Praised by The London Times as a “true Verdian soprano…with exquisite bel canto style,” Lebanese-Canadian soprano Joyce El-Khoury has established herself as one of today’s most captivating operatic artists. Known for her rich timbre, exquisite pianissimi, and commanding stage presence, she has brought more than forty leading roles to life on the world’s foremost stages.

Recent highlights include acclaimed role debuts as Norma at the Herodes Atticus Theatre at the Acropolis in Athens, Médée at Paris’s Opéra Comique, Manon Lescaut at Bayerische Staatsoper, Hélène in Les Vêpres Siciliennes at Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Blanche de la Force in Dialogues des carmélites at Dallas Opera, as well as the title roles of Tosca and Carmen at Oper im Steinbruch. A frequent collaborator with conductors such as Sir Mark Elder, Carlo Rizzi, Riccardo Muti, and the late Lorin Maazel, she has also appeared with the Teatro Real Madrid, Glyndebourne Festival, Dutch National Opera, Opéra de Monte-Carlo, Musik Theater an der Wien, and Canadian Opera Company, among many others.

“In the final scene, the way she [El-Khoury] resolved the difficult dramatic transition between the madness of the cavatina & the sanity of the cabaletta was astonishing. She dressed the dreaminess of the cavatina, ‘Al dolce guidami’, with all its lyrical finery, dynamic prowess and vocal filigree to make it the highlight of the evening.”
-El País

 

On the concert stage, El-Khoury has been heard with leading orchestras including the London, Chicago, and Houston Symphonies, Orchestre de Paris, Barcelona Symphony, the Münchner Philharmoniker, Orchestre symphonique de Montréal, and the NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchestra. Her concert repertoire encompasses both the symphonic and sacred traditions, from Strauss’s Vier letzte Lieder and Berlioz’s La mort de Cléopâtre to major sacred works including Beethoven’s Missa solemnis, Verdi’s Messa da Requiem, and Rossini’s Stabat Mater, bringing her dramatic artistry and vocal expressiveness to repertoire of profound spiritual and emotional depth.

Her award-winning discography on the Opera Rara label includes Donizetti’s L’Ange de Nisida, Les Martyrs, and Belisario, works that underscore her reputation for reviving rarely performed gems. She also recorded Franz Liszt’s seldom-heard Sardanapalo for the audite label. Her solo album Écho (Opera Rara) received a Juno nomination, in 2022 she was honored as the Dallas Opera’s Maria Callas Debut Artist of the Year and in 2023 was honored with the Best Achievement in Opera Award from the Maria Callas Foundation.

Equally committed to cultural advocacy, El-Khoury champions Lebanese art song in her recitals worldwide and supports the next generation of singers through her teaching initiative Lessons for Lebanon, offering masterclasses and mentorship to young artists.

Updated September 2026