DIDO AND AENEAS, with Fresno Grand Opera as the OLD LADY (CANDIDE) and with New York City Opera covering IRAS (ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA) and MALCOLM (LA DONNA DEL LAGO).
Ms. Kellerman also recently returned to Cedar Rapids Opera as MAMMA LUCIA (CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA) after singing the title role in CARMEN with them in 2014. Ms. Kellerman is gaining critical attention for her portrayal of CARMEN after making her debut in the role with Des Moines Metro Opera. She has since performed the role with Northern Lights Music Festival, Ballet Tucson, August Opera and Opera Columbus, and covered the role for New York City Opera. The Des Moines Register writes: “When Janara Kellerman struts on stage and launches into the famous Habanera’s slinky chromatic descent, it’s easy to forget everyone else. Her voice is simultaneously agile and strong…With her thick black hair, smoldering gaze and brazen swagger, Kellerman casts a spell more potent than any cloud of smoke. She deftly combines her character’s dramatic sense of abandon with the score’s demand for vocal control.”
A sought-after concert artist, Ms. Kellerman made her Carnegie Hall debut as the Mezzo Soloist in the New York première of PAULUS TO BE CERTAIN OF THE DAWN. With the Topeka Symphony she was the Alto Soloist in the world première of Robert Aldridge’s grand oratorio PARABLES, and later reprised it with Montclair State University, where she also stepped in last minute to sing SHARON FALCONER (ELMER GANTRY). She was the Alto Soloist for the New Jersey Symphony’s VERDI REQUIEM under the baton of Maestro Jacques LaCombe with soloists Marianne Fiset, Russell Thomas and Peter Volpe, which was released as a commercial recording in 2015. Other New York City area concert performances include the Alto Soloist in DURUFLÉ REQUIEM, BACH B MINOR MASS and MENDELSSOHN MAGNIFICAT, and a return engagement with Mineola Choral Society as the Alto Soloist in MENDELSSOHN ELIJAH.