Artist Of The Week: Valentina Naforniță Seduces As Adina At the Hamburg State Opera

By Francisco Salazar

Valentina Naforniță is quickly becoming a leading lady in the opera world. Her rise came shortly after winning the Cardiff Singer of the World competition in 2011 and since then she has been a main attraction at the Vienna State Opera. While Naforniță may not be a recognizable name yet in the States, this week she expands her horizons as she takes on her first performances at the Hamburg State Opera.

The soprano made her debut at the house on March 30 in her signature role of Adina in Donizetti’s “L’Elisir d’Amore” and continues performances until April 9.  The run marks her first major leading role in a house outside of the Vienna State Opera. While she has made debuts at the Teatro alla Scala, Salzburg Festival, and the Champs Elysée, audiences have always seen her in supporting characters.

This production at the Hamburg State Opera should find her in territory that she has dominated and for which OperaNews hailed her for stealing the show in Donizetti’s comedies. Critics have noted that she has “an alluring balance of girlish and mature colorings, she cast a seductive spell.”

Naforniță cast a spell on Cardiff audiences in 2011 when she sang “Rusalka’s” Song to the Moon and won both the audience and main prize at the age of 24. The soprano has since sung leading roles  as an ensemble member at the Vienna State Opera where she has performed in Verdi’s “Rigoletto,” Mozart’s “Die Zauberflote” and “Le Nozze di Figaro” as well as Puccini’s “La Bohème” and Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale.” She has also performed at the Vienna Opera Ball, which is widely seen around the world.

Upcoming engagements include Valencienne at the Opera de Paris’ Production of Lehar’s “The Merry Widow” and Servilia in Mozart’s “La Clemenza di Tito” in Paris. She will also perform in the Czech Republic Gala Concert entitled “A Visit to the Vienna State Opera.”

 

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