Janai Brugger

Soprano

A Chicago native, the soprano recently returned to Mozart at Dutch National Opera as Servilia/La clemenza di Tito, to be reprised later this season at LA Opera. Another Mozart role, Pamina/The Magic Flute, was a great success as her 2015 Covent Garden debut. She soon returns to Amsterdam to sing Clara/Porgy and Bess. As a member of the Domingo-Thornton Young Artist Program, Brugger appeared in LA Opera’s production of La bohème as Musetta and The Marriage of Figaro as Barbarina; she moves on to the role of Susanna at Cincinnati Opera next summer. After earning acclaim in 2012 as a triple award-winner at the Operalia competition and a winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Brugger also won the Sphinx Prize and the Marian Anderson Vocal Award. She has been heard in major roles at the Met, among them Pamina/ The Magic Flute, Helena/The Enchanted Island, Jemmy/Guillaume Tell (premiere of the company’s new production), and most recently Micaëla/Carmen. Chicago-area audiences have heard the soprano in concert at the Ravinia and Grant Park festivals. Brugger is featured in the 2009 experimental jazz album Ask Your Mama, alongside The Roots and jazz vocalist Nnenna Freelon.

Previously at Lyric: Ilia/Idomeneo (2018|19); Liù/Turandot (2017|18).

Last updated: October 18, 2018
Photo: Dario Acosta

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Celebrating Sir Andrew Davis, from Mozart to Stravinsky

This spring, Sir Andrew Davis celebrates more than three decades of memorable music and moments at Lyric Opera of Chicago. In his final appearance as music director and principal conductor, Maestro Davis leads renowned singers Janai Brugger, Kayleigh Decker, Kyle Ketelsen, Amanda Majeski, and Matthew Polenzani in selections from Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro and Stravinsky’s The Rake's Progress with members of the Lyric Opera Orchestra, the Lyric Opera Chorus; plus personal tributes from some of opera’s brightest stars.

Idomeneo - "Solitudine amiche - Zeffiretti lusinghieri"

In this scene from Act 3 of Idomeneo, the captive princess Ilia (soprano Janai Brugger) thinks of her lover Idamante and asks the breezes to carry her love to him.