American mezzo-soprano Luretta Bybee has proven herself to be an artist of remarkable range and versatility in her performances throughout the world. International recognition came early in her career when she sang the title role in the world tour of Peter Brook’s La Tragedie de Carmen. Bizet’s heroine has since figured heavily in Ms. Bybee’s career success, having taken her to the opera companies of Hawaii, Tulsa, Memphis, Dayton, Shreveport, Chautauqua, Dublin, and as her debut, to New York City Opera, the same year in which New York City Opera audiences also heard her as Isabella in Rossini’s L’Italiana in Algeri. She joined the Metropolitan Opera roster the following season.

Ms. Bybee’s interpretations of Rossini characters have garnered widespread recognition and praise. In addition to her appearances as Isabella at NYCO, she has sung the role in Cologne, Dublin and at the Festival International de Santander. She made her Frankfurt Opera debut in concert performances of Tancredi and she sang the role of Falliero in the American premiere of Bianca e Falliero at the Florida Grand Opera. Ms. Bybee also enjoyed great success as Farnace in Mozart’s Mitriade, Re di Ponto at the Wexford Festival and in Queen Elizabeth Hall in London. She made her Seattle Opera debut as Princess Maria in Prokofiev’s War and Peace, in a production directed by Francesca Zambello, released on video.

Ms. Bybee most recently returned to the Seattle Opera in performances as Amanda in the world premiere of Amelia, Klytämnestra in Elektra and Der Ring des Nibelungen as Valkyrie in Die Walküre, Second Norn and Waltraute cover in Götterdämmerung, and Fricka cover in both Das Rheingold and Die Walküre. Other recent engagements include Herodias in Salome at the Arizona Opera, Amneris in Aida with Nashville Opera, Ulrica in Un Ballo in Maschera with Opera Memphis, the title role in Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia for L’Opera de Montreal, Herodias in Salome with Orlando Opera and Cleveland Opera, Emilia in Otello with New Orleans Opera, Dalila in Samson et Dalila withMemphis Opera, Mary in The Flying Dutchman and Paula in Daniel Catan’s Florencia en el Amazonas with the Seattle Opera, and mezzo soloist in a Verdi Gala with the Jacksonville Symphony. Next, she performs in John Musto’s Inspector from Rome at the Wolf Trap Opera.

The Verdi Requiem marked Ms Bybee’s debut at Carnegie Hall, with subsequent performances for Handel’s Messiah with the Colorado and Houston Symphonies. She sang Bernstein’s Songfest to open the season at the 92nd St. Y in New York, and again in with Seiji Ozawa at the Tanglewood Festival. Ms. Bybee created the role of Joanna in Carly Simon’s opera, Romulus Hunt, in its world premiere in New York. The production was directed by Francesca Zambello and recorded on Angel records. Beginning with the 2010 - 2011 academic year, she takes on the directorship of New England Conservatory's Opera Studies program, in partnership with Artistic Director Stephen Lord.