Biography
Kathleen Battle earned widespread recognition as one of the foremost opera performers of her era, thanks to the allure of her lyric soprano voice. Her birth took place on August 13, 1948, in Portsmouth, Ohio, after which she pursued studies at the College Conservatory of Music within the University of Cincinnati. Her entry into professional performance occurred at the Spoleto Festival, where she sang in Brahms' Ein deutsches Requiem led by Thomas Schippers. She first took the stage at the Metropolitan Opera in Wagner's Tannhauser, subsequently gracing nearly every major opera venue globally, such as those located in Vienna, Paris, San Francisco, and Chicago. Additional appearances included collaborations with ensembles like the New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Berlin Philharmonic, Vienna Philharmonic, and the Orchestre de Paris. Her operatic roles covered a broad historical span from Handel through Strauss, while she shared performances alongside singers including Luciano Pavarotti, Jessye Norman, and Placido Domingo. Standout among her discography are the 1986 release Kathleen Battle Sings Mozart, which garnered three Grammy Awards, along with 1992's Kathleen Battle at Carnegie Hall.
Albums

Handel: Arias
2024

Kathleen Battle sings Sacred Music (Kathleen Battle Edition, Vol. 13)
2023

Kathleen Battle sings Opera & Concert Arias (Kathleen Battle Edition, Vol. 15)
2023

Honey and Rue (Kathleen Battle Edition, Vol. 5)
2023

Kathleen Battle sings Handel & Mozart (Kathleen Battle Edition, Vol. 14)
2023

Mozart: Die Zauberflöte
2020

Kathleen Battle: Essentials
2020

French Opera Arias
2013

Haydn: Die Schöpfung
2011

Kathleen Battle & Plácido Domingo: Live in Tokyo 1988
2011

New Year's Concert in Vienna 1987
2006

House of Flying Daggers (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
2004

Best Of/20th Century
2004

Classic Kathleen Battle
2004

Fauré: Requiem op.48 · Pavane op.50 · Elégie op.24 · Après un Rêve op.7
2003

Mythodea
2001

Mythodea - Music for the NASA Mission: 2001 Mars Odyssey
2001

Handel: Messiah - Highlights
2000

Grace
1997

Mozart: Opera Arias (Kathleen Battle Edition, Vol. 2)
1997

Angels' Glory
1996

French Opera Arias (Kathleen Battle Edition, Vol. 4)
1996

So Many Stars
1995

Poulenc: Gloria For Soprano, Mixed Chorus And Orchestra; Concerto For Organ, Strings And Timpani In G Minor; Concert Champetre For Harpsichord And Orchestra
1995

Previn: Honey & Rue / Barber: Knoxville / Gershwin: Porgy and Bess
1995

Beethoven: Missa Solemnis / Mozart: Krönungsmesse
1994

Mendelssohn: A Midsummer Night's Dream
1994

Kathleen Battle in Concert
1994

Kathleen Battle & Jean-Pierre Rampal in Concert
1993

Handel: Semele
1993

Bel canto: Kathleen Battle Sings Italian Opera Arias
1993

Bel Canto - Italian Opera Arias (Kathleen Battle Edition, Vol. 3)
1993

A Carnegie Hall Christmas
1992

Baroque Duet
1992

Kathleen Battle at Carnegie Hall
1992

Kathleen Battle at Carnegie Hall (Kathleen Battle Edition, Vol. 7)
1992

J.S. Bach: Arias for Soprano and Violin
1992

J.S. Bach: Arias for Soprano and Violin (Kathleen Battle Edition, Vol. 1)
1992

Rossini : L'italiana in Algeri [Highlights]
1991

Spirituals in Concert
1991

Spirituals in Concert (Kathleen Battle Edition, Vol. 10)
1991

Mahler: Symphony No. 4 in G Major
1989

Live in Tokyo 1988 (Kathleen Battle Edition, Vol. 6)
1989

Poulenc: Gloria; Stabat Mater
1989

Schubert: Lieder (Kathleen Battle Edition, Vol. 9)
1988

Schubert: Lieder
1988

Mozart: Le nozze di Figaro
1987

Messiah - Handel
1987

Mozart: Die Entführung aus dem Serail
1987

Mozart: Don Giovanni - Highlights
1987

A Christmas Celebration (Kathleen Battle Edition, Vol. 12)
1986

A Christmas Celebration
1986

Kathleen Battle Sings Mozart
1986

Salzburg Recital (Kathleen Battle Edition, Vol. 8)
1986

Fauré: Requiem / Ravel: Pavane pour une infante défunte
1986

Pleasures of their Company (Kathleen Battle Edition, Vol. 11)
1986

Pleasures Of Their Company
1986

Verdi: Un Ballo in Maschera
1985

Mozart: Mass, K. 317 "Coronation Mass" / Bruckner: Te Deum
1985

Mahler: Symphony No. 2 in C Minor "Resurrection"
1984
