Lisette Oropesa in Conversation
Lisette Oropesa, soprano
Lisette Oropesa is a Cuban-American lyric coloratura soprano celebrated as one of the most in-demand opera artists of her generation. Born in New Orleans to Cuban parents, she spent twelve years studying flute before transitioning to vocal performance at Louisiana State University, where her exceptional musicality and technique began to flourish. After winning the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, she entered the Met’s prestigious Lindemann Young Artist Development Program and made her major role debut there at age 22 as Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro.
Oropesa has since appeared on the world’s leading stages, including the Metropolitan Opera, Teatro alla Scala, Wiener Staatsoper, Bayerische Staatsoper, Opéra national de Paris, the Royal Ballet and Opera in London, and the Salzburg Festival. Her repertoire spans a wide range of styles and languages, with acclaimed portrayals of Violetta (La traviata), Lucia (Lucia di Lammermoor), Gilda (Rigoletto), Elvira (I puritani), Manon, Ophélie (Hamlet), Cleopatra (Giulio Cesare), Rosina (Il barbiere di Siviglia), and the title role of Maria Stuarda.
In addition to her operatic career, Oropesa is a dedicated advocate for health and wellness, known for completing multiple marathons and promoting physical and mental resilience as essential elements of artistic longevity.
Her artistry has been recognized with many of opera’s most prestigious honors, including the Beverly Sills Award, the Richard Tucker Award, the Franco Abbiati Prize, and the title of Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres from the French Republic.
Jamelah Rimawi, Chief Programs Officer
Jamelah Rimawi was born and raised in New York City to Black and Palestinian parents. In 1997, Rimawi’s father bought an Andrew Lloyd Webber compilation record and the household was never the same. From an early age, Rimawi had an infectious love and appreciation of all kinds of performance art. As a management associate with the New York International Fringe Festival, Rimawi brought a different outlook to the entire festival, from selecting plays to ensuring that performances were planned and orchestrated without a hitch. Rimawi is an accomplished and dedicated event planner who has both a strategic vision and a willingness to consider even the smallest detail. Rimawi is currently the director of programs and events at OPERA America. Rimawi is also an avid gamer and reader who plans to return to school to complete a master’s degree in arts administration.