Biography

Soprano Emily Eisen most recently appeared as Susanna (Le Nozze di Figaro) and Morgana (Alcina) with New York Opera Forum.  She has also sung Papagena (Die Zauberflöte) with New York Opera Forum and Adina in excerpts from L’elisir d’amore with the Florence Voice Seminar of Westminster Choir College.  She sang the role of La Conversa (Suor Angelica) while covering Suor Genovieffa and Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi) for the Delaware Valley Opera Company as part of their 2008 Summer Festival. 

Engagements for the 2010-2011 season include Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Gretel (Hänsel und Gretel), and Nanetta (Falstaff) with New York Opera Forum and Norina (cover) in the June 2011 performances of Don Pasquale with Delaware Valley Opera Company.

Ms. Eisen has performed as a recitalist both in the United States and in Europe.  In the spring of 2008 she gave a series of community recitals in the greater Philadelphia area with the pianist Sarah Childress.  From 2006 to 2007, she partnered with Elizabeth Burgess to perform in historical venues in and around Oxford, England, including the Holywell Music Room, Christ Church Cathedral, and Jesus College Chapel.  In the coming months she will present a recital with Sarah Childress at the Settlement Music School in Philadelphia. 

Emily Eisen maintains a keen interest in the works of living composers.  In September 2009 she sang the role of Senator Sessions in Melissa Dunphy’s The Gonzales Cantata as part of the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, a production that received national acclaim from press ranging from Rachel Maddow of MSNBC to The Wall Street Journal. Internationally recognized British composer Tim Benjamin wrote his String Quartet II for her and the Holywell String Quartet, which they premiered in May 2006 in Oxford, England.  Ms. Eisen has also premiered works by Deborah Pritchard in collaboration with the Allegri String Quartet, has coached Lewis Spratlan’s Images song cycle with the composer, and has worked with the experimental composer James Orsher. 

Ms. Eisen currently resides in Philadelphia and studies with Benita Valente.  She will participate Westminster Choir College’s CoOPERATIVE program in July 2010.  She has sung in masterclasses with Graham Johnson, James Bowman, and Maestro Marco Baldeli, and has studied mélodie with Robin Bowman at the Guildhall School.  She holds an MPhil in Musicology and Performance from the University of Oxford and a B.A. in Music from Amherst College.