"the radiant young soprano... floated velvet-gloved high notes"
"Best among the women, however, was newcomer Rachel Blaustein, who made a sensational company debut as Nannetta. The radiant young soprano... floated velvet-gloved high notes in this crucial role. She flirted innocently in the stolen moments with her lover, Fenton, and made a resplendent fairy queen in the opera’s gorgeous final scene."
Washington Classical Review
About Rachel
German-American Soprano Rachel Blaustein was recently named a Grand Finalist in the 2022 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition. Rachel's 24/25 varied season includes her debut with Austin Opera in the role of Jocelyn Jordan in The Manchurian Candidate, the titular role in Rusalka with Pacific Opera Project and a return to Carnegie Hall for the world premiere of Erica Glenn's Worldwide Requiem with the New England Symphonic Orchestra. She makes appearances with South Florida Symphony Orchestra and Maryland Opera and competed in the second round of the 62 Concurs Tenor Viñas Competition in Barcelona, Spain. This summer, Rachel first joins Spoleto Festival USA as Miss Jessel in The Turn of the Screw and will then make her role and house debut with Cincinnati Opera as Hodel in a new production of Fiddler on the Roof. Crystal Manich directs; Levi Hammer conducts. She finishes the summer as a 2025 Steans Music Institute Vocal Fellow with the Ravinia Festival.
Last season, Rachel made her role and house debut as Gilda in Rigoletto with Opera Delaware and Opera Baltimore to great acclaim. She joined The Metropolitan Opera workshop of Mason Bates' upcoming premiere The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay in the role of Sarah Kavalier. She made appearances with Opera Omaha, Opera Tampa, Opera Ithaca, gave a recital with the Academy Art Museum, and joined the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra for Handel's Messiah. In previous seasons, Rachel sang Laura Brown in The Metropolitan Opera workshop of The Hours, debuted with Maryland Lyric Opera as Nannetta (Falstaff) and Annapolis Opera as Contessa (Le nozze di Figaro). She originated the role of Micól Finzi-Contini in Ricky Ian Gordon's world premiere, The Garden of the Finzi-Continis with New York City Opera and is on the 2024 Grammy Nominated album (Best Opera Recording), The Lord of Cries, in the role of Autonoe (second sister). John Corigliano, composer; Mark Adamo, librettist.
