Winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and several prizes at the Hans Gabor Belvedere Competition,  25 years old  Cuban-American soprano Elena Villalón is already attracting major industry attention. A recent alumna of the Houston Grand Opera Studio, her engagements this season include Susanna Le nozze di Figaro at Houston Grand Opera, Gretel Hansel und Gretel at Dallas Opera, the Queen of Sheba Solomon for an international tour with The English Concert and Harry Bicket and in Iole in a new Barrie Kosky  production of  Hercules as well as Atalanta in Xerxes, both at Opera Frankfurt where she is now a member of the ensemble.  Engagements next season include her Metropolitan Opera debut as Amore Orfeo ed Euridice, her return to Santa Fe with The Righteous, Messiah and Brahms Requiem with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra as well as starring as Susanna in a new production of Le Nozze di Figaro in Frankfurt...