Rosa Feola

Feola was born and grew up in San Nicola la Strada, Caserta (Italy), in a music-loving family.{{cite news|url=http://www.vivicasagiove.it/notizie/il-soprano-sannicolese-rosa-feola-convolera-a-nozze-con-il-baritono-casertano-sergio-vitale/|title=Il soprano sannicolese Rosa Feola convolerà a nozze con il baritono casertano Sergio Vitale|work=Vivi Casagiove|date=1 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313182546/http://www.vivicasagiove.it/notizie/il-soprano-sannicolese-rosa-feola-convolera-a-nozze-con-il-baritono-casertano-sergio-vitale/|archive-date=13 March 2018|url-status=dead}} At about 5, she had her first piano lesson with a cousin, and at around 6, she began to sing in coro dell'Accademia musicale di San Nicola and later the church choir.{{cite web|url=https://issuu.com/opernhauszuerich/docs/mag65|title=Volker Hagedorn trifft Rosa Feola|website=Opernhaus Zürich MAG65 p.46-47}}{{cite news|url=https://rosafeola.blogspot.com/p/ricordi-dinfanzia.html|author=Angela Lonardo|title=Ricordi d’infanzia|work=Il Mattino (Caserta edition)|date=9 June 2019}} Having studied with Mara Naddei, in 2008 she graduated in singing with a first-class honors degree from Salerno's {{ill|Conservatorio Giuseppe Martucci|it}}. She continued her studies at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia's Opera Studio attending master classes by Renata Scotto, Anna Vandi, and Cesare Scarton."Notes", I due Figaro, ℗© 2012 Ducale, DUC 045-47

Feola made her operatic debut in the role of Corinna (Il viaggio a Reims) under Kent Nagano at the Santa Cecilia Academy at age 23.{{cite news|url=https://www.connessiallopera.it/interviste/2017/il-sorriso-e-la-tenacia-intervista-a-rosa-feola/|author=Emiliano Metalli|title=Il sorriso e la tenacia – Intervista a Rosa Feola|work=Connessi all'Opera|date=12 July 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.santacecilia.it/alta_formazione/news_dai_corsi.html|title=News dai Corsi|website=Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180317035623/http://www.santacecilia.it/alta_formazione/news_dai_corsi.html|archive-date=17 March 2018|url-status=dead}} She came to international attention winning Second Prize, the Zarzuela Prize and the Rolex Audience Prize at Plácido Domingo's Operalia 2010.{{cite web|url=https://www.operaliacompetition.org/winners|title=Winners|website=Operalia, The World Opera Competition}}

In the following year, she made her role debuts / house debuts as Adina (L'elisir d'amore) at Teatro dell'Opera di Roma,{{cite web|url=https://www.operaroma.it/spettacoli/opera-elisir-amore-1011/|title=L'elisir d'amore, Stagione 2010/2011|website=Teatro dell'Opera di Roma}} Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro) at Teatro La Fenice,{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.teatrolafenice.it/scheda_a.php?ID=26641|title=Le nozze di Figaro, Venerdì 14 Ottobre 2011, ore 19:00|website=L’Archivio Storico del Teatro La Fenice}} and Micaëla (Carmen) at Deutsche Oper Berlin.{{cite web|url=https://www.deutscheoperberlin.de/index.php?page=spielplandetail&id_event_date=8823028|title=Carmen, Donnerstag, 03.11.2011|website=Deutsche Oper Berlin|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111114213250/http://www.deutscheoperberlin.de/index.php?page=spielplandetail&id_event_date=8823028&language=de_DE|archivedate=14 November 2011|url-status=dead}} Most significant was singing the role of Inez in the modern premiere of Mercadante's I due Figaro under Riccardo Muti with whom she has maintained a longtime collaboration since then.{{cite web|url=https://archive.salzburgerfestspiele.at/archivdetail/programid/4454/id/0/j/2011|title=Saverio Mercadante • I due Figaro, o sia Il soggetto di una commedia|website=Salzburger Festspiele}} The performances at Ravenna Festival were recorded live and later released on the Ducale label.

In 2012, she made her US debut with Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Millennium Park singing the soprano part of Carmina Burana under Muti, and later made her Carnegie Hall debut in its season-opening concert with CSO and Muti with the same program.{{cite news|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2012/09/22/before-strike-its-singing-in-the-rain-at-millennium-park-for-cso/|author=John von Rhein|title=Before strike, it's 'singing in the rain' at Millennium Park for CSO|work=Chicago Tribune|date=22 September 2012}} In the same year, at Ravenna Festival, in a production directed by Cristina Mazzavillani Muti, Feola made her role debut of Gilda (Rigoletto),{{cite web|url=http://www.ravennafestival.org/programma_spettacoli/calendario/pagina1665.html|title=Trilogia d’autunno - ‘Aspettando Verdi’ - Rigoletto|website=Ravenna Festival|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001165936/http://www.ravennafestival.org/programma_spettacoli/calendario/pagina1665.html|archivedate=1 October 2012|url-status=dead}} a signature role of hers, which has served as the vehicle for her house debuts at Opernhaus Zürich (2013),{{cite web|url=https://www.opernhaus.ch/spielplan/kalendarium/rigoletto/season_1389/|title=Rigoletto, Saison 2012/2013|website=Opernhaus Zürich}} Bayerische Staatsoper (2015),{{cite web|url=https://www.staatsoper.de/stueckinfo/rigoletto/2015-11-13-19-00.html|title=Rigoletto, Freitag, 13. November 2015|website=Bayerische Staatsoper}} Lyric Opera of Chicago (2017, her US stage opera debut),{{cite web|url=https://www.lyricopera.org/concertstickets/calendar/2017-2018/productions/lyricopera/rigoletto-opera-tickets#./Meet%20the%20Artists?&_suid=152028399251209997177892684732|title=Rigoletto, Season 2017/2018|website=Lyric Opera of Chicago}} and the Metropolitan Opera (2019).{{cite web|url=http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=357221|title=Rigoletto {895} Metropolitan Opera House: 04/26/2019|website=MetOpera Database}}

In 2014, she made her Wigmore Hall debut in the Rosenblatt Recital Series with pianist Iain Burnside.{{cite web|url=http://rosenblattrecitals.com/recital.aspx?key=139|title=Rosa Feola, Soprano. Iain Burnside. Pianist|website=Ravenna Festival|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103165541/https://www.rosenblattrecitals.com/|archivedate=3 January 2014|url-status=dead}}

2015 and 2016 were her breakthrough years. Her appearance as Elvira in Welsh National Opera's new production I puritani{{cite web|url=https://www.wno.org.uk/event/i-puritani|title=I puritani, Autumn 2015|website=Welsh National Opera}} won her rave reviews—she was honored as "Best Female in an Opera Production" at the Wales Theatre Awards{{cite web|url=http://www.walestheatreawards.com/the-awards-y-gwobrau-2016/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151218014319/http://www.walestheatreawards.com/the-awards-y-gwobrau-2016/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=December 18, 2015|title=The Awards 2016/Y Gwobrau 2016|website=The Wales Theatre Awards}} and cited for outstanding achievement in Great Britain's What's On Stage Opera Poll 2016.{{cite web|url=http://www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/winners-of-2016-whatsonstage-opera-poll_39436.html|title=Winners of 2016 WhatsOnStage Opera Poll|website=What's On Stage}} The year of 2015 also saw the release of her first solo album, Musica e Poesia, on the Opus Arte label, with selections by such composers as Ottorino Respighi, Giuseppe Martucci, Amilcare Ponchielli, Ciro Pinsuti, and Franz Liszt.{{cite web|url=http://www.opusarte.com/details/OACD9039D|title=Rosenblatt Recitals: Rosa Feola – Musica e Poesia|website=Opus Arte|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210015833/http://www.opusarte.com/details/OACD9039D|archive-date=10 December 2018|url-status=dead}} The recording was selected as an editor's choice in the March issue of Gramophone{{cite news|url=https://www.gramophone.co.uk/feature/editors-choice-recordings-march-2016|author=Martin Cullingford|title=Editor's Choice recordings – March 2016|work=Gramophone|date=26 February 2016}} and shortlisted for the Solo Vocal category of 2016 Gramophone Classical Music Awards.{{cite news|url=https://www.gramophone.co.uk/classical-music-news/the-2016-gramophone-classical-music-awards-shortlist|title=The 2016 Gramophone Classical Music Awards Shortlist|work=Gramophone|date=1 August 2016}} She was shortlisted as the best female singer of the International Opera Awards 2016, alongside Anna Bonitatibus, Mariella Devia, Christine Goerke, Evelyn Herlitzius, and Anna Netrebko.{{cite web|url=http://www.operaawards.org/archive/2016/|title=Archive 2016|website=International Opera Awards}} In 2016, she also sang the role of Nannetta (Falstaff) in concert performances of Chicago Symphony Orchestra under Muti as part of the citywide Shakespeare 400 Celebration,{{cite web|url=https://cso.org/media/program_notes/ProgramNotes_Verdi_Falstaff.pdf|title=Falstaff, April 21-26 2016, Program Notes|website=Chicago Symphony Orchestra}}{{cite web|url=http://www.shakespeare400chicago.com/events/cso_falstaff.html|title=Chicago Symphony Orchestra: Falstaff|website=Shakespeare 400 Chicago}} made her US recital debut in San Francisco,{{cite web|url=http://sfperformances.org/performances/1516/AnnaCaterinaAntonacci.html|title=Rosa Feola, soprano {{!}} Fabio Centanni, piano|website=San Francisco Performances|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406012403/http://sfperformances.org/performances/1516/AnnaCaterinaAntonacci.html|archivedate=6 April 2016|url-status=dead}} made Proms debut singing concert arias by Mendelssohn and Mozart,{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/eg5c8g|title=Proms 2016 Prom 9 - BBC Proms|website=BBC}} made her Wiener Staatsoper debut in the role of Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro),{{cite web|url=https://www.wiener-staatsoper.at/spielplan-tickets/detail/event/963607526-le-nozze-di-figaro/|title=Le nozze di Figaro, 21.10.2016|website=Wiener Staatsoper}} and toured with Wiener Staatsoper to Japan with the same role under Muti in the classical production by Jean-Pierre Ponnelle.{{cite web|url=https://www.nbs.or.jp/english/stages/2016/wien/figaro.html|title=Le nozze di Figaro / 2016, Stages, Wien|website=NBS-Japan Performing Arts Foundation}}

Feola appeared in the 2017 New Year's Concert of La Fenice singing music by Bellini, Donizetti, and Verdi under Fabio Luisi. The concert was broadcast by RAI and streamed by ARTE worldwide.{{cite web|url=http://archiviostorico.teatrolafenice.it/scheda_a.php?ID=28141|title=Concerto di Capodanno 2016-2017|website=L’Archivio Storico del Teatro La Fenice}} She made her Teatro alla Scala debut in 2017 as well, in her role debut of Ninetta for the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the premiere of La gazza ladra at La Scala (1817) under Riccardo Chailly. The performance was broadcast by RAI Radio and TV and was shown in cinemas worldwide as part of the "All'Opera" 16/17 Season.{{cite web|url=http://www.teatroallascala.org/it/stagione/2016-2017/opera/la-gazza-ladra.html|title=La gazza ladra, Stagione 2016/2017|website=Teatro alla Scala}}

On 21 June 2020, Feola joined Riccardo Muti and Orchestra Giovanile Luigi Cherubini for a concert inaugurating Ravenna Festival of the year, singing music of Mozart. The open-air concert taking place at {{ill|Rocca Brancaleone|it}}, with all regulations of social distancing, was one of the first live concerts in Italy after almost four months of lockdown due to COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web|url=https://www.ravennafestival.org/litalia-della-musica-riparte-da-ravenna-festival/|title=L’Italia della musica riparte dal Ravenna Festival|website=Ravenna Festival}} The performance was live broadcast by RAI Radio 3 (audio) and streamed online (video).{{cite web|url=https://www.raiplayradio.it/articoli/2020/06/Ravenna-Festival-74003a25-33a9-429f-ad66-aeb21df344fd.html|title=Ravenna Festival - Radio3 Suite - Il cartellone|website=Rai Play Radio}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ravennafestival.live/events/rmmusic-digital-streaming-platform/|title=Concerto inaugurale|website=Ravenna Festival Live}}

On 16 October 2020, Feola made her anticipated role debut of Violetta (La traviata) at {{ill|Teatro Gabriello Chiabrera|it}} in Savona. The production was created by Renata Scotto who made her career debut exactly in the same role at this theater in 1952.{{cite web |url=http://www.operagiocosa.it/content/la-traviata-2020|title=Autunno 2020 - La traviata|website=Teatro dell'Opera Giocosa}}

In 2023, Feola appeared in the movie Maestro singing with Isabel Leonard in the finale of Gustav Mahler's Symphony No. 2 in C minor "Resurrection", in a reproduction of the famed 1973 performance led by Leonard Bernstein in Ely Cathedral.{{Cite web |last=Woolfe |first=Zachary |date=22 December 2023 |title=‘Maestro’ Won’t Let Leonard Bernstein Fail |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/22/arts/music/maestro-bradley-cooper-leonard-bernstein.html |access-date=29 December 2023 |website=New York Times}}{{Cite web |last=Doyle Moor |first=Emily |date=20 November 2023 |title=Maestro musings |url=https://www.santafeopera.org/company/press-news-media/maestro-musings/ |access-date=29 December 2023 |website=Sante Fe Opera}}

Other roles Feola has sung include Serafina (Il campanello), Zerlina (Don Giovanni), Servilia (La clemenza di Tito), Musetta (La bohème), Lauretta (Gianni Schicchi), Carolina (Il matrimonio segreto), Norina (Don Pasquale), Sandrina (La finta giardiniera), Ilia (Idomeneo), Leïla (Les pêcheurs de perles), Amina (La sonnambula), Lucia (Lucia di Lammermoor), Dircé (Médée), Fiorilla (Il turco in Italia).

On 9 December 2015, Feola married baritone Sergio Vitale, who is also from Caserta. Rosa Feola has two younger brothers: Carlo, a bass-baritone, and Gianluca, a violinist.{{cite news|url=https://www.ilmattino.it/spettacoli/teatro/rigoletto_la_prima_al_san_carlo_il_mio_canto_tra_l_amore_e_l_inganno-2203179.html|title=Rigoletto, la «prima» al San Carlo. «Il mio canto tra l’amore e l’inganno»|work=Il Mattino|date=18 January 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.comunedipignataro.it/?p=25910|title=Prestigioso successo per il Gran Galà Lirico a Pignataro|website=CdP - Cultura e cronaca dall'AgroCaleno}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theater-basel.ch/files/M2BOYY7/theaterj_10_rz_web.pdf|title=Meine selbst gebackene Pizza ist wirklich fantastisch!|work=Theaterjournal Theater Basel|date=September 2018|number=10|pages=20–21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180918230826/https://www.theater-basel.ch/files/M2BOYY7/theaterj_10_rz_web.pdf|archive-date=18 September 2018|url-status=dead}}

• [http://www.askonasholt.co.uk/artists/rosa-feola/ Rosa Feola] on [http://www.askonasholt.co.uk/ Askonas Holt]
• [https://www.operabase.com/a/Rosa%20Feola/15109/ Rosa Feola] on Operabase

{{Portal bar|Biography|Opera}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Feola, Rosa}}

Category:Italian operatic sopranos

Category:1986 births

Category:Living people

Category:People from the Province of Caserta

Category:21st-century Italian women opera singers

Category:Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia alumni