The female singer of the year category is made up of three mezzo sopranos and three sopranos. Each singer has a different repertoire and a different vocal style.
Sarah Connolly-Mezzo soprano Connolly started the season singing in Wagner's "Tristan Und Isolde" in the role of Brangane. She next goes to the English National Opera in the title role of Charpentier's "Medea." She will then tour in a recital of French and Spanish songs as well as with music of John Mark Ainsley. The Mezzo then returns to Glyndebourne for Rameau's "Hippolyte et Aricie." Connolly last performed at the Metropolitan Opera in "Capriccio" which was broadcast live in HD and released on DVD.
Joyce Didonato- Didonato has had one of the best seasons of her career as she started off at the San Francisco Opera as Romeo in Bellini's "I Capuleti e Montecchi." She then began her Drama Queens tour which she sang all over the world. Didonato then took a rest from the tour for a new production of Donizetti's "Maria Stuarda" at the Metropolitan Opera which was broadcast live in HD. She was then nominated for her second Grammy for her album Drama Queens and continued her tour of the album. Didonato returned to Romeo in Munich and next sings Rossini's "La Donna del Lago" with Juan Diego Florez at the Royal Opera House. She returns to New York in 2014 for Rossini's "La Cenerentola."
Evelyn Herlitzius- German Soprano Herlitzius started the season in Berlin with Kundry in Wagner's "Parsifal." She then opened the Teatro alla Scala season in "Lohengrin" as Ortrud alongside Jonas Kaufmann. She garnered rave reviews and the performance was screened live in movie theaters. Herlitzius will culminate the season celebrating Wagner's bicentennial as she sings another run of "Parsifal," and showcases her acclaimed Brundhilde in "Die Walkure." She will also star in Berlin's revival of "Tristan und Isolde."
Catherine Naglestad- Dramatic soprano Naglestad started the season in Zurich's revival of "Tosca" with conductor Fabio Luisi. She then went to Stuttgart for the title role in Bellini's "Norma." The soprano ends her season also celebrating Wagner singing "Die Walkure" and rotating between the role of Sieglinde and Brunhilde. She also sings Elsa in "Lohengrin" in Madrid.
Nina Stemme-The renowned Swedish soprano was seen around the world in Teatro alla Scala's new production of "Siegfried." She then sang Puccini's "Turandot" in Stockholm and later returned to Houston for "Tristan und Isolde." She makes a stop in Vienna for the complete Ring Cycle and then ends her season in Munich for her "Gotterdammerung." Next season she brings La Scala's Ring Cycle to a close in a new production of "Gotterdammerung."
Beatrice Uria-Monzon - The veteran mezzo soprano began her season with her acclaimed "Carmen" in Zurich. She sang a concert in Orange and will return to Strasbourg for Wagner's "Tannhauser" where she will sing the role of Venus. Marseille will then see her in Berlioz's "Les Troyens" where she will sing both Cassandre and Didon. She will also sing Cleopatre in "Cleopatre."
Predictions: Nina Stemme is sure to win after her acclaimed turn in the Ring Cycle and her role debut in "Turandot."