Distinguished South African soprano Elza van den Heever has performed numerous roles to great acclaim at the Metropolitan Opera, including Marie in 2019’s Wozzeck (also shown on “Live in HD”), Elettra in Mozart’s Idomeneo, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, and Elisabetta in Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda. In that role in her memorable Met debut, she was described as “a vocally burnished and emotionally tempestuous Elizabeth…She turns flights of coloratura passagework into bursts of jealousy and defiance” (The New York Times). She was also unforgettable in the title role of Norma in a new production for Bordeaux National Opera. Other signature portrayals overseas include Ellen Orford in Britten’s Peter Grimes at both the English National Opera and Vienna State Opera. In North America, Ms. van den Heever sang Fiordiligi (Così fan tutte) and Norma at The Dallas Opera, Armida in Handel’s Rinaldo at Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Donna Anna (Don Giovanni) with Santa Fe Opera. She has also starred as Norma at the Canadian Opera Company. At San Francisco Opera, she created the role of Mary Custis Lee in the world premiere of Philip Glass’s Appomattox. Ms. van den Heever enjoys a flourishing performance partnership with Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony, with performances of Strauss’ Vier letzte Lieder and Grammy Award-winning performances of Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 in San Francisco, on tour throughout Europe, and on disc for SFS Media. Ms. van den Heever’s depiction of Ellen Orford was reprised with Mr. Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony in June 2014, where she was lauded as “… a brilliant Ellen, deploying her focused, penetrating instrument with urgency upon discovering the Boy’s bruises in Act II, and singing with ineffable beauty and poignancy in the Embroidery Aria” (Opera News).