About Elza

South African-born Elza van den Heever is one of the world's most important lyric-dramatic sopranos.

She opens the season 2024/25 as Leonore (Fidelio) at Lyric Opera Chicago. The Metropolitan Opera presents the soprano als Empress (Frau ohne Schatten) and as Salome in two of her signature roles. She will make her debut at La Scala Milano as Sieglinde (Walküre) under the baton of Christian Thielemann and appear as Elettra (Idomeneo) at the San Francisco Opera under Eun Sun Kim. Concert engagements include a Strauss concert with the Metropolitan Orchestra under Yannick Nézet-Séguin at Carnegie Hall New York.

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Latest News

‘Idomeneo’ at San Francisco Opera

On June 14, 17, 20, 22, and 25, Elza van den Heever returns to San Francisco Opera for {…}

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Strauss with the Met Orchestra at Carnegie Hall

On June 12, Elza van den Heever continues her celebrated Strauss journey this season as {…}

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Upcoming Performances

JUN 14, 17, 20, 22, 25, 2025

Idomeneo

San Francisco Opera

San Francisco, CA

AUG 1, 4, 6, 9, 2025

Lohengrin

Bayreuth Festspiele

Bayreuth

AUG 23, 24, 2025

Act I from Die Walküre

Salzburger Festspiele

Salzburg

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Featured Video

Die Frau ohne Schatten: “Wehe, mein Mann!”

Elza van den Heever, as the Empress, sings an excerpt from Act II in the final dress rehearsal. Production: Herbert Wernicke. Conductor: Yannick Nézet-Séguin. 2024–25 season. Videography by Pete Scalzitti and Neville Braithwaite.