Grammy-winning opera singer named next artistic director for Opera Theatre St. Louis

ST. LOUIS — Opera Theatre St. Louis announced Tuesday that Grammy-award winning soprano Patricia Racette will become the company’s new artistic director starting Oct. 1.

“I wanted to broaden my impact and help make opera more accessible,” Racette said. “That’s why I wanted this position. Plus, the role puts me in a seat where I can really shape the direction and future of the art form.”

Racette has a storied career in opera. She’s performed at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, Paris Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago and on many more famous stages. She also won a Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording for her performance in “The Ghosts of Versailles” with the Los Angeles Opera.

“Over the course of her career, Patricia has stood at the pinnacle of the opera world — singing the most demanding roles at the most prestigious houses, always with extraordinary artistry and precision,” said Andrew Jorgensen, general director of Opera Theatre, in a statement. “Excellence and passion are her calling cards.”

But before she’d done any of that, early in her career she appeared on the OTSL stage as Donna Elvira in 1993’s “Don Giovanni.” The New Hampshire native has returned many times, including to try her hand at directing. She made her directorial debut with the company in 2018 with “La Traviata.” She went on to direct and star in “La voix humaine” in 2021, and two years later directed “Susannah,” by Carlisle Floyd. Racette will be directing another version of the production in Omaha, Nebraska, in January.

“I knew in 1993 when I came here there was something unique and special about (Opera Theatre),” Racette says. “It’s a company that is deeply rooted in the community. Everyone’s contributions they’re measurable. They’re noticeable.”

James Robinson, the former artistic director, left the company in September 2024. OTSL staged an international search to fill the spot, but it turned out that the winning candidate was already close to home. Racette has been the artistic director for OTSL’s two young artist programs since 2019 and plans to maintain that role even as she adds artistic director to her duties.

“In her years leading the young artist programs, we have seen just how deeply Patricia understands Opera Theatre’s mission of identifying young talent and launching exciting careers,” Joregenson said in a statement. “She has a unique capacity to identify and nurture excellence, because she has lived that journey.”

Racette thinks having a career as a singer, mentor and director will help her in her new role. “I’ve walked the walk,” she said. “I’ve been on both sides of the curtain. I know good singing. Pedagogically, I know great direction. Experientially, I know great design. I know great conducting because I’ve lived it.”

Racette will be the artistic director designate until she officially starts Oct. 1, and will have a big impact on OTSL’s 50th season celebration this summer. Not only will she be preparing the young artists for their roles, (they perform a concert and appear in mainstage productions), but she also had a hand in casting and even selecting the shows, which include “Don Pasquale,” “Die Fledermaus,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and the world premiere of “This House.” The festival starts in late May.

Racette currently lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, but is looking to move to St. Louis soon and already has a cabaret-style concert planned at the Sheldon for Oct. 9.

At the helm of OTSL, she hopes to revive lesser-known works and expand Opera Theatre into crossover musical theater and new genres. She’ll also keep the traditional titles, but present them with “fresh perspectives.”

“I’m excited about collaborating with my colleagues and finding the best recipe for each season,” she said.