Elissa Johnston

Recently cited by the New York Times for her “especially lovely” singing, Elissa Johnston enjoys performing repertoire ranging from Bach, Handel and Mozart to Messiaen, Carter, Unsuk Chin and Lachenmann. In April Elissa made her Carnegie Hall debut with Pacific Symphony under Carl St. Clair, singing the soprano role of Sarada Devi in Philip Glass’ The Passion of Ramakrishna, as part of Carnegie’s yearlong celebration of Philip Glass’ 80 th birthday. Other recent appearances include Handel’s Israel in Egypt and Stravinsky’s Les Noces with the Los Angeles Master Chorale, Dvorak’s Ciganske melodie at Le Salon de musiques, and performances of SPIRAL XII and AURA, both by Chinary Ung in San Diego and Syracuse. Elissa has appeared as guest soloist with the Pacific Chorale under conductor John Alexander in Brahms’ Requiem and Poulenc’s Gloria, with the Long Beach Symphony under conductor Gemma New in Mahler’s 4 th Symphony and Samuel Barber’s Knoxville, Summer of 1915, and with Quator Diotima at Jacaranda Music, singing Schoenberg’s String Quartet No. 2. Highlights of the coming season include Haydn’s Creation
with Pacific Chorale and Symphony under Robert Istad performances of the touring Peter Sellars production of Lagrime di San Pietro with Los Angeles Master Chorale, and appearing as soloist in the world premiere of Reena Esmail’s This Love Between Us: Prayers for Unity at Walt Disney Concert Hall.