Called “ …an appealingly rich alto…” by The New York Times and “…an ideal Bach alto…” with “…elemental tone quality…” by The Philadelphia Inquirer, contralto Kirsten Sollek is known for her unique sound and compelling performance style.
Concert highlights include the role of Holofernes in Vivaldi’s Juditha Triumphans with Philadelphia’s Tempesta di Mare, Pierre Boulez’ Le Marteau Sans Maître with Novus New York at Trinity Wall Street, the role of the Amnesiac in Luna Pearl Woolf’s oratorio Number Our Days, Händel’s Messiah with Musica Sacra in NYC, Händel’s Resurezzione with the Helicon Foundation, Duruflé’s Requiem and Vivaldi’s Stabat Mater with Great Music in a Great Space, and Brahms’ Alto Rhapsody and Elgar’s Sea Pictures with the String Orchestra of Brooklyn. She has performed with Piffaro, Bach Collegium Japan, the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Seattle Baroque Orchestra, Tafelmusik, Kansas City Symphony, and Minnesota Orchestra.
Opera credits include the Woman in Hannah Lash’s chamber opera, Desire, the Death Knight in Amy Beth Kirsten’s Quixote, the Dying Cow in Lisa Bielawa’s opera, Vireo, the Minotaur in Paul Pinto’s Carmen Variations (workshop), the Ibis in Jorge Sosa’s The Opposable Thumb (workshop), Rosmira in Handel’s Partenope with Boston Baroque, Bradamante in Handel’s Alcina with Teatro Municipal de Santiago de Chile, and the title role (cover) in Handel’s Rinaldo for the Glyndebourne Festival.
In new music, extensive collaborations with composer John Zorn have led to performances of his music in the U.S., Europe, Australia, and Israel. Ms. Sollek has been featured with the Talea Ensemble, the Orchestra of St. Luke’s Visionary Sounds Series, Present Music, Alarm Will Sound, Ensemble Signal, the Bang on a Can Festival, and the Orchestra of the League of Composers.
In 2025/26, performances included Handel’s Messiah with Epiphany Seattle, Zorn’s Holy Visions at the Southern Exposure Festival at the University of South Carolina, Reich’s Music for 18 with Ensemble Signal at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, Music for 18 with the Steve Reich Ensemble at the Park Avenue Armory, and Bach’s Cantata 80 with the Bach Virtuosi Festival in Portland, Maine.