




Xenia Puskarz Thomas
Acclaimed by The New York Times as one of their “Top Five Breakout Artists of the Festival” for her performances under Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla as Aglaja in Krzysztof Warlikowski’s production of Weinberg’s Der Idiot at the 2024 Salzburger Festspiele, Australian mezzo-soprano Xenia Puskarz Thomas’ career was launched on one of the world’s most prestigious stages.
A recent graduate of Bayerische Staatsoper’s Opernstudio, her work there brought collaboration with some of the world’s most significant opera conductors such as Vladimir Jurowski, Daniele Rustioni, and Henrik Nánási and included a broad range of roles over two seasons like Lucienne (Die tote Stadt), Krystina (Die Passagierin), Dachsund/Woodpecker (The Cunning Little Vixen) in Barrie Kosky’s acclaimed staging, Flora (La Traviata) and Mercèdes (Carmen). At the Cuvilliés-Theater, she received unanimous praise for her interpretation of the challenging role of Saiko in Thomas Larcher’s Das Jagdgewehr.
In the 2025/2026 season, Xenia Puskarz Thomas makes a series of high profile debuts including as The Women in George Benjamin’s Picture a Day Like This at Teatro San Carlo under Corinne Niemeyer, and as La messaggera in a new staging by William Kentridge of Monteverdi’s L’orfeo for Glyndebourne Festival conducted by Jonathan Cohen. On the concert stage she sings Michael Haydn’s Requiem with Münchner Philharmoniker under Riccardo Minasi, J.S. Bach’s Mass in B minor with Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by Raphaël Pichon, and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with Gewandhaus Orchester under Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla.
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A passionate advocate and performer of early music, she has a strong collaboration with New York ensemble Twelfth Night, performing recently at festivals such as Early Music Seattle, Arizona and at Caramoor in Handel’s Aminta e Fillide as well as in their curated programme Elemental at Carnegie Hall. At The Juilliard School, she performed Luigi Rossi’s Orfeo, a work she will repeat next season as part of Raphäel Pichon and Pygmalion’s residency at Adelaide Festival.
Puskarz Thomas holds degrees from Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University and The Juilliard School, where she studied under Edith Wiens as a Kovner Fellow. Her awards include the Lady Fairfax New York Scholarship,Tinkler Encouragement Award, and Melba Opera Trust Scholarship. She was a Young Artist with Opera Queensland in 2021.
Contacts
Shirley Thomson Senior Director, VOICE at HarrisonParrott | Head of CSR
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“Australian mezzo-soprano Xenia Puskarz Thomas shines as The Woman in George Benjamin’s opera Picture a Day Like This.”
“Xenia Puskarz Thomas managed the balancing act of expressing Saiko’s changing moods, captivating, with a fiery mezzo a fascinating role portrayal: devoted lover as well as raging seductress with a champagne glass.”
“Xenia Puskarz Thomas sings very expressively, in a wide range from very low to luminous high notes.”
“Xenia Puskarz Thomas, whose fiery mezzo voice strikes a chord with the audience.”
“Puskarz Thomas displayed an ear-grabbing sound from the moment of her entrance, holding the audience’s focus whenever she was on stage.”
“Xenia Puskarz Thomas is phenomenal as Myschkin’s other lover Aglaja with an emotionally flickering yet touching vocal quality.”
“Xenia Puskarz Thomas portrays Aglaja as a clever, independent woman with her bright, luminous mezzo.”
“Xenia Puskarz Thomas delights in her appearance as one of The Bridesmaids.”
“Outstanding soloists came to the production from the Opera studio of the State Opera: Xenia Puskarz Thomas as the youthful, carefree lover Melanto, who vocally and playfully brought humour and laughter.”
“Thomas’ uncommonly dark, creamy mezzo was able to give her opulent voice free rein in the playful Laudamus te, projecting a thought behind each ornament…”
“Xenia Puskarz Thomas, as Cherubino, is a delight. She owns the stage, sings like a dream, and looks convincing.”
“The singing and acting of Xenia Puskarz Thomas as Cherubino stole the show. She conveyed the incoherence of Cherubino’s desires and fears with vocal flexibility and some of the most gorgeous singing of the evening. This was not lost on the first-night audience, who rose in their cheers for her.”
“Thomas’ highly-affectionate phrases and utter sweetness in her voice…”
“Xenia displayed a rich and incisive mezzo, a striking stage presence; she sang with musicality and expressiveness. This was the stand-out vocal performance…”
“I have never seen such a convincingly played pants role as Xenia Puskarz Thomas. She is of the new generation of actor/singers who are changing the way we think of opera.”
“The riveting performance of Xenia Puskarz Thomas, an Australian mezzo with a vibrant, big- scaled voice won me over completely.”