Meet the Student: Q&A with Soprano Emilie Kealani
Soprano Emilie Kealani, from San Francisco, California, stars as Adina in Curtis Opera Theatre’s hilarious new production of Gaetano Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love (L’elisir d’amore). She entered the Curtis Institute of Music in 2022 and studies in the opera program with Joan Patenaude-Yarnell. All students at Curtis receive merit-based, full-tuition scholarships, and Ms. Kealani is the Walter and Leonore Annenberg Fellow.
Tell us about your journey to Curtis. When did you decide you want to study opera and classical voice?
Growing up in San Francisco, I was very involved in the arts performing with SFArtsEd and the Bay Area Vocal Academy. The moment I knew that I wanted to study opera was during my first abridged opera singing Romilda in Serse by Handel. I graduated high school when I was 16 and went on to pursue my Bachelor of Music at the Manhattan School of Music.
What have been some of your favorite moments here at Curtis as you’ve been pursuing your master’s degree?
My most memorable moments at Curtis would be participating in the opera productions. This year I sang the role of Miss Jessel in The Turn of the Screw and coming up, I’ll be singing Adina in L’elisir d’amore and Dalinda in Ariodante.
What do you enjoy most about the character of Adina in Elixir?
She is very independent, intelligent, and witty. Without spoiling too much, I think this is a very different Adina than most are used to seeing portrayed.
You made your professional debut last season with the Santa Fe Opera as an apprentice artist. What was your experience like, and how do you think your studies here at Curtis will further prepare you for a professional career in opera?
Being an apprentice artist at the Santa Fe Opera was an amazing opportunity. Since it was my first young artist program, I basically experienced everything for the first time. I performed in the opera chorus of 22 mainstage productions on the Crosby Stage, and my most memorable moment from the summer was performing the final trio and duet as Sophie (Der Rosenkavalier) in the apprentice scenes.
My studies at Curtis will further prepare me for a professional career in opera because of the extensive performing opportunities and great coachings/lessons that help prepare us for future professional contracts. This summer, I will be singing 13 shows as Musetta in La bohème at the Glimmerglass Festival.
What are some of your dream roles you’d like to step into in the future?
To name a few: Gilda, Amina, Lucia, Violetta, Mimì, Baby Doe, Manon, and Juliette.
Visit Emilie Kealani’s official website HERE.
CURTIS OPERA THEATRE: THE ELIXIR OF LOVE (L’ELISIR D’AMORE)
Music by Gaetano Donizetti
Libretto by Felice Romani
Friday, March 10, 2023 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, March 12, 2023 at 2:30 p.m.
Philadelphia Film Center
1412 Chestnut Street
Click HERE for more information.
Single tickets for The Elixir of Love start at $19: Curtis.edu. Subscription tickets are also available.
The Curtis Opera Theatre is generously supported by the Ernestine Bacon Cairns Trust, the Horace W. Goldsmith Foundation, and the Wyncote Foundation.
Photos of Emilie Kealani: 1. & 4.) Nichole MCH Photography 2. & 3.) Courtesy of the artist.