Ester Pavlů is one of the most promising young-generation mezzo-sopranos, earning the admiration of audiences and critics alike both at home and abroad. This season, she has already made two debuts as Amneris in Aida – first at the National Theatre in Brno and soon after that at the Royal Opera in Stockholm. After returning from Sweden, she performed at a gala in the Rudolfinum, Prague alongside Plácido Domingo. Later in the season she will appear in Fribourg, Switzerland, as the Foreign Princess (Rusalka), and at the National Theatre in Prague as Carmen, the Foreign Princess, and in March 2026 as Kundry in a new production of Parsifal. On concert stage, she will take part in Verdi’s Requiem with the Rzeszów Orchestra under David Giménez Carreras, and with the Prague Symphony Orchestra under Tomáš Brauner; as well as performances of Mahler’s Das Lied von der Erde with the Kraków Philharmonic conducted by Sascha Goetzel; Wagner´s Wesendonck Lieder with State Philhamornic Košice and Petr Altrichter, and will also appear with the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra under Petr Popelka in Stravinsky’s Oedipus Rex in Prague, and at the Smetana’s Litomyšl Festival.
Her notable operatic achievements in recent seasons include the roles of Vlasta (Šárka), Santuzza (Cavalleria rusticana), and Fenena (Nabucco) at the National Theatre in Prague and the State Opera; Carmen at Slovak National Theatre, the Ice Queen (Schwanda the Bagpiper) at Theater an der Wien and in Graz; Eboli (Don Carlo), Carmen, and Amneris (Aida) at the Latvian National Opera in Riga; Amneris at the Lithuanian National Opera in Vilnius, Angelina (La Cenerentola) at the National Opera in Sofia; the Foreign Princess (Rusalka) at the Slovak National Theatre in Bratislava; and Santuzza (Cavalleria rusticana) in Basel.
On the concert stage, Ester Pavlů has recently collaborated with the Prague Symphony Orchestra (Mahler: Symphony No. 8; Berlioz: Les nuits d’été), the Prague Radio Symphony Orchestra (concert version of Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde), and the Slovak Philharmonic (Mahler: Symphony No. 3). She has appeared in opera galas with José Cura in Hungary and with Plácido Domingo at the International Music Festival in Český Krumlov. In 2021, she toured the United Kingdom with the Prague Symphony Orchestra (Mahler: Symphony No. 3) and the United States (songs by Czech composers), and gave a recital with Slovak pianist Robert Pechanec at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.
Ester Pavlů studied at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague under Helena Kaupová. She has taken part in masterclasses led by Aprile Millo, Peter Dvorský, Eva Randová, Božidar Nikolov, Gabriela Beňačková, and José Cura, and in recent years has been coached by Vladimír Chmelo. Her discography includes Janáček’s The Diary of One Who Disappeared (Zefka), Love Songs by J. B. Foerster, a cycle of Dvořák songs with British pianist Charles Spencer, and a recording of David Buckley’s new opera Oracle with the BBC Concert Orchestra in London.
“Vocally, Ester Pavlů is absolutely prepared; her voice resonated with sufficient firmness throughout its entire range, even in passages where she needed to convey cynicism, as well as in more delicate moments.” — KlasikaPlus (Carmen, National Theatre in Prague)
“Ester Pavlů has a wonderfully controlled, well-grounded, and versatile voice… Every phrase was skillfully woven to convey its meaning and highlight the emotional state. The voice is lyrically appealing, capable of spinning finely crafted lines, confidently engaging in coloratura passages, and holding the audience’s attention.” — OperaWire (Don Carlo, Latvian National Opera in Riga)
“The majestic presence of Ester Pavlů dominated the stage, and her resonant mezzo-soprano captivated with its richness and brilliance.” — KlasikaPlus (Švanda Dudák, Theater an der Wien)