The “rich girl” who is careless with hearts is a trope, and a less-skilled actor could fall into the stereotype trap. Blaustein stayed far from that pitfall.
-Opera Wire
About Rachel
Praised for her "crystalline soprano and admirable control and grace" (Opera Today), Rachel Blaustein, a 2022 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition Grand Finalist, is poised as a bright and up-and-coming artist, with a moving sensibility to drama and text. Ms. Blaustein's 24/25 season includes her début with Austin Opera as Jocelyn Jordan in The Manchurian Candidate, the titular role in Rusalka with Pacific Opera Project, her début with South Florida Symphony Orchestra in Handel's Messiah, and Pamina in Die Zauberflöte with Opera Mississippi. She finishes out the season in her role and house debut with Cincinnati Opera as Hodel in a new production of Fiddler on the Roof in summer 2025. Crystal Manich directs; Levi Hammer conducts; Michael Pappalardo choreographs.
In the last season, Rachel made her role debut as Gilda in Rigoletto with Opera Delaware and Opera Baltimore. Tim Smith, former arts
critic for the Baltimore Sun, praised her “lovely, pearly thread of tone that
helped her get to the very heart of the character.” She joined The Metropolitan Opera for the workshop of Mason Bates' upcoming premire, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay in the role of Sarah Kavalier, covered Gretel (Hänsel und Gretel) with Opera Tampa, and sang Miss Jessel in The Turn of the Screw with Opera Ithaca. In concert, Rachel appeared with Opera Omaha, in recital with Academy Art Museum, as the soprano soloist in Handel's Messiah with Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, and as Second Spirit in Die Zauberflöte with the Ravinia Festival under the baton of Marin Alsop. Additionally, she was a semi-finalist in the 2023 Paris Opera Competition.
In the 22/23 season, Ms. Blaustein made her début with Opera Theatre Saint Louis as Ruth in Tobias Picker's world premiere, Awakenings, and covering Pamina in The Magic Flute. sang Laura Brown in The Metropolitan Opera's workshop of The Hours. She performed the role of Nannetta in Falstaff with Maryland Lyric Opera, Countess Almaviva in Annapolis Opera’s production of Le nozze di Figaro, and Pamina in The Magic Flute for Opera Theatre of St. Louis’ digital series. She made her Carnegie Hall début as the soprano soloist in Carmina Burana and reprised her original role of Micól Finzi-Contini in The Garden of the Finzi-Continis in Florence, Italy.
In 2021, Rachel made her Santa Fe Opera debut as Autonoe in John Corigliano's The Lord of Cries. She reprised and recorded the role with Boston Modern Orchestra Project and Pentatone Music which went on to receive a 2024 Grammy Nomination for Best Opera Recording. In previous seasons, Rachel originated the role of Micòl Finzi-Contini in Ricky Ian Gordon's The Garden of the Finzi-Continis with New York City Opera, for which she received rave reviews. New York Times claimed she "brought a sweetness to Micòl that persevered through her character's capriciousness," and Broadway World thought she "made a strong impression with her lyric sound and smart presentation." She made her Tulsa Opera debut as Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi, and joined Washington National Opera to cover the role of The Monument in Kamala Sankaram's Rise as part of the world premiere of Written in Stone. She was heard in concert with New Choral Society, Baltimore Choral Arts Society, Opera Edwardsville, Mid-Atlantic Symphony Orchestra, and New England Symphony Orchestra.
Previous engagements include returning to Chicago Opera Theater as Frasquita in Carmen alongside Jamie Barton and Stephanie Blythe where she previously appeared as the Queer Kid in the Midwest premiere of Kamala Sankaram and Jerre Dye's Taking Up Serpents and in Daniel Catan's La Hija de Rappaccini. She sang Peaseblossom in A Midsummer Night's Dream with Santa Fe Opera, Tatyana in Eugene Onegin with Opera NEO, Giannetta and Adina (cvr) in L'elisir d'amore with Opera Santa Barbara and Kenzie (cvr) in Lyric Opera of Chicago's Lyric Unlimited touring production of Earth to Kenzie. Additionally, she has sung with Kentucky Opera, Florentine Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, Chautauqua Opera, and Fort Worth Opera. She is the recipient of the 2021 Musicians Club of Women's Farwell Trust Award. She placed 2nd in the Partners for the Arts, Inc. 8th National Opera Competition, and won an Encouragement Award from the Northwest Regional Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions prior to her Grand Finalist title in 2022.
A native of Olney, Maryland, Rachel holds Bachelor's degree in Voice with a minor in drama from Hofstra University and a Master of Music from the Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University.
