Josè-Maria Lo Monaco

Among the most acclaimed mezzo-sopranos of her generation, she performs regularly at leading international opera houses and festivals. Recent engagements include Dorabella (Così fan tutte) at the Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège; Musica and Messaggera (L’Orfeo) by Monteverdi at the Opernhaus Zürich; and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with the Fondazione Toscanini in Parma. A landmark in her career was her assumption of the title role in Carmen at the Opéra National de Lyon, conducted by Stefano Montanari and directed by Olivier Py. The production was named “Production of the Year” by Mezzo Television and was subsequently revived at the Sydney Opera House. She has also portrayed Charlotte (Werther), Giulietta (Les Contes d’Hoffmann), and Adalgisa (Norma). She made her debuts at the Opéra de Paris and at the Salzburg Festival under the baton of Riccardo Muti. Her debut as Angelina at the Teatro Petruzzelli in Bari, conducted by Evelino Pidò and directed by Daniele Abbado, was followed by performances in Rome, Florence, Santiago de Chile, Rennes and Toulon (in Jérôme Savary’s production). She has also appeared as Isolier (Le Comte Ory) in Milan and Liège alongside Jodie Devos. Renowned for her interpretations of the Baroque and bel canto repertoire, she has collaborated with conductors such as Riccardo Muti, Donato Renzetti and Ottavio Dantone, and with stage directors including Robert Carsen, Damiano Michieletto and Laurent Pelly. A distinguished interpreter of Monteverdi, Josè Maria Lo Monaco has performed Musica/La Messaggera (L’Orfeo) in Lausanne with Ottavio Dantone and Robert Carsen, as well as under Jordi Savall and Andrea Marcon; and Ottavia (L’Incoronazione di Poppea) in Pier Luigi Pizzi’s productions in Italy and at the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires with Jean-Christophe Spinosi. She recorded the Monteverdi trilogy with La Venexiana (Gramophone Award) and has released two solo albums for Glossa. Upcoming engagements include Gianisbe in Spartacus by G. Porsile in Trondheim, Versailles and at the Theater an der Wien; Licida in Vivaldi’s L’Olimpiade at the Teatro Filarmonico in Verona conducted by Giulio Prandi; and Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle and Stabat Mater at the Teatro Massimo in Palermo and at the MITO Festival under the direction of Speranza Scappucci.

Languages spoken : Italian, French, English, Spanish

Photo credit : © Francesco Squeglia