Layla Claire
Opera
Soprano Layla Claire has captivated audiences in some of the world’s most prestigious opera houses with her radiant voice, dynamic range, and vibrant stage presence. Known for her celebrated Mozart interpretations, her repertoire includes major roles such as Donna Elvira in "Don Giovanni" at the Bavarian State Opera, the Salzburg Festival, and Zurich Opera; the Countess in "Le nozze di Figaro" at Opera Philadelphia and Glyndebourne; and Pamina in "Die Zauberflöte" at the Minnesota Opera and Pittsburgh Opera.
In recent seasons, she has expanded her repertoire to include more dramatic roles, making her debuts as Senta in Wagner’s "The Flying Dutchman" at Opera North and as Ellen Orford in Britten’s "Peter Grimes" at the Estonian National Opera.
A passionate advocate for contemporary opera, Claire created the title role in the world premiere of "Venere e Adone" at the Hamburg State Opera, which received high critical acclaim. She continues to broaden her repertoire with young dramatic roles. Her notable performances include Blanche in "Dialogues des Carmélites", Helena in "A Midsummer Night’s Dream", and the Governess in "The Turn of the Screw", with acclaimed appearances at the Festival d'Aix-en-Provence, Washington National Opera, and Zurich Opera.
Layla Claire made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Anne Trulove in "The Rake’s Progress" and returned for "Don Carlos", "The Enchanted Island", and "L’elisir d’amore" (Live in HD).
Equally at home on the concert stage, she has sung Mahler’s Symphony No. 2 with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Dvořák’s Requiem at the Grant Park Music Festival, and performed with leading ensembles including the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, and the San Francisco Symphony.
A graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music and the Lindemann Young Artist Development Program at the Metropolitan Opera, Claire is a recipient of the Virginia Parker Prize and a laureate of the Queen Elisabeth Competition.
Last updated: October 2025