Kirsten MacKinnon

Soprano

Described by Opera UK as a "heroine [with] poise, expressive singing, excellent vocalism, and a dark and full tone", Canadian soprano Kirsten MacKinnon has captured the attention of audiences across North America and Europe. A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music under the mentorship of Professor Edith Wiens, she held the Alfred Greenberg Memorial fellowship during her studies, and was also a grant holder of the Jacqueline Desmarais Foundation for Young Canadian Opera Singers.

 

Highlights on the opera stage for Kirsten include a return to Canadian Opera Company and Glyndebourne Festival as Fiordiligi Così fan tutte; her Frankfurt Opera debut as Inès L’Africaine, described by Heute Musik as “dreamlike”, where she later returned for the Countess Capriccio, Micaëla Carmen, the Countess Le nozze di Figaro and Hanna Glawari The Merry Widow; Micaëla at Opera Philadelphia, Helena A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Aix-en-Provence Festival on tour to Beijing, Pamina Die Zauberflöte and Countess Le nozze di Figaro for Garsington Opera.

In addition to her operatic engagements, Kirsten has performed in concert with the Münchner Rundfunkorchester, Netherlands Radio Philharmonic, Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Curtis Chamber Orchestra and the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. She has also given recitals in Vancouver, Philadelphia, New York, Bayreuth, Neumarkt, and Spoleto.

Kirsten’s credits for the Curtis Opera Theatre include Mimì La bohème, Die Gräfin Capriccio, Countess Le nozze di Figaro, Die Echo Ariadne auf Naxos, title role Iolanta, La Ciesca Gianni Schicchi, Elettra Idomeneo, Fox Cunning Little Vixen, Micäela Carmen, Lisa La Sonnambula and Mrs Gobineau The Medium. Kirsten has also sung Annina La traviata with Opera Philadelphia; Nella Gianni Schicchi with Chautauqua Music Festival.

Click here to download Kirsten's full resume

Media

Press

  • "Kirsten MacKinnon as Fiordiligi and Ben Bliss as Ferrando were the vocal revelations of the evening. MacKinnon was of fine and crystal clear voice from the start and then, masterly and free in the second half—her “Per pietà” was especially memorable. Hearing her elegant embellishments here and there was a bonus reward."

    -Lidia Perović, Opera Canada, February 12th 2019

  • "Kirsten MacKinnon was a strong Micaëla. Although looking every inch the sweet white-gloved girl-next-door, she played a towering woman, with full coloratura, and a commanding presence. She was portrayed as a woman of passion in her own right."

    - Hilary Stroh, Bach Track, April 28th 2018

  • "Kirsten MacKinnon's Inès is simply formidable: the best performer in the role we have ever heard on stage or on record. The voice is superbly projected, the French suffers no reservations, the song is sovereign, the breath long with treble without effort."

    -Jean Michel Pennetier, Forum Opera, 11 March 2018 (review in french)

OPERA

George BIZET
Micaëla Carmen
Benjamin BRITTEN
Helena A Midsummer Nights' Dream
Antonín DVOŘÁK
Rusalka (title role)
Charles GOUNOUD
Marguerite Faust
Leos JANÁČEK
The Cunning Little Vixen (title role)
Jules MEYERBEER
Inès L'Africaine
WA MOZART
Elektra Idomeneo
Fiordiligi Cosi fan tutte
Countess Le nozze di Figaro
First Lady The Magic Flute
Donna Anna Don Giovanni
Giacomo PUCCINI
Mimi La Bohème
Musetta La Bohème
Richard STRAUSS
Marschallin Der Rosenkavalier
Countess Capriccio
Pyotr Ilyich TCHAIKOVSKY
Iolanta (title role)
Tatyana Eugene Onegin
Richard WAGNER
Eva Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg

kirstensoprano@gmail.com

© 2023 Kirsten MacKinnon