BIOGRAPHY
about erin
Praised for her “remarkably agile” (Fanfare Magazine) and “creamy” voiced singing (Chicago Stage Standard), mezzo-soprano Erin Rosales brings “fearless intensity” (Chicago Classical Review) and “intensely valid vocalism” (Voce di Meche) to the operatic and concert stage. Characterized as possessing a “voice of a generation” - a lush, voluminous mezzo of recognizable and distinct color - and a personality that "simply oozes charm" (Parterre Box), Ms. Rosales is quickly winning over the nation as she establishes herself as an artist on the rise.
The upcoming 2023/2024 season marks a number of exciting debuts for the young mezzo. This fall, she will return to Opera West to make her role debut as Lola and cover the role of Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana. Ms. Rosales will then make her house debut at Opera Modesto originating the role of Anna Bale in the World Premiere of Evan Meier's Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Fallen Giant, commissioned by American Lyric Theater. She rounds out the season with another debut as Mercédès and covering the title role in Bizet’s famous opera, Carmen, at Bohème Opera. She will also be heard in concert at New York City's global center for culture, connection and enrichment, The 92nd Street Y. In the competition circuit, she secured the 4th place prize in the 7th Annual Concorso Internazionale di Canto Lirico “Vano Visioli” and advances as a Semi-Finalist in the Vincerò World Singing Competition and Gerda Lissner competition (ongoing.)
The 2022/2023 season included a Carnegie Hall debut and role debuts as Dritte Dame in Die Zauberflöte with Washington Opera Society and Isabella (cover with performance) in L'Italiana in Algeri at St Petersburg Opera Company. Ms. Rosales also appeared as the Alto Soloist in Handel’s Messiah with the choir and orchestra of NYC’s Madison Avenue Baptist Church and advanced as a National Semi-finalist in the prestigious Loren L. Zachary Competition.
In the 2021/2022 season, Ms. Rosales reprised two of her signature roles, Carmen (Carmen, Hispanic Heritage Month at New York Public Library) and Suzuki (Madama Butterfly, Opera West). Ms. Rosales made her house debut at St Petersburg Opera Company, covering the roles of Juno and Ino in Handel’s Semele and performing and covering La Marquise de Berkenfield in La Fille du Régiment. She then returned to Opera San José where she debuted as Consuelo in West Side Story and went on to make her Mainstage debut at Charlottesville Opera, singing Sister Berthe in The Sound of Music and Olga in The Merry Widow.
Notable career highlights include Ms. Rosales’s “delightfully wicked” (Operawire) and “comical yet deadly” (The Wall Street Journal) portrayal as Second Witch in Unison Media / Death of Classical’s production of Dido & Aeneas taking place in the catacombs of Greenwood Cemetery. She also starred as Asakir in the Chicago & Midwest Premiere of Fairouz’s Sumeida’s Song with Third Eye Theater Ensemble to critical acclaim. Ms. Rosales was praised for bringing “fearless intensity to the bitter, unhinged Asakir, a kind of Mommy Dearest of the desert. The young mezzo-soprano threw herself into the demanding role singing with volatile commitment." She can also be heard originating the role of Austin on the World Premiere recording of Crean's The Great God Pan released on Naxos America. She also had the pleasure of singing the title role in excerpts from Robert Xavier Rodriguez’s Frida in a broadcast for Mexican Television Station, SMRTV.
Other recent portrayals include Inès (Il Trovatore) at Opera San José, Cousin Hebe (HMS Pinafore) and Tisbe (La Cenerentola) with Opera Louisiane, Rosina (cover, Il Barbiere di Siviglia) at the Natchez Festival of Music, Pitti-Sing (The Mikado) at DuPage Opera Theater, Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra and Bronx Opera, and Secretary (The Consul) and Miss Foster (Lady in the Dark) also at Bronx Opera. She has placed as a semifinalist in several important competitions including Premiere Opera + NYIOP Voice Competition (2021, 2020), Camerata Bardi International Voice Competition (2021), and Lyra New York Competition (2021).
Ms. Rosales is an Alumna of both the Studio & Emerging Artist programs at St Petersburg Opera Company, the Ader Emerging Artist program at Charlottesville Opera, Russian Opera Workshop, Jennifer Rowley’s Aria Bootcamp and Vincerò Academy. She received her formal training studying voice in Paris, France at L’Ecole Normale de Musique. Outside of music, Ms. Rosales loves coffee, travel and is currently writing her first novel. She is also an Award Winning Michelin Starred bartender and mixologist, and her recipes can be found in Gray Whale Gin's cocktail manual, The Shift.
