ABOUT KAREN

ABOUT KAREN

Described as having a voice that “dazzles” with a “treacle-rich middle register” and a “full and rich top”, Karen Cargill has firmly established herself as one of the leading singers of her generation with upcoming engagements at the Metropolitan Opera, Bayerische Staatsoper, Dutch National Opera, Canadian Opera Company and Norwegian National Opera. Equally established on the concert stage, Karen regularly appears with conductors such as Sir Simon Rattle, Daniel Harding, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Robin Ticciati, Rafael Payare and Edward Gardner.

Her 25/26 season includes several important operatic engagements including Judith Bluebeard’s Castle at the Canadian Opera Company and Adelaide Arabella at the Metropolitan Opera. Karen will also sing Geneviève Pelléas et Mélisande with Ryan Wigglesworth and the BBC SSO; Waltraute Götterdämmerung with Patrick Hahn and the Sinfonieorchester Wuppertal; Judith Bluebeard’s Castle with Rafael Payare and the San Diego Symphony Orchestra. Especially recognised for her interpretation of Mahler, Karen will perform Mahler 2 both with the Staatskapelle Berlin conducted by Sir Simon Rattle, and with the BBCSSO conducted by Sir Donald Runnicles; and Mahler 3 with the Helsinki Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jukka-Pekka Saraste. In addition, Karen will also appear with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra in La Damnation de Faust, conducted by Rafael Payare.

Her 2024/25 season saw her return to the role of Brangäne Tristan und Isolde at the Glyndebourne Festival, with Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Philadelphia Orchestra, and with Sir Simon Rattle and the Bayerischer Rundfunk Orchestra. She also made her role debut as Brigitte Die Tote Stadt in concerts with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Andris Nelsons; returned to the Montreal Symphony Orchestra for Schoenberg's Gurrelieder with Rafael Payare; the San Francisco Symphony for Verdi's Requiem with Esa-Pekka Salonen; the Toronto Symphony for Mozart's Requiem with Jukka-Pekka Saraste; and the San Diego Symphony for Mahler Symphony no. 3 with Rafael Payare.

With her recital partner Simon Lepper Karen has performed at Wigmore Hall London; Concertgebouw Amsterdam; Kennedy Centre Washington and Carnegie Hall New York, and regularly gives recitals for BBC Radio 3. With Simon, Karen also recently recorded a critically acclaimed recital of Lieder by Alma and Gustav Mahler for Linn Records, for whom she has previously recorded Berlioz Les nuits d’été and La mort de Cléopâtre with Robin Ticciati and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Karen is Patron of the National Girls’ Choir of Scotland and sang in the National Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication for King Charles III following his Coronation in 2023.


For a full biography, please be in touch with Askonas Holt.

Described as having a voice that “dazzles” with a “treacle-rich middle register” and a “full and rich top”, Karen Cargill has firmly established herself as one of the leading singers of her generation with upcoming engagements at the Metropolitan Opera, Bayerische Staatsoper, Dutch National Opera, Canadian Opera Company and Norwegian National Opera. Equally established on the concert stage, Karen regularly appears with conductors such as Sir Simon Rattle, Daniel Harding, Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Robin Ticciati, Rafael Payare and Edward Gardner.

Her 25/26 season includes several important operatic engagements including Judith Bluebeard’s Castle at the Canadian Opera Company and Adelaide Arabella at the Metropolitan Opera. Karen will also sing Geneviève Pelléas et Mélisande with Ryan Wigglesworth and the BBC SSO; Waltraute Götterdämmerung with Patrick Hahn and the Sinfonieorchester Wuppertal; Judith Bluebeard’s Castle with Rafael Payare and the San Diego Symphony Orchestra. Especially recognised for her interpretation of Mahler, Karen will perform Mahler 2 both with the Staatskapelle Berlin conducted by Sir Simon Rattle, and with the BBCSSO conducted by Sir Donald Runnicles; and Mahler 3 with the Helsinki Symphony Orchestra conducted by Jukka-Pekka Saraste. In addition, Karen will also appear with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra in La Damnation de Faust, conducted by Rafael Payare.

Her 2024/25 season saw her return to the role of Brangäne Tristan und Isolde at the Glyndebourne Festival, with Yannick Nézet-Séguin and the Philadelphia Orchestra, and with Sir Simon Rattle and the Bayerischer Rundfunk Orchestra. She also made her role debut as Brigitte Die Tote Stadt in concerts with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Andris Nelsons; returned to the Montreal Symphony Orchestra for Schoenberg's Gurrelieder with Rafael Payare; the San Francisco Symphony for Verdi's Requiem with Esa-Pekka Salonen; the Toronto Symphony for Mozart's Requiem with Jukka-Pekka Saraste; and the San Diego Symphony for Mahler Symphony no. 3 with Rafael Payare.

With her recital partner Simon Lepper Karen has performed at Wigmore Hall London; Concertgebouw Amsterdam; Kennedy Centre Washington and Carnegie Hall New York, and regularly gives recitals for BBC Radio 3. With Simon, Karen also recently recorded a critically acclaimed recital of Lieder by Alma and Gustav Mahler for Linn Records, for whom she has previously recorded Berlioz Les nuits d’été and La mort de Cléopâtre with Robin Ticciati and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Karen is Patron of the National Girls’ Choir of Scotland and sang in the National Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication for King Charles III following his Coronation in 2023.


For a full biography, please be in touch with Askonas Holt.

GET TO KNOW ME

  • I was born in Arbroath, a small town on the east coast of Scotland. It’s a very pretty town known for the famous Arbroath Smokies, hot-smoked haddock which is delicious. My family still live there so we try to visit as often as we can.

  • As a small kid I sang all the time, the greatest hits of Boney-M and Mull of Kintyre by Wings were my favourites. There is an audio tape of me singing from around 2 1/2, giving my best Paul McCartney! I do remember music at home, memories of my dad singing the songs in the charts are quite vivid. The first 33’ single I played was ‘Let’s Groove’ by Earth, Wind and Fire and remains one of my favourite all time songs. I just heard them live for the first time and it brought back so many childhood feelings!

  • Definitely ‘The Immaculate Collection’ by Madonna. I had a small tape recorder in my bedroom, and I played that tape until it was almost warped. I loved everything about her, the music, the style and how strong she was. A trailblazer for our generation!

  • I’m obsessed with Self Esteem right now; she is an incredible artist who isn’t afraid to put exactly what is on her mind down on the page. Beyoncé is definitely on there, as is Calvin Harris, they both have accompanied me on many car journeys! Kamasi Washington is always high up on my playlist, what a musician.

  • Always ABBA, you can never fail to fill the floor with ‘Take a chance on me’. My mum is one of 10 siblings so there was always a family wedding each summer, that meant dancing ‘The Slosh’ …. A Scottish version of line dancing where everyone would flood the floor. I believe the most popular song to dance this to was ‘Beautiful Day’ by Daniel Boone but I can remember dancing this routine to various songs… it just takes one Auntie to start it, usually my Auntie Mary!

  • Home cooked Scottish food wins every time for me so it would definitely be my mum’s homemade soup, followed by another traditional Scottish dish, Stovies. A potato-based dish with meat, onions and fat, Stovies gets its name from slow cooking on the stove. Each household has their own recipe, my mum uses diced lamb, and it is hands down my favourite meal. You could have oatcakes as a side, but I’ll just have another little spoonful! Dessert would be chocolate mousse without a doubt. There’s no situation that can’t be eased with a wee chocolate mousse. Coke Zero would be the drink of choice, I’m quite boring!

  • Hands down, Maria from ‘The Sound of Music’. Though based on a true story, the film tells quite a different tale. Who wouldn’t want to have a friend like that who could help you sort your problems while making you outfits from curtains 😆

  • ‘The Midnight Library’ by Matt Haig. We are all guilty of thinking the grass looks greener on the other side of the road from time to time, this book makes you draw those moments into sharp focus. It made me hold my breath so many times, a incredibly valuable book.

  • Love to watch tennis, athletics and gymnastics. The only sport I play is eating popcorn while I watch!

  • My husband is sports obsessed. Anything and everything. His dream weekend is having a 24hr sports marathon that would include football, basketball, American football, baseball and ice hockey.

  • 2 tattoos, one on my ankle and one on my wrist. Both have very important meaning to me. 

  • Karen Carpenter is one of my all-time favourite voices. There is such natural beauty and ease in her singing, I adore her voice. Maria Callas was the first operatic voice that I really started to study, you are never in doubt what her character is feeling and conveying. I have long admired Anne Sophie von Otter and her varied career. She is such a gifted communicator who always has full control of her instrument. What a career!

  • Probably designer handbags 🤣

  • The Traitors would be fun I think, I’m always a sucker for the drama! 

  • Both! I love coffee in the morning but I’m more of a tea drinker in the evening!

  • Dogs! We have a 3 1/2-year-old Australian Labradoodle and she rules the roost! I’ve never had a dog before and she’s changed our lives. What a gift she is!

  • A favourite gift is a bracelet from a friend that has a great reminder engraved inside it for those days when I need a boost. I recently gave a book about meditation to a friend who was interested in learning the practise and how to start. I’m a huge believer in the benefits of meditation on all areas of your life. 

  • ‘I Will Survive’ by Gloria Gaynor. What a tune and a vital reminder that we can fight to move forward!

  • Try not to regret, use it as a lesson.