The Official Site of Soprano Ruth Hartt

A lyric soprano with an engaging presence on stage, Ruth Hartt has been praised for her expressive singing and genuine character portrayals: "[Hartt] understands the emotional context in which she is singing." Ruth recently returned from the Gerdine Young Artist Program at Opera Theatre of St. Louis, where she covered the role of Donna Elvira and joined the ensemble for an acclaimed revival of John Adam's The Death of Klinghoffer.

Ruth is currently a resident soprano with the Opera Institute at Boston University. For her recent performance of Beatrice in Jake Heggie's Three Decembers directed by Tomer Zvulun (Metropolitan Opera), she was hailed as "simply lovely." Her singing was praised as "warm...supple and flexible—beautiful in its own right." Ruth will appear as Blanche in BU's April 2012 production of Dialogues of the Carmelites.

Ruth received her master's degree in vocal performance from Boston University with honors. Roles performed while at BU include Juliette/Roméo et Juliette, Cora/The Postman Always Rings Twice (cover), Fourth Woman/Yerma, and Lauretta/Gianni Schicchi. As a young artist with PORTopera, Ruth covered the role of Donna Anna and appeared as Celidora in Mozart's L'oca del Cairo. Other roles performed include Cherubino, Suor Angelica, and Clorinda. Ruth made her Jordan Hall debut in 2008 singing the role of Elsie Maynard, for which she was hailed "the perfect G&S ingenue" (The Boston Phoenix.)

In 2010 Ruth was awarded first place in the Classical Singer University Competition (Boston region). Ruth has also been a first place winner in the Maine and Fingerlakes NATS competitions. She has been selected as a finalist for the Career Bridges, Connecticut Opera Guild, and Peter Elvins competitions.

An active concert soloist throughout New England, Ruth has been featured with the Boston Boys' Chorus, the Concord Chorus, the Newburyport Chorale Society, The Bostonians, and the Masterworks Chorale. Upcoming projects include Mass in Time of War and Dona Nobis Pacem with the Choral Art Society of Scituate.

Ruth was raised in rural Maine, one of six children, by working class parents who recognized her natural musicality and enrolled her in piano lessons at the age of five. Inspired by her experiences in the Maine All-State Chorus, Ruth majored in music education in college, where she was selected for the school's honors program in London. After experiencing her first opera at Covent Garden, Ruth became enamored with the opera stage. She returned to audition for the college opera program, landing two lead roles and first place in the regional NATS competition. After receiving her undergraduate diploma summa cum laude, she continued to study voice and perform while working as a music educator, until embarking on graduate studies at Boston University.