Bio
A passionate interpreter of opera, concert repertoire, and song, soprano Sara Gartland has firmly established herself as an artist to watch, displaying a talent for dramatic storytelling and comedy. In the 2024-25 Season, Sara will return to Atlanta Opera for Macbeth (Lady Macbeth) and The Dallas Opera for La traviata (Violetta), and she debuts at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis for Die Fledermaus (Rosalinde), and Calgary Opera for a double bill of Gianni Schicchi (Nella) and Bluebeard’s Castle (Judith).
Last season, Sara made her European debuts with Semperoper Dresden and Oldenburgisches Staatstheater in Die tote Stadt (Marie/Marietta). She debuted with Sacramento Philharmonic & Opera in Don Giovanni (Donna Elvira), and returned to Des Moines Metro Opera for her first performances of the titular role in Strauss’ iconic Salome in a new production conducted by David Neely and directed by Nathan Troupe. In the 2022-23 Season, Sara saw debuts at Pittsburgh Opera in Rusalka (title role), Opera San Antonio in Pagliacci (Nedda), Minnesota Opera in Don Giovanni (Donna Elvira), and a return to DMMO for Bluebeard’s Castle (Judith). She last appeared at Opera Colorado in the 2022-23 production of Die tote Stadt (Marie, staging only).
Additional career highlights include creating the role of Rose in the world premiere production of A Thousand Acres with libretto by Kristin Kuster and Mark Campbell for the 50th Anniversary season at the Des Moines Metro Opera, where she has also been seen in the title roles of Rusalka and Jenůfa, Wozzeck (Marie), Queen of Spades (Liza), Roméo et Juliette (Juliette), and Regina (Alexandra). Sara also appeared in La bohème (Musetta) and Carmen (Micaëla) with The Dallas Opera; Die Fledermaus (Rosalinde), La traviata (Violetta), Of Mice and Men (Curley’s Wife), and Regina (Alexandra) with Utah Opera; Rusalka and HMS Pinafore (Josephine) with Arizona Opera; Fidelio (Marzelline) with Opera Omaha; Hansel and Gretel (Gretel) with Opera San Jose; Elixir of Love (Adina) with Austin Lyric Opera; Hansel and Gretel (Gretel) with San Diego Opera; and Beethoven’s Mass in C Major with the Jacksonville Symphony.
Sara is a graduate of the prestigious Adler Fellowship Program at San Francisco Opera where she was seen in numerous productions including in Carmen (Micaëla), the world premiere of Christopher Theofanidis’ Heart of a Soldier (Pat/Ann), Die Walküre (Gerhilde), Madama Butterfly (Kate Pinkerton), and The Marriage of Figaro (Barbarina), which was her San Francisco Opera main stage debut. Prior to becoming an Adler Fellow, Sara participated in the Merola Opera Program and was seen in L’amico Fritz (Suzel).