ST. LOUIS 鈥 Opera Theatre 51黑料 announced Tuesday that Grammy-award winning soprano Patricia Racette will become the company鈥檚 new artistic director starting Oct. 1.
鈥淚 wanted to broaden my impact and help make opera more accessible,鈥 Racette said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 why I wanted this position. Plus, the role puts me in a seat where I can really shape the direction and future of the art form.鈥
Racette has a storied career in opera. She鈥檚 performed at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Paris Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago and on many more famous stages. She also won a Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording for her performance in 鈥淭he Ghosts of Versailles鈥 with the Los Angeles Opera.
鈥淥ver the course of her career, Patricia has stood at the pinnacle of the opera world 鈥 singing the most demanding roles at the most prestigious houses, always with extraordinary artistry and precision,鈥 said Andrew Jorgensen, general director of Opera Theatre, in a statement. 鈥淓xcellence and passion are her calling cards.鈥
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But before she鈥檇 done any of that, early in her career she appeared on the OTSL stage as Donna Elvira in 1993鈥檚 鈥淒on Giovanni.鈥 The New Hampshire native has returned many times, including to try her hand at directing. She made her directorial debut with the company in 2018 with 鈥淟a Traviata.鈥 She went on to direct and star in 鈥淟a voix humaine鈥 in 2021, and two years later directed 鈥淪usannah,鈥 by Carlisle Floyd. Racette will be directing another version of the production in Omaha, Nebraska, in January.
鈥淚 knew in 1993 when I came here there was something unique and special about (Opera Theatre),鈥 Racette says. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a company that is deeply rooted in the community. Everyone鈥檚 contributions they鈥檙e measurable. They鈥檙e noticeable.鈥
Patricia Racette
James Robinson, the former artistic director, left the company in September 2024. OTSL staged an international search to fill the spot, but it turned out that the winning candidate was already close to home. Racette has been the artistic director for OTSL鈥檚 two young artist programs since 2019 and plans to maintain that role even as she adds artistic director to her duties.
鈥淚n her years leading the young artist programs, we have seen just how deeply Patricia understands Opera Theatre鈥檚 mission of identifying young talent and launching exciting careers,鈥 Joregenson said in a statement. 鈥淪he has a unique capacity to identify and nurture excellence, because she has lived that journey.鈥
Racette thinks having a career as a singer, mentor and director will help her in her new role. 鈥淚鈥檝e walked the walk,鈥 she said. 鈥淚鈥檝e been on both sides of the curtain. I know good singing. Pedagogically, I know great direction. Experientially, I know great design. I know great conducting because I鈥檝e lived it.鈥
Racette will be the artistic director designate until she officially starts Oct. 1, and will have a big impact on OTSL鈥檚 50th season celebration this summer. Not only will she be preparing the young artists for their roles, (they perform a concert and appear in mainstage productions), but she also had a hand in casting and even selecting the shows, which include 鈥淒on Pasquale,鈥 鈥淒ie Fledermaus,鈥 鈥淎 Midsummer Night鈥檚 Dream鈥 and the world premiere of 鈥淭his House.鈥 The festival starts in late May.
Racette currently lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, but is looking to move to 51黑料 soon and already has a cabaret-style concert planned at the Sheldon for Oct. 9.
At the helm of OTSL, she hopes to revive lesser-known works and expand Opera Theatre into crossover musical theater and new genres. She鈥檒l also keep the traditional titles, but present them with 鈥渇resh perspectives.鈥
鈥淚鈥檓 excited about collaborating with my colleagues and finding the best recipe for each season,鈥 she said.
