Soprano Chelsea Lehnea returns to perform Beethoven’s Ninth and Grand Opera Arias on March 20, 23 & 24.

American soprano Chelsea Lehnea is known for her powerful artistry, fearless personality, and unique sense of style. Critics have praised her “mercurial colored, highly responsive instrument that flew seamlessly through its registers” (The NY Times), “Her use of chest voice gave Paolina a powerful punch” (Operawire), “The soprano is a no-holds-barred singing actress” (Seen and Heard International), and her “ferociously brilliant vocal and dramatic ability that more than matched her eye-catching physicality” (Vero News).

In March 2026, Lehnea sang the Leading Voice in the world premiere of Marlo Nikodijević’s I Didn’t Know Where To Put All My Tears. The new work is in a joint production with Benjamin Britten’s Curlew River and both are directed by Silvia Costa. She interweaves the two stories in a production inspired by the codes of Japanese theatre, where simplicity, abstraction and silence become powerful vectors of emotion. The performances were held at Opéra national de Nancy-Lorraine and at Opéra de Rennes.

She made her highly anticipated role, house, and European debut as Violetta Valéry in Verdi’s masterpiece, La traviata with Opéra de Rouen Normandie to great success. The production ran for six performances, several of which sold out. The production was broadcast on October 4th to an average of 100,000 spectators.

In January 2025, Chelsea dazzled as Cunegonde in Candide with the South Florida Symphony Orchestra. The Palm Beach Arts Paper raved, “Her “Glitter” aria literally stopped the show, the soprano subsequently demonstrating feats of physical and sonic athleticism that carried a special sort of personal magnetism.” Later in March, she delivered a commanding performance as Elisabetta in Maria Stuarda with Opera Baltimore, the show selling out two of the three shows. The Medium praised her portrayal, calling it “thrilling,” and noted, “ cutting an appropriately rigid, commanding figure as Elizabeth, her uncommonly warm-for-a-soprano voice raging up and down the coloratura like she invented it…her performance furious, bitter, and absolutely heartbroken, pinned between duty and love.”

2024 was a year of exciting role debuts for Lehnea. This past summer, she starred in the title role of Anna di Resburgo by Carolina Uccelli with Teatro Nuovo. This groundbreaking revival of the first female opera composer of the bel canto era captivated audiences with its strong, passionate music and psychological depth of each character. The New Yorker noted “Chelsea Lehnea, a soprano with a gleaming upper register, radiated righteous force in the title role.” as well as the Observer –  “Once again, striking soprano Chelsea Lehnea embraced her character’s crises with a forceful flamboyance. She boldly added many searing high notes that communicated Anna’s increasing desperation.” The production has since been nominated in the Rediscovered Work category for the 2024 International Opera Awards and was named one of The New York Times Best Classical Performances of 2024. 

Other notable recent performances include her Walt Disney Concert Hall debut in the Opera Forever! concert, where she performed the title role of Turandot under the baton of Daniel Suk with the Dream Orchestra of Los Angeles. She began the year as a featured soloist in the Best of Broadway & Opera in Concert with Vero Beach Opera. She then made role debuts as Liù in Turandot and as the title role of Lucia di Lammermoor with St. Pete Opera. She also performed a solo recital as part of the Nancy Frampton Rising Artists Series at Morningside Presbyterian Church of Atlanta. These performances showcased her versatility and further solidified her reputation as a dynamic performer.

Lehnea has secured top honors around the globe, claiming First Place at the Loren L. Zachary Vocal Competition, Opera at Florham Vocal Competition, and the Camille Coloratura Awards Vocal Competition, among others. Her achievements include a Sullivan Foundation Award and achieving finalist status at the XVII Concurso Internacional Montserrat Caballè where critics noted “En el buen nivel de todos los participantes, destacó Chelsea Lehnea, soprano norteamericana que se atrevió con una obra infrecuente hoy en día, llena de dificultades para el cantante. [In the good level of all the participants, Chelsea Lehnea stood out, an American soprano who dared with an uncommon work nowadays, full of difficulties for the singer.]” (Òpera Actual)

Outside of recent debuts, her roles include Paolina in Poliuto (Teatro Nuovo), Clorinda in La Cenerentola (Pacific Opera Project), Gilda in Rigoletto (Bel Cantanti Opera), Musetta in La bohème (Gulfshore Opera), Euridice in Orfeo ed Euridice (Bel Cantanti Opera), Pamina in Die Zauberflote (Merola Opera Program), Donna Anna in Don Giovanni (St. Pete Opera), Frasquita in Carmen, and Sister Catherine in Dead Man Walking (Washington National Opera). She has performed a variety of concerts including Handel’s Messiah and Mendolssohn’s Hymn of Praise. 

Originally from Chattanooga, Tennessee, she imparts her passion and expertise by teaching voice and piano lessons online. Beyond the stage, she finds solace in nature, experiments with vegan culinary arts, and finds joy in the cuddles of her cat, Shiley.