(Credit: Marty Sohl/Met Opera)

The Metropolitan Opera House is a dream for every opera singer. This week acclaimed coloratura soprano and rising star Brenda Rae will get a chance to realize that very dream when she makes her Met debut in the company’s first-ever production of Handel and Grimani’s “Agrippina.”

Rae, who is a former ensemble member of Oper Frankfurt and has performed in such distinguished houses as the Wiener Staatsoper, Opera Philadelphia, and Bayerische Staatsoper, will sing her role debut as Poppea and add yet another baroque staple to her growing repertory. Over the years Rae has garnered acclaim for her baroque interpretations, especially in such Handel operas as “Radimisto,” “Giulio Cesare,” “Rinaldo” and “Semele.” Critics have raved about her coloratura stating, Rae “brought plush radiance and brilliant, agile singing to the showpiece.” They have also described her as an “elegant” and “charismatic” performer.

With “Agrippina,” Rae will not only introduce herself to Met audiences but to the world as she will also be featured in the company’s acclaimed HD series.

And for those that will not be able to catch neither the HD or the live performances, Rae returns to Vienna for her signature “Lucia di Lammermor” and she makes her highly anticipated Salzburg Festival debut in “The Magic Flute.” She also returns to the Bayerische Staatsoper for “Die Schweigsame Frau.”

Recordings

For those not familiar with Rae’s voice, the soprano has a number of incredible recordings include “Fantasio” for Opera Rara, “Rinaldo” from the Glyndebourne Festival, and “Die Feen” from Oper Frankfurt. There is also a recording of her acclaimed Zerbinetta from “Ariadne auf Naxos” from Oper Frankfurt.

Here she is performing from “Rinaldo” alongside Luca Pisaroni.

And here is her mad scene from “Lucia di Lammermoor.”

Finally here is a look at her Zerbinetta.