ABOUT

American coloratura soprano, Penelope Kendros, is based in Germany and was a member of the ensemble at the Landestheater Detmold from 2021-24. A highlight of her time there was debuting the role of Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos, which was described as “…sung and acted with impressive sensitivity and versatility.” (Lippische Landeszeitung)

Penelope recently joined the ensemble at the Oldenburgisches Staatstheater, where she will sing the premieres in new productions of Der Freischütz (Ännchen) and Die Vögel (Die Nachtigall), among others.

Penelope has also sung the roles of Olympia in Les contes d’Hoffmann, Zerlina in Don Giovanni, Atalanta in Serse, Valencienne in Die lustige Witwe, Musetta in La Bohème, Marzelline in Fidelio, Despina in Così fan tutte, Barbarina in Le nozze di Figaro, Sandman/Dew Fairy in Hänsel und Gretel, La Fée in Viardot’s Cendrillon, and Flora in The Turn of the Screw. In 2019, she had the pleasure of covering Ellen in the world premiere of Rick Ian Gordon’s Ellen West at Opera Saratoga. 

She has participated in many festivals, including the Salzburg Festival, Trentino Music Festival, Eilat Chamber Music Festival, and iSING! Suzhou International Young Artists Festival. In China, Penelope performed on Shanghai TV for the National Day of the People's Republic of China, which was broadcast nationwide on October 6th, 2017.

Penelope has had the pleasure of singing in some of the best concert halls in the world, such as the Musikverein in Vienna and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. In addition to standard concert repertoire, she also enjoys exploring the limits of what her voice can do. In 2023 she performed Ligeti’s Mysteries of the Macabre under the baton Per-Otto Johansson.

She has also taken part in several competitions, most recently she was award the third prize at the 35th Maria Caniglia International Competition in Sulmona, Italy. She is also a winner of the International Fidelio Competition, was a finalist in the 21st International Osaka Competition, and a recipient of the Yehudi Menuhin Live Music Now stipend and Fulbright Grant.

Penelope earned her Master’s degree with Distinction in Vocal Performance at the Music and Performing Arts University of Vienna under Professors Sylvia Greenberg and David Aronson.