Kirstin Chávez is considered one of the most riveting and significant performing mezzo-sopranos today. Her powerful voice with its expansive range, the dramatic intensity of her acting, and her natural sensuality combine to make her an arresting and unique presence on the operatic and concert stages. Ms. Chávez has captured attention and acclaim in her signature roles and is recognized as one of the definitive Carmens of today, having performed the role in such celebrated venues as Lincoln Center in New York, the Sydney Opera House in Australia, and the Arena di Verona, in Italy. She has earned praise for her performances in modern operas, as well, including the title role in Tobias Picker’s Thérèse Raquin (San Diego Opera) and Sondra Finchley in Picker’s An American Tragedy, which was her Metropolitan Opera principal debut in 2005. Most recently she performed the role of Glenda Ruiz in the wildly successful world premier hybrid opera We Shall Not Be Moved, which was premiered with Opera Philadelphia, and then taken to the Apollo Theater in Harlem, NY and Amsterdam Opera in the Netherlands. In addition to numerous performances at the Metropolitan Opera, she has sung at the Royal Opera House in London, Maggio Musicale in Florence, and many other prestigious companies in the United States, Europe, Asia, and around the world. Kirstin is also well known on the concert stage, having performed in numerous oratorios and concert productions, including such works as Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, Mozart’s Requiem, Bach’s Magnificat, Rossini’s Stabat Mater, Verdi’s Requiem, Mahler’s 2nd Symphony and Rückert Lieder, and Manuel de Falla’s El Amor Brujo.
Kirstin Chavez is a New Mexico native, but spent most of her growing up years in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where her parents taught at the International School that she attended. From an early age, she began to sing with her father who taught music and performed the Spanish-American folk music of his heritage. Because her parents were the co-directors of the musicals at school, Kirstin began her career on stage at the age of 8, and by the age of 9, knew that she wanted to make her life in music and performance. After graduating from high school in Malaysia, Kirstin received a Bachelor of Music degree from New Mexico State University, and a Master of Music and Performer’s Certificate from the Eastman School of Music.
For three years, after completing her Master’s degree, Kirstin worked in the financial industry selling insurances and investments and preparing for the national CFP (Certified Financial Planner) exam. Shortly thereafter, her operatic career started with two years of apprenticeships, and, after winning multiple national singing competitions, she launched her professional career in 1999.
Her career brought her to sing all around the world, with a particular affinity for the role of Carmen in Bizet’s opera, and after many frustrating experiences with directors wanting her to portray Carmen as a baseless, two-dimensional character, she was drawn to partner with Johnathon Pape to create Carmen Inside Out, a one-woman stage show and retelling of the opera’s story from Carmen’s own perspective. The show has now performed to great success in the US, UK, France, Switzerland, and Japan, and is set to evolve into its next iteration through the creation of the film version in 2024.
When singing engagements evaporated for Kirstin during the global pandemic, she opted to resume her CFP studies, and passed the national exam in March, 2021. She now enjoys serving clients through her own practice, ArtFX Financial Planning, specializing in creating financial plans and retirement systems for small businesses. Kirstin enjoys juggling all of her interests, continuing to sing around the world, work with clients, and teaching the next generation of singers and artist/entrepreneurs as Artist in Residence at the University of Utah.
To learn more, visit Kirstin’s website.