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discipline = "Soprano"
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primary_image_credit = ""
related_companies = ["scene/companies/lyric-opera-of-chicago.md", "scene/companies/cincinnati-opera.md", "scene/companies/on-site-opera.md", "scene/companies/virginia-opera.md", "scene/companies/glimmerglass-festival.md", "scene/companies/fort-worth-opera.md", "scene/companies/opera-saratoga.md", "scene/companies/seattle-opera.md", "scene/companies/the-dallas-opera.md", "scene/companies/the-metropolitan-opera.md", "scene/companies/los-angeles-opera.md", "scene/companies/odyssey-opera.md"]
slug = "jeni-houser"
title = "Jeni Houser"
website = "https://www.jenihouser.com/"
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Opera News lauds Jeni Houser’s performances as “commanding and duplicitous, yet also vulnerable. She has a bright future above the staff.” In the 2019-20 season she makes debuts with the Metropolitan Opera, Los Angeles Opera, Dallas Opera, and New Orleans Opera in her sought-after portrayal of Königin der Nacht in _Die Zauberflöte_. Additionally she returns to Madison Opera as Eurydice in _Orpheus in the Underworld_ and returns to the Dallas Opera stage as the title role in _The Golden Cockerel_. Future engagements include at role and house debut at Seattle Opera. Last season she made her house debut with the Wiener Staatsoper as Franzi in the world premiere of Staud’s _Die Weiden_ and subsequently joined the company for its productions of _Die Zauberflöte_ and Trojahn’s _Orest_. She also joined Kentucky Opera in a return to Königin der Nacht in _Die Zauberflöte_ and returned to Madison Opera as Anne Egerman in _A Little Night Music_ and for its popular Opera in the Park Concert as well as Fort Worth Opera to create the role of Viv in Peters’ _Companionship_.

Ms. Houser recently made company debuts with Austin Opera as Zerbinetta in Ariadne _auf Naxos_ and Central City Opera as the Königin der Nacht in _Die Zauberflöte_. She sang previous performances of Zerbinetta in _Ariadne auf Naxos_ and Königin der Nacht in _Die Zauberflöte_ with Minnesota Opera, at which she also sang Susanna in _Le nozze di Figaro_, the Charmeuse in _Thais_, and Mrs. Grady in the world premiere of Paul Moravec’s _The Shining_. She joined Cincinnati Opera as Königin der Nacht in _Die Zauberflöte_ as well as the Lyric Opera of Chicago for its production of the same title; Madison Opera for Olympia in _Les contes d’Hoffmann_, Johanna in _Sweeney Todd_, and Amy in Adamo’s _Little Women_; Mill City Summer Opera and Baltimore Concert Opera for further performances of Johanna in _Sweeney Todd_; On Site Opera as Susanna in Marcos Portugal’s _Le nozze di Figaro_ in her New York City debut; and Odyssey Opera in Boston as Cecily in Castelnuovo-Tedesco’s _The Importance of Being Earnest_. On the concert stage, she has sung Orff’s _Carmina Burana_ with Madison Symphony, Las Vegas Philharmonic, and Atlanta Ballet and Brahms’ _Ein deutsches Requiem_, Haydn’s _Creation_, and Mozart’s _Requiem_ with Abendmusik: Lincoln (Nebraska).

During two summers with the Glimmerglass Festival, Ms. Houser sang Königin der Nacht in the young artist performance of _Die Zauberflöte_ and Najade in Francesca Zambello’s new production of _Ariadne auf Naxos_, in addition to covering Cunegonde in _Candide_. She joined Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Lyric Unlimited for _The Magic Victrola_, in which she sang Olympia’s aria from _Les contes d’Hoffmann_. She sang Josephine in _H.M.S. Pinafore_ with Opera Saratoga, Frasquita in _Carmen_ with Virginia Opera; and Najade in _Ariadne auf Naxos_ with Fort Worth Opera and Berkshire Opera.  

The soprano won second place at the Nicholas Loren Vocal Competition in 2014. She was a district winner and regional finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions in 2013 and 2011 after earning an encouragement award in 2010, and was a national semifinalist in the NATS Artist Award Competition in 2010. She holds degrees from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Lawrence University.