Giannattasio’s unique talent is in high demand across the world this year. In April 2012, she made her debut at Royal Opera House, Covent Garden as Mimi in John Copley’s production of Puccini’s La Boheme to critical acclaim. In September, this was followed by her Metropolitan Opera debut as Leonora in David McVicar’s production of Verdi’s Il trovatore. In December, Giannattasio opened the season at Teatro San Carlo Naples with a “triumph” (La Repubblica) in a new production of La Traviata directed by Ferzan Ozpetek. Highlights 2013 include performances as Mrs Alice in Robert Carsen’s new production of Verdi’s Falstaff at La Scala, Milan in February, Verdi ‘s la Traviata at Hong Kong Arts Festival, Leonora in Philipp Stolzl’ s new production of Verdi’s Il Trovatore at Wien Festwochen, Concerts in Japan conducted by Miung Wung Chung, Alice in Falstaff at Los Angeles Opera conducted by James Conlon
The soprano’s increasing demand across the globe has been mirrored by widespread critical acclaim. Following her performance Covent Garden debut in April, the Independent’s Edward Seckerson wrote: “she looked perfect, her tiny frame shaken by big notes of big conviction and phrasing in the heart-rending third act that truly prepared us dramatically for a genuinely touching death-bed scene”
Upon winning the First Prize and the Audience Award at Placido Domingo’s Operalia, Paris 2002, Carmen Giannattasio’s special vocal gifts and dramatic ability quickly thrust her onto the world stage and gained her immediate critical attention and a reputation as a chameleon, who could transform herself and delve convincingly into the grand passions of the tragic operatic heroines. She boasts an impressive repertoire encompassing the great composers of the 18th-and 19th-centuries and has appeared in the major European and American opera houses and concert venues under the world’s leading conductors, working with prominent and demanding directors.
Aside from the recognition of her skill as an interpreter of bel canto, she has enjoyed resounding success in the grand operas of Puccini and Verdi, receiving special acclaim in the roles of Mimi in La bohème, Violetta in La Traviata and Leonora in Il trovatore. Of her Violetta performance, Rupert Christiansen in the Daily Telegraph commented: ‘…a deeply intelligent and profoundly affecting interpretation in the Cotrubas and Scotto mould.’ Since being chosen to front important new bel canto recordings by Opera Rara, who champion rarely performed operas of the 19th century, she has distinguished herself in Rossini’s La donna del lago, Donizetti’sParisina and in particular Rossini’s Ermione, winner of the 2011 Gramophone Opera Award – a performance which has earned her accolades from leading critics worldwide. Her most recent release of Il pirata conducted by David Parry for Opera Rara is to be followed next june by a further Opera Rara album release of Donizetti’s rarely performed Caterina Cornaro.