Mezzo-soprano Erin Elizabeth Smith captivates audiences worldwide with her “powerful rich voice, impressive for accuracy of pinpoint pitch and attack” (Opera News). Equally accomplished in opera and musical theatre, she brings technical brilliance and compelling dramatic presence to diverse repertoire spanning baroque masterworks to contemporary opera and Broadway classics. Most recently, she performed Sister Berthe and Mother Abbess in The Sound of Music with Lyric Opera of Chicago and has toured with Theatre Under the Stars.
As a member of Washington National Opera’s prestigious Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program, Ms. Smith distinguished herself in a remarkable range of roles, performing Emilia in Otello opposite Plácido Domingo, Ninetta in I Vespri Siciliani under Maestro Domingo’s baton, Wanda in Sophie’s Choice, the title role of Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel, Second Lady in Die Zauberflöte, Mariana in Luisa Fernanda, Lydia in Scott Wheeler’s Democracy, Giannetta in L’Elisir d’Amore, and covered Sesto in La Clemenza di Tito.
Her international and domestic engagements showcase remarkable versatility. With Lyrique en Mer in France, she has performed Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro, Orfeo in Orfeo ed Euridice, Giulietta in Les Contes d’Hoffmann, and Flora in La Traviata. She made her acclaimed role debut as Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni with Arizona Opera and created powerful dual portrayals as Harper and Ethel Rosenberg in Fort Worth Opera’s production of Angels in America. At Central City Opera she performed Pepa in Goyescas and Zulma in L’Italiana in Algeri, and at Teatro Pergolesi in Italy she sang Maddalena in Rigoletto.
With New York City Opera, Ms. Smith has performed Edith in The Pirates of Penzance, Albina in Rossini’s La Donna del Lago, Annina in La Traviata, Kate Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly, and covered Meg Page in Falstaff. She made her role debut as Cecelia March in Syracuse Opera’s Little Women and appeared in the world premiere of Loss of Eden at Opera Theatre of St. Louis.
Ms. Smith has distinguished herself equally on the concert stage. She made her Avery Fisher Hall debut performing Mozart’s Requiem and Haydn’s Paukenmesse, and appeared at Carnegie Hall as mezzo soloist in Beethoven’s Mass in C Major. At the Tanglewood Music Center, her performances of L’Enfant in L’Enfant et les Sortilèges and the title role of Dinah in the 50th anniversary production of Leonard Bernstein’s Trouble in Tahiti garnered critical acclaim and were broadcast live on National Public Radio. Additional concert engagements include performances with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s in Cantatas in Context, the Westchester Philharmonic in the world premiere of Antonio Defeo’s “What’s that I hear?”, the Library of Congress in Washington, DC, and the New York Festival of Song. Her recital repertoire spans German Classical Lieder to contemporary works of the 20th and 21st centuries.
As a member of the Juilliard Opera Center, Ms. Smith performed The Cook in Le Rossignol, Dorabella in Così fan tutte, Filotete in Handel’s Oreste, and Mrs. Grose in The Turn of the Screw. Additional New York performances include Fidalma in Il Matrimonio Segreto, Ragonde in Le Comte Ory, and Grace in the New York premiere of Robert Ward’s Roman Fever, which was recorded and released by Albany Records.
Ms. Smith is a proud member of Sing for Hope, an organization dedicated to providing performances that support charitable causes and bring the transformative power of music to communities in need.
A passionate and dedicated educator, Ms. Smith currently serves on the voice faculty at BAMtheatre in the Chicagoland area. She has maintained a thriving private voice studio for twenty years, guiding students of all ages from aspiring young singers to seasoned professionals. She previously served for many years as a private voice teacher at the New Music School in Chicago. Committed to expanding her own artistry, Ms. Smith is currently studying on-screen acting at The Actors Studio in Chicago, where she is also engaged in intensive scene study work.
Ms. Smith is the proud mother of a ten-year-old son.
