Juanita Lascarro

Juanita Lascarro has established herself as a singer of remarkable versatility. With elegance, technical assurance, and intellectual depth, she moves effortlessly across a broad spectrum of musical styles, embraces complex theatrical concepts, and creates distinctive stage characters of great expressive power. Having sung her first operatic role at the age of eighteen, she has since built more than three decades of sustained international stage experience and continues to shape an active and wide-ranging career.

Born in Bogotá, Colombia, Juanita Lascarro grew up in Switzerland, the United States, and Colombia as the daughter of a singer and a diplomat. She initially studied biology and music for three years at the Universidad de los Andes in Bogotá before continuing her vocal training in Germany at the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln with Professor Klesie Kelly-Moog. She completed her final vocal examination there in 1997. During her studies, she appeared regularly at the Cologne Opera and subsequently became a member of the Cologne Opera Studio, marking the beginning of an international freelance career.

In 1995, she made her international breakthrough in the title role of Daphne by Richard Strauss at the Garsington Opera Festival, an appearance that brought her wide international recognition. She went on to perform this role in numerous productions with leading conductors and orchestras, including Christian Thielemann, Edo de Waart, Sebastian Weigle, Ingo Metzmacher, and Elgar Howarth.

Her operatic engagements have taken her to many of the world’s leading houses, including the Vienna State Opera and the Bavarian State Opera (Juliette), the Opéra Bastille (Susanna, Oberto), and La Monnaie (Fiorilla, Mélisande, Euridice). She also appeared at the Zurich Opera as Poppea under Nikolaus Harnoncourt and again at La Monnaie as Poppea under René Jacobs.

At the Theater an der Wien, she sang roles including Poppea, Antonia, Mimì (Leoncavallo), and Adele. Further highlights include Marguerite in Leeds, Manon in Boulevard Solitude by Hans Werner Henze at the Teatre del Liceu, L’Étoile at the Berlin State Opera under Sir Simon Rattle, and Martinů’s The Greek Passion at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden under Sir Charles Mackerras.

Since 2002, Juanita Lascarro has been a permanent ensemble member of the Frankfurt Opera. There, she has embodied an exceptionally wide repertoire, including Susanna, Contessa, Pamina, Manon, Lulu, Suor Angelica, Violetta, Agrippina, the three female roles in Janáček’s The Excursions of Mr. Brouček, Antonia, Ilia, Agilea (Teseo), Daphne, Elvira, Lucia, Ninetta (La gazza ladra), Corinna (Il viaggio a Reims), Hanna Glawari, Julietta (Martinů), Maria (The Dictator, Krenek), Brigitta (Iolanta, Tchaikovsky), Die Freundin (Warten auf Heute, Schönberg), Kalypso/Penelope (Ulisse, Dallapiccola), the false Angèle (The Tsar Lets Himself Be Photographed, Kurt Weill), and Iseut la Blanche (Le Vin herbé, Frank Martin).

Teaching Philosophy

As an enthusiastic singing teacher, I draw on many years of experience as a versatile soloist on international stages and concert podiums. This background allows me to communicate effectively and artistically with my students, guiding them toward a deeper understanding of their own voices.

In my teaching, I focus on uncovering the complex anatomical relationships of the vocal apparatus through differentiated exercises, musical insight, and clear, individually tailored instruction. My goal is to help singers reflect on and advance their own development — to find the true beauty and individuality of their instrument.

For me, singing is not only about producing sound, but about understanding what one embodies as a performer. Based on a precise, personalized vocal diagnosis, I map out each singer’s path toward vocal freedom, musical awareness, linguistic agility, and a genuine understanding of the cultural and textual context of the repertoire. This process lays the foundation for meaningful interpretation and expressive artistry.

Ultimately, all technical work leads to communication — the central goal of singing.

Since 2012, my experience with young singers in numerous masterclasses, and my current role as Interim Professor at the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst (HfMDK) in Frankfurt, have demonstrated the success of my pedagogical approach. My method has consistently helped young singers find both their optimal vocal results and their individual paths toward artistry, musicianship, and interpretation.

VOCAL TEACHING EXPERIENCE:

-Vocal teaching certificate from the BGD in 2021 Full member of the BDG            

-Master class at Teatro Mayor Julio Mario Santo Domingo, Bogotá 2012

-Master class at Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá 2016

-Master class at EAFIT, Medellin 2018.

-Master class at Universidad Central, Bogotá, 2018

-Master class podium, concerts at Fronhof, Augsburg, 2019

-Master class at the Cologne University of Music and Dance, 2019 

-Master class in singing as part of the Appassionato music master class in Regello, Italy 2022 Various private students.

-Visiting professor at the UdeA, Medellin, Colombia 2023

-Master class at the Fundación Universitaria Juan N. Corpas. 2023.

-Master class Clinicas Instrumentales, Unibac, Cartagena, Colombia. 2023.

-Master class as guest professor at Camila Toro Vocal Studio. Bogotá, Colombia.

-Teaching position at HfMDK Frankfurt, 2024

-Substitute professorship at HfMDK Frankfurt, 2025