Ola Rafało

Ola Rafało has been hailed by critics as a “Vocal Powerhouse” and “the next Cossotto,” earning acclaim for her “voluptuous,” “deep contralto-like sound” and mesmerizing dramatic presence.

An accomplished mezzo-soprano and dramatic contralto, Rafało has performed many of the great Verdi roles, including Azucena in Il Trovatore, Maddalena in Rigoletto, Fenena in Nabucco, Amneris in Aida, Ulrica in Un Ballo in Maschera, and the alto soloist in Requiem. Her signature role is Carmen, which she has performed more than 25 times in five productions. Her performances also includes Charlotte in Werther, Fricka in Die Walküre, Brangäne in Tristan und Isolde, La Frugola in Il Tabarro, Suzuki in Madama Butterfly, Zia Principessa in Suor Angelica, and Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana.

As a concert soloist, Rafało has performed Mahler’s Symphony No. 2, de Falla’s El Amor Brujo, Verdi’s Requiem, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Poniatowski’s Mass, and Vivaldi’s Gloria. Her engagements have included performances at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Opera Tampa, Orlando Opera, Palm Beach Opera, Sarasota Opera, Chicago Opera Theater, Florentine Opera, Opera Carolina, Syracuse Opera, Eugene Symphony, and Teatro Curci di Barletta, among others.

Rafało joined the Lyric Opera of Chicago Chorus as a full-time member in 2025 and has since appeared with the company in a variety of productions, including covering the role of Hortense in Missy Mazzoli’s The Listeners.

A proud Polish-American artist, Rafało holds dual U.S. and Polish citizenship and speaks fluent English, Italian, and Polish. Her musical journey began at the age of three with Polish folk dancing and singing, experiences that continue to shape her interpretation of Slavic repertoire and her deep connection to Polish musical traditions. She is honored to continue celebrating her Polish heritage throughout Chicagoland through performances with the Lira Ensemble, the Paderewski Symphony, and Polish cultural organizations.

Her honors include a career grant from the Olga Forrai Foundation for Dramatic Voices; the Maria Callas Prize at the 2019 Giulio Fregosi Concorso di Lirica in Voghera; the Kitakyushu Prize; the Premio di Teatro Bibiena; Second Prize in the 2017 Altamura-Caruso International Vocal Competition; and the Giulietta Simionato Career Grant from the Inter-City Arts Foundation.

^{Last updated: September 14, 2026}