Estonian mezzo-soprano Kai Rüütel studied at the Georg Ots Music School in Tallinn and then at the Koninklijk Conservatorium in The Hague and the Dutch National Opera Academy, graduating from the Masters programme with Special Honours. Whilst studying in the Netherlands she was supported by Eesti Kultuurkapital. Rüütel won First Prize in the National Competition for Young Classical Singers in Estonia three years in a row in 2001, 2002 and 2003.
She has participated in masterclasses with Graciela Araya, Mark Tucker and Paula Chateauneuf, Ryland Davies, Muriel Corradini, Patricia MacMahon, Kenneth Montgomery, Carolyn Watkinson and Meinard Kraak. She currently studies with Jon Thorsteinsson.
In 2009 Rüütel became a member of the prestigious Jette Parker Young Artists Programme at the Royal Opera House, making her ROH debut as Venerable Lady in The Gambler and covering the role of Blanche. In the 09/10 season she sang Rosette Manon and Flora La Traviata and also performed these roles with the company when it toured to Japan with Antonio Pappano in September 2010.
In December 2010, Rüütel stepped in at the Royal Opera House for an indisposed Christine Rice as Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel receiving critics’ praise for her performance. The Independent wrote: “Kai Rüütel as Hänsel bristles with the grumpiness unique to boys on the cusp of puberty, her voice crisp and forthright”. Other roles included Second Lady Die Zauberflöte conducted by Sir Colin Davis, and Dorothée Cendrillon. She also covered Madame Dangeville Adriana Lecouvreur, Charlotte Werther and Dunyasha The Tsar’s Bride. Recent concert engagements include Mahler Rückert Lieder at the Cadogan Hall.
Engagements last season included her first return to Royal Opera House since graduating from the Jette Parker Young Artist Programme as Meg Page Falstaff in a new production by Robert Carsen, Hänsel Hänsel und Gretel for Scottish Opera, also a new production, and Marchesa Malibea Il Viaggio a Reims in a special gala performance for the Royal Opera House. She also made her Berlin debut at the Philharmonie with a programme of Zemlinsky and Mahler songs.
In the 12/13 season Kai Rüütel returns to Royal Opera House as Wellgunde Der Ring des Nibelungen and makes her US debut with the St Louis Symphony Orchestra singing Mozart Requiem. Other highlights include her City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra debut with Beethoven Mass in C and a series of gala concerts in Riga. In the upcoming seasons she will make debuts with Nederlandse Opera, Théâtre du Capitole Toulouse, Dallas Opera and with Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra at the Concertgebouw Amsterdam.
Kai Rüütel is represented by Intermusica.
December 2012 / 444 words. Not to be altered without permission. Please destroy all previous biographical material.
Concert and Recital Repertoire
BERLIOZ
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Les nuits d’été
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ELGAR
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Dream of Gerontius
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HANDEL
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Messiah |
MAHLER
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Kindertotenlieder
Rückert Lieder
Other various song cycles
Symphonies No. 3 and 8 |
MENDELSSOHN
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Elijah
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MOZART
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Requiem
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POULENC
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Salve Regina
Mass in G
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SCHUMANN
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Frauenliebe und leben
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Opera Repertoire
BIZET
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Title role Carmen*
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BROOK
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Title role La tragédie de Carmen
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| CILEA |
Madame Dangeville Adriana Lecouvreur
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GOUNOD
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Siebel Faust
Stephano Roméo et Juliette
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HANDEL
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Ruggiero Alcina*
Sesto Giulio Cesare*
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HUMPERDINCK
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Hänsel Hänsel und Gretel
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MASSENET
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Prince & Dorothée Cendrillon
Rosette & Javotte Manon
Charlotte Werther
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MONTEVERDI
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Poppea, Nerone, Ottavia, Virtù
L’incoronazione di Poppea
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MOZART
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Sesto La clemenza di Tito
Dorabella* Così fan tutte
Second Lady Die Zauberflöte
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PROKOFIEV
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Blanche The Gambler
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DURUFLÉ
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Requiem
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RIMSKY-KORSAKOV
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Dunyasha The Tsar’s Bride
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ROSSINI
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Rosina Il barbiere di Siviglia*
Marchesa Malibea Il viaggio a Reims
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STRAUSS, J.
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Prince Orlofsky Die Fledermaus
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STRAUSS, R.
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Octavian Der Rosenkavalier*
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TCHAIKOVKSY
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Olga Eugene Onegin
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VERDI
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Meg Page Falstaff
Emilia Otello
Maddalena Rigoletto
Flora La Traviata
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WAGNER
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Waltraute Götterdämmerung*
Wellgunde Das Rheingold & Götterdämmerung
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* in preparation
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Back to Top
Dorothée in Massenet Cendrillon / DVD Virgin Classics 60250995
Royal Opera House Chorus & Orchestra / cond. Bertrand de Billy / dir. Laurent Pelly
“Madeleine Pierard and Kai Rüütel, the stepsisters, make a pair of boffo sidekicks”.
Fred Cohn, Opera News, November 2012
La Marchesa Malibea in Rossini ll Viaggio a Reims
Royal Opera House / cond. Daniele Rustioni
“Some of the finest moments ... were the ensembles. A ravishing sextet (Imbrailo, Tynan, Ji-Hyun Kim, Kai Rüütel, Lukas Jakobski and Kostas Smoriginas)...”
Simon Thomas, Whatsonstage.com, July 2012
Meg Page in Verdi Falstaff
Royal Opera House / cond. Daniele Gatti / dir. Robert Carson
“The women hold the key to the piece and Mistresses Ford and Page (Ana Maria Martinez and Kai Rüütel) lead the way”
Michael Maunsell, Camden New Journal, May 2012
Hänsel in Humperdinck Hänsel and Gretel / Scottish Opera
cond. Emmanuel Joël-Hornak
“At the forefront of this were the voices of Hansel (Kai Rüütel) and Gretel… both of whom were exceptionally strong.”
Jonathan Goat, The Journal, March 2012
“Kai Rüütel and Ailish Tynan made a fine pair as the title characters. They worked very well as brother and sister, sharing one another’s strengths… Ultimately their parts are essentially about duet work and it was possible to feel an immediate bond between their voices. Each had a warm resonance that was perfect for the exquisite beauty of the score.”
Kelvin Holdsworth, Opera Britannia, February 2012
“Kai Rüütel and Ailish Tynan make a well- blended title pair.”
Andrew Clark, Financial Times, February 2012
“Kai Rüütel and Ailish Tynan are an endearing title pair, vocally well matched and … they had a sweet complicity between them.”
Kate Molleson, The Guardian, February 2012
Mahler Rückert-Lieder / University of London Symphony Orchestra / Cadogan Hall
cond. Daniel Capps
“The young statuesque Estonian mezzo, Kai Rüütel... performed with warmth, dramatic conviction and a pleasing hint of sensuality.”
Seen and Heard International, July 2011
Jette Parker Young Artists Summer Performance / Royal Opera House
“the mezzo Kai Rüütel displayed mutual sensitivity, with thrusting top notes and fluent coloratura... though Rüütel’s soft-grained pliancy irresistibly suggested Octavian.”
Yehuda Shapiro, Opera, September 2011
“It was meltingly sung, too, by the... splendid mezzo Kai Rüütel in the trouser role of Falliero.”
What’s On Stage, July 2011
“… mezzo-soprano Kai Rüütel (Falliero) is evidently a highly musical and truly dramatic mature artist.”
Musical Criticism, July 2011
“Kai Rüütel was soon delivering her vocal rockets with great confidence. The tone was warm and rich and the range very malleable... [and] her glamorous stage presence and good voice will ensure a successful career.”
Opera Britannia, July 2011
Hänsel in Humperdinck Hänsel und Gretel
Royal Opera House / cond. Rory MacDonald / dir. Patrice Caurier and Moshe Leiser
“The rough and tumble of sibling loyalty is beautifully realised. Stepping in for an indisposed Christine Rice, Kai Rüütel as Hänsel bristles with the grumpiness unique to boys on the cusp of puberty, her voice crisp and forthright.”
Anna Picard, The Independent, January 2011
Flora in Verdi La Traviata
Royal Opera House / cond. Yves Abel / dir. Richard Eyre
“Kai Rüütel’s sympathetic, emotionally perceptive and tactfully diplomatic Flora Bervoix”Alexander Campbell, Classical Source, July 2010
Jette Parker Young Artists Summer ConcertRoyal Opera House / Cond. Dominic Grier and Steven Moore“The Octavian of the statuesque Kai Rüütel showed promise of a very fruity and luscious mezzo...”Anthony Lias, Opera Brittania, July 2010
Jette Parker Young Artists Summer Concert
Royal Opera House / cond. Dominic Grier and Steven Moore
“The Octavian of the statuesque Kai Rüütel showed promise of a very fruity and luscious mezzo ...”
Anthony Lias, Opera Britania, July 2010