Katarina Dalayman

– Katarina Dalayman’s Kabanicha (one of opera’s most nightmarish mothers) was fearsome, her mezzo dripping with velveteen nastiness. (The Guardian 2021)

The Swedish mezzo-soprano Katarina Dalayman has sung the role as Kabanicha several times, most recently with Sir Simon Rattle as the conductor of London Symphony Orchestra at Barbican Centre in January this year (2023). She has also been Kabanicha at Glyndebourne (2021) and with Netherlands Radio Orchestra at Concertgebouw in Amsterdam (2022).

Katarina Dalayman has also performed a wide range of roles including Isolde (Tristan und Isolde), Marie (Wozzeck), Lisa (Queen of Spades), Ariadne (Ariadne auf Naxos), Katarina Ismailova (Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk) and the title role of Elektra.

With a particularly strong association to Wagner’s Brünnhilde, Dalayman has appeared in Ring cycles at The Metropolitan Opera, Opéra National de Paris, Wiener and Bayerische staatsoper, Teatro alla Scala, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Semperoper Dresden, Salzburger Festspiele and Festival d’Aix en Provence.

Looking ahead to the next phase in her career, Katarina Dalayman’s repertoire is now focused on new roles, having recently made her debut as Kundry (Parsifal) in Dresden, Paris and Stockholm, Judith (Duke Bluebeard’s Castle) in Barcelona and London (Royal Opera House), Ortrud (Lohengrin) with Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, and Brangäne (Tristan und Isolde) at The Metropolitan Opera. She has recently appeared as Herodias (Salome) for Royal Swedish Opera, Foreign Princess (Rusalka) at The Metropolitan Opera, Klytämnestra (Elektra), Amneris (Aida), and Kostelnicka (Jenůfa), all for Royal Swedish Opera.

Among recent performances can be mentioned her highly celebrated interpretation of Kundry at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, a production that was broadcasted around the world in the Mets “Live in HD” performance transmissions, an appearance together with Bryn Terfel in Die Walküre at the Tanglewood Festival in USA, an interpretation of Carmen and Elisabetta in Maria Stuarda both at the Royal Swedish Opera and Ortrud in Lohengrin, with the Concertgebouw Orchestra.

Dalayman’s discography includes Marietta in Korngold’s Die tote Stadt with Royal Swedish Opera – and Brangäne (Tristan und Isolde) on DVD recorded live from The Metropolitan Opera. She was also recently broadcast live around the world as Kundry (Parsifal) as part of The Metropolitan Opera’s ”Live in HD” series.

Katarina Dalayman has been recognised for her outstanding service to the arts by her homeland of Sweden, being honoured as court singer by special appointment to the King as well as with the royal medal ‘Litteris et Artibus’.

This summer (2023) Dalayman made her role debut as Madame de Croissy in Barrie Kosky's version of Dialogues des Carmélites at Glyndebourne Festival Opera, including a concert performance as part of the BBC Proms at London’s Royal Albert Hall in August.

Dalayman was Herodias in Salome when Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra visited Edinburgh International Festival last year (2022). She will also sing Herodias at Teatro dell'Opera di Roma this upcoming spring (2024).

Main source: Good Company Artists

Published October 2023