Martha Kasten has been featured in operatic performances with Chamber Opera Chicago, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Florida Grand Opera, as well as with numerous companies throughout the Midwest. Her operatic repertoire includes roles in Carmen, Così fan tutte, The Tales of Hoffmann, Amahl and The Night Visitors, Werther, The Mikado and The Crucible. At Opera Omaha, Martha debuted in the American Premiere of John Casken’s Golem. She was cited for her vivid performance as Dona Casimira in The Opera Factory‘s production of Gimenez’ zarzuela El Barbero de Sevilla, staged at the Amarillo Opera.
Martha’s oratorio work includes Handel’s Messiah, performed at the Mormon Tabernacle under the direction of Paul Hillier, Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis with the Champaign-Urbana Symphony, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, and the Chicago premiere of Jonathon Stahlke’s The Confesssion Stone at Concordia University. Martha has appeared with the Harper Symphony Orchestra performing Wagner’s Wesendonck Lieder and Beethoven‘s Ninth Symphony.
Ms. Kasten holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from The University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana, and is engaged as an instructor of voice at Concordia University in River Forest. She resides in the Chicago area with her husband and two children.
