Artist Profile: Cecilia Bartoli, A Legend That Continues

By David Salazar

Cecilia Bartoli, born on June 4, 1966, is one of the most famous opera singers on the planet.

The mezzo-soprano, who has also shown an ability to sing a number of soprano roles, was born to professional singers and sang her first public performance at the age of nine in “Tosca” as the shepherd boy. She then went on to study at the famed Conservatorio di Santa Cecilia in Rome.

Her early 20s were marked by worldwide renowned, the mezzo making her professional debut at age 21 at the Arena di Verona. She made her debut at the Opéra Bastille in 1990 and then appeared at La Scala in 1991 at the age of 25. At 30, she made her Met Opera debut.

She has remained at the highest of levels as an international artist, recording a plethora of albums and appearing on the world’s greatest stages. She has won a number of honors and awards and since 2012, she is the artistic director of the Salzburg Whitsun Festival.

Signature Roles

Bartoli’s career is defined by her love for early music. She is a major interpreter of the works of Handel and has championed other baroque composers, including Vivaldi, throughout her career.

She also made her fame thriving in the music of Rossini, her agile voice perfect for his ever-challenging coloratura runs. “La Cenerentola” is a role that she championed for years and brought to some of the major theaters around the world. In fact, she was the artist that brought the opera to the Metropolitan Opera for the first time in its history back in 1997.

Watch and Listen

 Watch this concert dedicated to Baroque music.


 And here is what she can do in Rossini.

 

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