Katie Van Kooten Makes Stage Debut at the Metropolitan Opera
Alumna Performs as Magda in Puccini’s “La Rondine”
Biola University alumna Katie Van Kooten (’01) from the Conservatory of Music made her stage debut at the Metropolitan Opera on the evening of February 23, 2009. Van Kooten replaced Angela Gheorgiu, in the role of Magda, in the evening performance of Puccini’s “La Rondine.”
Van Kooten, hired as Gheorgiu’s understudy for the production, had previously debuted at Covent Garden and Paris Opera in the same role, however, she had never stepped foot on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera, since her dress rehearsals had not been on the main stage.
"She is the only student I ever had that I was absolutely sure had the talent , work ethic, and personality to go all the way," said Jeanne Robison, Van Kooten's former professor at Biola. "She has always had a great gift, but I think never aware how great it was until after her career started. She just considered herself someone who sang, and did it because that's what she was supposed to do. Her ego is not wrapped up in her singing; she knows it is a gift from the Lord, and gives him the glory."
As a former member of the Royal Opera’s young artists program, Van Kooten has also sung Pamina in Die Zauberflöte, Mimi in LaBohéme, Marguerite in Faust, and Antonia in Les Contes d'Hoffmann. In June 2007, she sang the role of Marguerite as part of the Met in the Park concert series. After her U.S. Opera debut as Marguerite in Faust, The New York Times called her performance as Marguerite "dramatically convincing," and said her voice was a "warm, gracefully expressive soprano." She recently made her Houston Grand Opera debut as Helena in Britten's Midsummer Night's Dream.
A graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, Katie studies voice with Rudolf Piernay. She received her bachelor's degree in vocal performance from Biola, where she studied with professor Jeanne Robison and is a graduate and perpetual member of the Torrey Honors Institute.
Written by Jenna Bartlo, Media Relations Coordinator. Jenna can be reached at (562) 777-4061 or through email at jenna.l.bartlo@biola.edu.