CLAUDIA NICOLE CALABRESE (SOPRANO)
Born in Lanciano (Ch) in 1994, Claudia began her musical instruction from a very young age with her father, studying piano at the L. Perosi Conservatoire of Campobasso, Italy. She moved on to graduate cum laude with a first level diploma in classical singing from the San Pietro a Majella Conservatoire of Naples (IT) under the tuition of Anna Vandi in 2016. Claudia gained her second level diploma from the Luisa D’Annunzio Conservatoire of Pescara (IT) under the tuition of Manuela Formichella, graduating cum laude with special honours. During this time, she also attended the integration course at the Accademia S. Cecilia of Rome with Anna Vandi and Cesare Scarton, advancing to the opera studio of the same institution in 2015 under the guidance of Renata Scotto. Claudia attended the Accademia lirica Osimo, where she gained a Master’s in 2018, under the guidance of Raina Kabaivanska, Lella Cuberli, William Matteuzzi, Vincezo De Vivo and Enza Ferrari. Subsequently, she attended the advanced training course at the Teatro Luciano Pavarotti in Modena where she participated in masterclasses with Mariella Devia, Michele Pertusi, Leone Magiera, Nicola Martinucci and Enrico Stinchelli, while also performing in many concerts and shows in the theatre. Adding to her extensive academic and professional training, Claudia was also a member of the Accademia del Belcanto “Rodolfa Celleti” in Martina Franca where she was coached by internationally renowned teachers such as Markus Werba, Chris Merritt, Stefania Bonfadelli, Renata Lamanda, Paoletta Marrocu and Sherman Lowe.
As an active concert soloist, Claudia’s most notable collaborations include performances with the Scarlatti Orchestra at the Teatro Mediterranea (Naples), the Arturo Toscanini Philharmonic of Parma in the Sarzana Opera Festival, the Teatro Goldoni Youth Orchestra (Livorno), the Abruzzo Youth Orchestra at the Teatro Caniglia (Sulmona), the Italian Philharmonic Orchestra at the Teatro Pavarotti (Modena) and her performance as a finalist of the Magomaev International Vocal Contest with the Russian Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Dmitri Jurowski at the Crocus City Hall, Moscow. As a representative of Italy, she has also performed in chamber music concerts at the Beethoven Hall in Bolshoi and the Italian embassy of Moscow, under the artistic direction of the Teatro Bolshio where she also frequented the advanced training programme. She continues to collaborate with many different musical associations such as the Estate Musicale Frentana where she performed under the baton of Maestro Donato Renzetti and the Barocco Frentano Ensemble, with whom she has performed as a soloist in Naples, Venice, Perugia, Rome and the National Theatre of Moldova.
Claudia has been awarded prizes in numerous international competitions as well progressing to the final of many more. Some examples are 2nd Prize at the Elisa Turlà International Competition, 3rd place at the Margot Kaftal Prize for Singers, 1st place at the Sanvitale, Francesco Paolo Tosti.
Prize in Ortona, 1st Prize at the ArteIncanto International Competition, 3rd Prize at the Luciano Neroni Competition, 2nd Prize at the Anita Cerquetti International Competition and 2nd Prize at the Città di Brescia: “homage to Maria Callas” International Competition. She was also awarded the roles of Adina in “L’Elisir d’Amore” at the Arturo Pessina International Competition and Musetta in “La Boheme” at the Benvenuto Franci Competition in Pienza. Special prizes include a scholarship at the Maria Caniglia International Competition in Sulmona and the prize for the youngest finalist at the Rinaldo Pellizzoni International Competition in Parma.
Aged just 19, Claudia made her debut in the role of Bernardina in “Mas’Aniello” by Jacopo Napoli at the Scarlatti Hall of the Conservatoire of Naples. She later portrayed Vannella in “lo frate nnamorato” at the Pergolesi-Spontini Festival and took part in the world premiere of the contemporary opera “Il Colore del sole” by Lucio Gregoretti at the Teatro Pergolesi in Jesi. This production was also later performed at the Teatro Pavarotti in Modena and the Teatro Cucinelli in Solomeo (Pg). She has debuted in various lead roles, such as Adina in “L’Elisir d'amore” (Teatro Pavarotti, Modena & Reggia di Colorno, Pr), Musetta in “La Boheme” (OperaPienza, SI), Fanny in “La cambiale di matrimonio” by Rossini (Teatro Villa Torlonia, Rome), Zerlina in “Don Giovanni” (Venice Chamber Orchestra, Veneto), Gilda in Verdi’s “Rigoletto” with the Abruzzo Symphony Orchestra (Teatro Marrucino, Chieti & Teatro Umberto Giordano, Foggia), Norina in Donizetti’s “Don Pasquale” (Città S. Angelo Music Festival & Teatro Orione, Rome), Donna Elvira (Arena La Civitella, Chieti), Zweite Dame and Papagena in Mozart’s “Die Zauberflöte” (Teatro San Carlo, Naples & Teatro di Ostia Antica, Auditorium della Conciliazione, Parco della Musica, Rome), The Countess in “Le Nozze di Figaro” (Teatro Comunale, Atri) and Lauretta in “Gianni Schicchi” (Teatro Marrucino, Chieti)
