In the 2024-2025 season, soprano Abigail Rethwisch sings the title role in Cendrillon with Cedar Rapids Opera, covers Juliette in Roméo et Juliette at Los Angeles Opera, makes a return to the Metropolitan Opera to cover Papagena in Die Zauberflöte, and sings as the soprano soloist in Britten’s War Requiem, Op. 66 with the Columbus Symphony. Ms. Rethwisch recently appeared as the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor with Pensacola Opera, an exciting return to the role after her performances with Utah Opera in 2017 when she stepped on less than two hours’ notice, thrilling audiences with “her command of bel canto technique and riveting dramatic talent” (Opera News). Ms. Rethwisch also sang Berta in The Barber of Seville with Des Moines Metro Opera. 

 

Ms. Rethwisch first joined the roster of the Metropolitan Opera to cover Meretaten in Akhnaten in 2022. With the Metropolitan Opera, she has covered Yvette in La Rondine, Barbara and Mrs. Latch in The Hours, and has completed several engagements as the cover for Papagena in Die Zauberflöte. Ms. Rethwisch has sung Musetta in La bohème with the Columbus Symphony, Controller in Flight with Dallas Opera and Utah Opera, her debut as Papagena and cover of Der Königin der Nacht with Dallas Opera, and Drusilla/Valetto in a workshop of The Coronation of Poppea (arr. Jim Lowe) with Fort Worth Opera. Past roles with Utah Opera include Anna Sørensen in the Pulitzer Prize-winning Silent Night, First Lady in Die Zauberflöte, Adele in Die Fledermaus, Nella in Gianni Schicchi, and Frasquita in Carmen, as well as roles in The Long Walk and Man of La Mancha. Other highlights include her company and role debut with Intermountain Opera Bozeman as Mabel in Pirates of Penzance, and Der Königin der Nacht with CoOperative in Princeton, NJ.

 

Concert highlights include Mozart’s Requiem (Princeton Symphony Orchestra and the Westminster Symphonic Choir), Janáček’s Glagolitic Mass (Brno Philharmonic and Columbus Symphony), Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony (Cape Symphony), and Handel’s Messiah (Columbus Symphony and the Utah Symphony), as well as Brahms’ Requiem and Saariaho’s Leino Songs (Columbus Symphony).  She has appeared in concert with Cedar Rapids Opera, Cape Symphony, Utah Opera, Washington Concert Opera, and Opera Southwest.

 

Ms. Rethwisch was an Apprentice Artist with Santa Fe Opera, Chautauqua Opera, Des Moines Metro Opera, and the CoOperative program.  During the 2015-2016 season, she was a Resident Artist with Tri-Cities Opera, appearing in performances of Iolanta, The Telephone, and Sweeney Todd. Gaining significant recognition in the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition, Ms. Rethwisch has been chosen as a regional finalist three times, and most recently won the Iowa district auditions in 2019. 

 

Ms. Rethwisch holds a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education from Simpson College and a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance from Florida State University.