Kirsten Sollek,

Contralto

Called “ …an appealingly rich alto…” by The New York Times and “…an ideal Bach alto…” with “…elemental tone quality…” by The Philadelphia Inquirer, contralto Kirsten Sollek is sought out for her unique sound and compelling performance style. 

Ms. Sollek has been featured with the Kansas City Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Bach Collegium Japan, Tafelmusik, Seattle Baroque, Pacific Symphony, Grand Rapids Symphony, Musica Sacra, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, and the Dallas Bach Society. Opera credits include the role of Rosmira in Handel’s Partenope with Boston Baroque, Bradamante in Handel’s Alcina with Teatro Municipal de Santiago de Chile, and covering the title role in Handel’s Rinaldo for the Glyndebourne Festival. She has performed at the Boston Early Music Festival, the Lufthansa Festival, Carmel Bach Festival, the Ojai Festival, and June in Buffalo.

In new music, she has collaborated regularly with Ensemble Signal and Alarm Will Sound, performing much of the vocal music of Steve Reich. Ms. Sollek can be heard on recordings of Reich’s The Desert Music and Tehillim with Alarm Will Sound, and Music for 18 Musicians with Ensemble Signal. Sollek is featured in the role of the Dying Cow in Lisa Bielawa’s serial made-for-TV opera, Vireo. Over the past decade, she has worked extensively with composer John Zorn, premiering his music in New York, Milan, and Paris. 2017 performances include Zorn’s music at the Louvre (in front of the Mona Lisa), as well as at Jazz Fest Sarajevo, and at November Music in Den Bosch. Other season highlights: Reich’s Desert Music for the Wall to Wall Reich celebration at Symphony Space, David Lang’s Just for the Bang on a Can marathon at the Brooklyn Museum and with the Emery LeCrone Dance company, Reich’s Tehillim and Lang’s I want to live at the Bang on a Can festival marathon at Mass MoCA.