Acclaimed for her "irresistible force and passion" and her "rich and sonorous" sound, Jane Dutton has been engaged and re-engaged in many of the top opera houses in the world including the Metropolitan Opera, Gran Teatre del Liceu, Los Angeles Opera and San Francisco Opera under leading conductors such as Levine, Runnicles, Ozawa and Weigle. Jane has been making the transition from mezzo-soprano to soprano over the last couple of years and now focuses on the dramatic soprano repertoire.
Jane made her European opera debut at the Gran Teatre Del Liceu in Barcelona as Anne Boleyn in Saint-Saëns' Henry VIII and has been re-engaged by the theatre numerous times since her debut for roles including Adalgisa Norma, Pauline Pique Dame, Gertrude Hamlet, Maddalena Rigoletto, Suzuki Madama Butterfly and most recently Waltraute Die Walküre (and covered Fricka) alongside Placido Domingo and Waltraud Meier. She made her debut at the Tokyo Opera in Elektra with Seiji Ozawa and was subsequently invited by Osawa to the Saito Kinen Festival. In the 07-08 season Jane made her UK operatic debut singing Amneris Aida in a new production for English National Opera under Edward Gardner and was immediately invited back for the revival and for Santuzza Cavalleria Rusticana in a new production by Richard Jones in 08-09. She followed this with her highly acclaimed role and house debut as Eboli Don Carlos in a new Tim Alberry production for Opera North. She also recorded this role for Chandos’ popular Opera in English series.
In the US Jane has sung Jordan Baker in John Harbison’s The Great Gatsby, Stephano in Roméo et Juliette, and roles in Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah, Lulu, Madama Butterfly and Rigoletto for the Metropolitan Opera; Composer Ariadne auf Naxos and Sonyetka in Shostakovitch’s Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk for San Francisco Opera; Sara Roberto Devereux for New York City Opera; Grimgerde Die Walküre for Los Angeles Opera; Santuzza Cavalleria Rusticana with Virginia Opera; Gertrude Hamlet with Lyric Opera of Kansas City; Composer Ariadne auf Naxos, Giulietta Tales of Hoffman with Indianapolis Opera; and Amneris Aida with the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, Opera Carolina, Opera Birmingham and at Pittsburgh Opera.
Jane’s orchestral repertoire extends from the Baroque to the contemporary. She has worked with the New York Philharmonic/Kurt Masur, Seattle Symphony/Gerard Schwarz, Colorado Symphony/Marin Alsop, Indianapolis Symphony/Mario Venzago and at the Prague Autumn Festival with the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra. She made her UK concert debut singing Wagner’s Wesendonk Lieder with the BBC Scottish Symphony which led to an invitation by the RTE National Symphony Orchestra, Dublin for the same repertoire. She recently performed Handel Messiah at the Royal Albert Hall.
Engagements in the 2010-2011 season included Kundry Parsifal for English National Opera, La Nourrice Ariane et Barbe-bleue at the Liceu in Barcelona, Eboli (cover) Don Carlos for the Metropolitan Opera, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the KBS (Korean Broadcasting System) Symphony Orchestra at the United Nations in New York City, and Prokofiev Alexander Nevsky with the Houston Symphony Orchestra under Mark Wigglesworth.
Jane was a finalist in Placido Domingo's Operalia World Opera Competition, she has been awarded prizes in competitions including the Metropolitan Opera National Council Eastern Regionals, placed second at the MacAllister Competition, the Baltimore Opera Competition, the Puccini Foundation, Opera Index Competition, and first at the Opera at Florham Guild competition.
Jane Dutton is represented by Intermusica worldwide.
November 2011 / 549 words. Not to be altered without permission. Please destroy all previous biographical material.
JANE DUTTON, MEZZO-SOPRANO
Alexander Nevsky / Houston Symphony / Cond. Mark Wigglesworth
“Jane Dutton had impressive control and an excellent sense of phrasing.”
ConcertoNet.com, May 2011
Kundry in Wagner’s Parsifal
English National Opera / cond. Mark Wigglesworth / dir. Nikolaus Lehnhoff
“[a] controlled and seductive Kundry.”
Tom Service, Guardian Classical Blog, March 2011
“Soprano Jane Dutton tackles the killer role of Kundry and comes out on top.”
Clare Colvin, Scottish Sunday Express, February 2011
“Jane Dutton’s Kundry combines gleaming vocalism and histrionic magnetism.”
Andrew Clark, Financial Times, February 2011
“Jane Dutton’s Kundry combines gleaming vocalism and histrionic magnetism.”
Andrew Clark, Financial Times, February 2011
“The mezzo-soprano Jane Dutton brought a dark-hued, vibrant voice and volatile intensity to the role of Kundry.”
Anthony Tommasini, New York Times, February 2011
“Jane Dutton offers a subtly nuanced, highly promising Kundry.”
Barry Millington, Evening Standard, February 2011
Eboli in Verdi Don Carlos
Opera North / cond. Richard Farnes / dir. Tim Albery
“Dutton is the classiest Verdian, hurling out her Act IV aria with juicy abandon”
Neil Fisher, The Times, May 2009
“this is an opera for darker voices (and) Jane Dutton has a sultry timbre as the machiavellian Princess Eboli”
Alfred Hickling, The Guardian, May 2009
“Jane Dutton, making her Opera North debut, excels as scheming Princess Eboli. Her aria in the fourth act is a soaring belter. Each word is purely sung. More of Ms Dutton, please.”
Kevin Berry, The Stage, May 2009
“Jane Dutton was a hearty, gutsy Eboli.”
Rupert Christiansen, Telegraph, May 2009
Santuzza in Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana
English National Opera / cond. Edward Gardner / dir. Richard Jones
"But at the centre of it all is Turridu's love-on-the-rebound, the wronged woman, Santuzza, and Jones turns her into an embittered witch-like outsider, robbed of her honour and her self-respect. And hell hath no fury like Jane Dutton, who wields her huge voice like a Sicilian curse."
Edward Seckerson, The Independent , September 2008
"Jane Dutton (Santuzza) hits the big tunes with irresistible force and passion."
Rupert Christensen, The Telegraph , September 2008
“…Jane Dutton sing(s) superbly.”
Nick Kimberley, Evening Standard , September 2008
“There's good singing, too. Cav is dominated by the massive soprano of Jane Dutton's Santuzza, obsessively fiddling with her frock as she anguishes over her pregnancy shame.”
Richard Morrison, The Times , September 2008
“Jane Dutton is Santuzza and Peter Auty is Turiddù; they are excellent”
Andrew Clements, The Guardian , September 2008
“Jane Dutton's house-filling Santuzza has a...huge heart.”
Andrew Clark, Financial Times , September 2008
“With her bright, penetrating mezzo, the American makes a strong impression in this borderline soprano role”
Hugh Canning, The Sunday Times, September 2008
“…an excellent cast led by the commanding Jane Dutton”
Anthony Holden, The Observer, October 2008
Amneris in Verdi's Aida
English National Opera / cond. Edward Gardner / dir. Jo Davies
"Amneris is the more overtly dramatic part, and Jane Dutton gave a big reading of it. She has all the big-breathed high-notes in her armoury, and also knows how to make her presence felt."
Alexander Campbell, Classicalsource.com , November 2007
"The American newcomer Jane Dutton gives a commanding portrayal of Amneris."
Richard Morrison, The Times, November 2007
"Jane Dutton is impressive as the pharaoh's daughter, Amneris, Aida's rival."
Barry Millington, The Evening Standard, November 2007
"Jane Dutton, as Amneris, produces some thrilling high notes toward the end of Act 4."
Warwick Thompson, Bloomberg.com , November 2007
Amneris in Verdi's Aida
Lyric Opera of Kansas City
"Jane Dutton had more command as Amneris, and sang with dramatic ease and intensity throughout."
Chris Shull, Opera Now , January/February 2008
"Jane Dutton is blessed not only with a thrilling mezzo-soprano voice, but also a spirited acting ability. She played the princess with delightful jealousy and expression, nearly sticking her tongue out at Aida when Radames, returning in victory, is offered Amneris' hand in marriage as reward. When a beautiful voice combines with acting talent as well, opera becomes all it is meant to be."
Deborah Buckner, AnE Vibe , October 2007
"Jane Dutton acted the socks off of bad-girl Amneris."
Paul Horsley, Kansas City Star , September 2007
Santuzza in Mascagni Cavalleria Rusticana
Virginia Opera / cond. Peter Mark / dir. Lorna Haywood
"As Santuzza, Jane Dutton was in a league of her own, singing with a clear, lush and startlingly powerful voice."
Daniel Neman, Richmond Times-Dispatch , April 2007
"'Cav' belonged to Jane Dutton as Santuzza, her dowdy dress contrasting with a pure, lovely voice that also had some bite to it."
Mark Estren, The Washington Post , April 2007
" The standout soloist of the evening was mezzo-soprano Jane Dutton as Santuzza, a surprisingly strenuous role for a one-act opera. "
T.L. Ponick, The Washington Times , April 2007
"As Santuzza, scorned lover of the womanizing Turridu in Cavalleria , mezzo-soprano Jane Dutton thrilled the audience with an instrument of technical and dramatic perfection. The stunning voice is huge, yet silvery and agile; at every dynamic and in every part of the range, the production was flawless."
Port Folio Weekly - Virginia Beach , March 2007
"There is a stellar cast, a perfect cast in fact…Jane Dutton, Santuzza, fresh from the Metropolitan Opera, is a vibrant mezzo-soprano with a voice of many colours and shadings. It's a thrilling performance as she vocally soars above the large chorus and orchestra seemingly without effort."
Edgar Loessin, WHRO-FM , March 2007
"Mezzo-soprano Jane Dutton was a sympathetic Santuzza…Her voice was expressive in her various numbers, including a passionate duet with Turiddu and a soaring Easter Hymn."
The Virginian-Pilot Newspaper , March 2007
Wagner Wesendonck Lieder
BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra/ cond. Vassily Sinaisky
"Making her UK debut, American mezzo-soprano Jane Dutton floated her voice easily above the orchestra even in the most powerful passages and not a word of the text was lost. She has the power of a true Wagnerian singer along with the ability to project the subtlest poetic visions.
Alan Cooper, The Herald
Jordan Baker in Harbison The Great Gatsby
Metropolitan Opera
“Dawn Upshaw was elegantly accompanied by Jane Dutton.”
Financial Times
Anne Boleyn in Saint-Saëns Henry VIII
Gran Teatre del Liceu
“Jane Dutton had an excellent level, knowing how to transmit a frivolous air to her role as Anna Bolena, which she sang with the considerable solid resources of a mezzo-soprano.”
Roger Alier , La Vanguardia
Adalgisa in Bellini Norma
Gran Teatre del Liceu
“Jane Dutton was an Adalgisa of the highest quality…an Adalgisa with a solid voice…effective.”
Roger Alier, La Vanguardia
Pauline in Tchaikovsky Pique Dame
Gran Teatre del Liceu
“Jane Dutton performed as Pauline with a warm mezzo voice that was especially effective in the duo.”
Roger Alier, La Vanguardia
Queen Gertrude in Hamlet
Gran Teatre del Liceu
“The mezzo-soprano Jane Dutton, already well-known at the Liceu from previous seasons, sang an exemplary Queen Gertrude, with a voice of smooth texture.”
Roger Alier , La Vanguardia
“She projected towards the hall her full and velvet voice for her grand scene during the third act after a perfectly performed trio.”
Marcelo Cervello , Opera Actual
Sonyetka in Shostakovich Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk
San Francisco Opera
“The smaller roles were just as well handled. They included Jane Dutton in a vivacious debut as the lascivious Sonyetka.”
Joshua Kosman , The San Francisco Chronicle
“Jane Dutton was a firm-toned Sonyetka.”
Georgia Rowe , Contra Costa Times
“The rest of the cast was flawless, including Jane Dutton’s slutty Sonyetka, who steals Sergei from Katerina.”
Stephanie von Buchau , The Alameda Times-Star
Sara in Donizetti Roberto Devereux
New York City Opera
“Miss Dutton has an attractive, big mezzo and the spirit to use it boldly.”
Heidi Waleson , Wall Street Journal
“Dutton with a rich warmth of tone and lingering phrasing.”
Willa J. Conrad , The Star-Ledger
“Jane Dutton, a Mezzo with a bright soprano timbre, made an impressive debut as Elizabeth’s confidante.”
Shirley Fleming , New York Post
“Lovely to look at and lovely to hear, Mezzo Jane Dutton was Sara, Elizabeth’s rival for Devereux’s affection. Passionate and glamorous, her Sarah was, rightly, Elizabeth’s complete opposite.”
T.J. Medrek , Boston Herald
“Jane Dutton, as Sara, has a healthy, big voice.”
Bernard Holland , The New York Times
“Jane Dutton, a Mezzo with a bright soprano timbre, made an impressive debut as Elizabeth’s confidante (and rival) Sarah. She is not required to maintain quite the icy dignity of the Queen, and she brought warmth and vulnerability to the part of a wife whose emotions betray both her husband and her royal patroness.”
Shirley Fleming , Musical America.com
“Jane Dutton, making her company debut as the earl’s whiny mistress, Sara, balances Flanigan’s flamboyance with more orthodox finesse. Her singing is pearly and powerful, her tenderness persuasive and her feel for Donizetti’s much-abused style is a balm.”
Justin Davidson , Newsday
“Her voice has the clarity of a bell-like soprano.”
Mary Campbell , AP Arts and Entertainment
“Jane Dutton, as his secret love Sara, has an attractive, sizeable mezzo that she deployed with spirit.”
Heidi Waleson , Opera Now
Andronico in Handel Tamerlano
Little Orchestra Society
“Only Jane Dutton, as Andronico, sounded free, noble and at ease in this extremely difficult music.”
Paul Griffiths , New York Times
Rosina in Rossini Il barbieri di Siviglia
Cleveland Opera
“A feisty and exuberant Rosina who was as deft at chess as she was capable of handling the voice-twisting coloratura. Dutton’s Mezzo-soprano has a healthy vibrato, and she was so entrancing as she pulled the wool over her guardian’s eyes or conspired with Figaro that you couldn’t help adoring her.”
Donald Rosenburg , The Plain Dealer
“As Rosina, Jane Dutton made a Cleveland Opera debut that was memorable for her clean technique and lustrous tone in the curving, filigreed lines of Rossini’s bel canto writing. In her big aria “Una voce poco fa,” Dutton seemed to revel in the florid writing. Dutton sang the part beautifully, and physically she looked the part of the pretty young girl.”
Elaine Gureglan , Akron Beacon Journal
Maddalena in Verdi Rigoletto
Gran Theatre del Liceu
“With her beautiful lower notes and her rustic and convincing performance, Jane Dutton was seductive as Maddalena.”
La Vanguardia
Dorabella in Mozart Così fan tutti
Opera Santa Barbara
“It was no surprise to read in the program that Dutton joined the Metropolitan Opera roster nearly a year ago. She is technically secure with a voice that immediately found the right fit for the intimate.”
Greg Hettmansberger , Santa Barbara News Press
Berlioz Orchestrated Songs
Prague Autumn Festival
“Mezzo-soprano Jane Dutton achieved a moving and memorable performance full of expression, and without any difficulties attained a rich and sonorous sound.
The outstanding American Mezzo-soprano Jane Dutton was the highlight of an extraordinary evening that has so far been the climax of the Prague Autumn International Music Festival.”
Vladimir Riha , Pravo Newspaper
Jocasta in Stravinsky Oedipus Rex , Kansas City Symphony
Stravinksy Festival 2001
“Jane Dutton sang the part of Jocasta with stern security.”
Paul Horsly , The Kansas City Star
Ravel and Bizet in concert
Adler Theatre
“Mezzo-soprano Jane Dutton charmed the near-sellout Adler Theatre audience in beguiling renditions of Ravel and Bizet, two French masters. The exotic, rapturous music was simply hypnotic. Ms. Dutton sang with passion and confidence, perfectly capturing the dreamlike, intoxicating nature of the languorous songs. At times, she was alluring with her vocal modesty and mystery. At others, the mezzo overwhelmed us with the ecstasy of the music.”
Jonathan Turner, The Dispatch and Rock Island Argus
Mahler Das Lied von der Erde
Louisiana Philharmonic
“A fabulous mezzo named Jane Dutton stepped in at the last minute.”
Classical.net