A luminous voice in the world of opera has been silenced as Roberta Alexander, the American soprano who broke barriers and captivated audiences worldwide with her exceptional performances of Mozart, Puccini, and Janáček, died on October 14, 2025, at the age of 76.
Alexander began her illustrious career in 1975 as a lyric soprano based in the Netherlands, where she quickly distinguished herself through performances of Mozart heroines at Opernhaus Zürich under the baton of Nikolaus Harnoncourt. Her international breakthrough came in 1983 with her Metropolitan Opera debut as Zerlina in “Don Giovanni,” launching an eight-year tenure as a leading soprano at this prestigious institution.
Alexander’s career soared from the Netherlands to the Met, where her Mozart interpretations established her as a soprano of exceptional distinction.
Throughout her career, Alexander mastered a diverse repertoire that showcased her remarkable vocal range and dramatic abilities. Her renditions of Mozart roles—including Fiordiligi in “Così fan tutte,” Donna Elvira in “Don Giovanni,” and Vitellia in “La clemenza di Tito”—earned widespread acclaim.
Her performances of Mimì in Puccini’s “La bohème” and the title role in Janáček’s “Jenůfa” at the Glyndebourne Festival became career-defining achievements. Born in Lynchburg, Virginia in 1949, Alexander made her first stage appearance at age eight in Weill’s “Lost in the Stars.”
Alexander’s collaborations read like a who’s who of classical music, having worked with conductors Frans Brüggen, Bernard Haitink, James Levine, and Sir Simon Rattle. Her recordings with Nikolaus Harnoncourt for Philips and Dutch Etcetera Records preserve her artistry for future generations.
Beyond her performances at major opera houses across Europe and America—including the Royal Opera House, Berlin, Vienna, and Zürich—Alexander was recognized as one of the most important American sopranos of the 1990s. She was known for her meticulous vocal warm-ups which she credited for maintaining her vocal longevity throughout her extensive career.
As a dedicated vocal pedagogue, Alexander mentored numerous talented singers including sopranos Anneke Bliek and Elise van Es, helping to shape the next generation of classical vocalists.
Her mastery of diaphragmatic breathing techniques enabled her extraordinary vocal control, allowing her to perform demanding soprano roles with both power and nuance throughout her lengthy career.
Her concert appearances at Carnegie Hall and with orchestras such as the Vienna Philharmonic and Boston Symphony further cemented her legacy.
In her later years, Alexander dedicated herself to teaching, conducting masterclasses at prestigious venues like Wigmore Hall.
Her influence extended beyond her performances, as she helped expand opportunities for Black opera singers internationally while bridging American and European operatic traditions.
