Critically acclaimed by virtually every major outlet covering classical music, American mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton is increasingly recognized for how she uses her powerful instrument offstage – lifting up women, queer people, and other marginalized communities. Her lively social media presence on Instagram and Twitter (@jbartonmezzo) serves as a hub for conversations about body positivity, social justice issues, and LGBTQ+ rights.
In recognition of her iconic performance at the Last Night of the Proms, Ms. Barton was named 2020 Personality of the Year at the BBC Music Magazine Awards. She is also the winner of the Beverly Sills Artist Award, Richard Tucker Award, both Main and Song Prizes at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition, and the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Her solo albums include All Who Wander, which received the 2018 BBC Music Magazine Vocal Award, and Unexpected Shadows, nominated for a 2022 Grammy® Award for Best Classical Solo Vocal Album.
This season, Ms. Barton makes a dual role and company debut as Baba the Turk in The Rake’s Progress at Opéra National de Paris and brings her Azucena to the Metropolitan Opera’s Il trovatore. She debuts as Nettie Fowler in Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel with Boston Lyric Opera and as Marguerite in La damnation de Faust with Lisbon’s Gulbenkian Orchestra, before appearing as Amneris in Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s Aida. Ms. Barton opens the Danish Radio Symphony Orchestra season as the mezzo soloist in Das Lied von der Erde, joins Dallas Symphony for Duruflé’s Requiem, and returns to the BBC Proms for Mahler’s Rückert-Lieder with BBC Symphony Orchestra. Other debuts include NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra, WDR Symphony Orchestra, and City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Barton also brings a world premiere by Joel Thompson to stages in Atlanta, New York, Boston, and Washington, D.C, with additional recital appearances in Santa Fe and London.