Artist of the Week: Sabina Puértolas

Spanish Soprano Makes Highly Anticipated Role Debut as Manon

By Francisco Salazar
(Credit: Javier del Real)

This week the Teatro Villamarta de Jerez is set to present a new production of Massenet’s “Manon” with some of Spain’s leading singers. Among them is Sabina Puértolas who will make her highly anticipated role debut.

Ever since 2001, when she made her Teatro alla Scala debut under Riccardo Muti, Puértolas has been one of the leading Spanish sopranos in zarzuela, oratorio, and recital work as well as opera. She has conquered such theaters as the Royal Opera House, Teatro Real, Gran Teatre del Liceu, and Seattle Opera, among others and has filled out her repertoire with Bel Canto, Baroque, Verdi, and Mozart.

Now she adds Manon, one of the great lyric roles of the repertoire and Puértolas told ÓPERA ACTUAL “that it comes at a perfect moment in her career, not only vocally but also intellectually.” She noted that the role is incredibly difficult because Manon is always on stage and that is why it is known as the French Isolde.

For the soprano, this will be her first of many Manon’s as she is set to also sing the role at the Teatro Municipal de Santiago de Chile as well as other not-yet-announced theaters.

And for those not in Jerez for the soprano’s upcoming debut, Puértolas returns to Málaga for her acclaimed Gilda and to Madrid for the Zarzuela “Don Gil de Alcala.”

Recordings 

For those not familiar with Puértolas’ voice, the soprano can be seen in the Royal Opera House’s “Così fan tutte” DVD and on a DVD of “Tamerlano” from La Monnaie. She is also on a recording of “Ariodante” with Joyce DiDonato.

Here she is performing from “La Fille du Regiment” and “L’Elisir d’Amore.”

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Artist of the Week