Maria Grazia Schiavo

Born in Naples, Maria Grazia Schiavo studied with R. Passaro at the Conservatory in Naples, graduating with honours.

First Prize in Santa Cecilia Competition in Rome and First Prize in Clermont Ferrand International Singing Competition, she made her debut on stage with Roberto De Simone, performing the leading role in La Gatta Cenerentola touring in the most important theatres in Italy and abroad.

She began a career of concerts and opera at a young age, specializing in chamber music and baroque repertoire.

Her renditions of the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor in Turin, Konstanze in Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail in Rome and Jommelli’s Demofoonte
in Salzburg and Paris with Riccardo Muti, recently affirmed her as one of the most interesting soprano of her generation in belcanto repertoire.

Among her latest engagements are: Amital in Betulia Liberata at the Salzburg Festival under the baton of Riccardo Muti; Dalinda in Handel’s Ariodante with Christophe Rousset  at Theater an der Wien; Zerlina in Don Giovanni with Lorin Maazel staged by Jonathan Miller for the inauguration of the Palau de las Arts in Valencia; Almirena in Handel’s Rinaldo at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées with Ottavio Dantone; Handel’s Partenope (title-role) at the international baroque festival in Beaune and Vivaldi’s Fida Ninfa with
Jean-Christophe Spinosi in Opera Rara Festival in Krakow.

Considered one of the specialist of the 18^th century Neapolitan repertoire she sang Demofoonte and Veni Creator in Naples with Maestro Muti and Paisiello’s Il Pulcinella
Vendicato, Anfossi’s La Finta Giardiniera, Piccini’s La Didone Abbandonata, De Majo’s Motezuma and Vinci’s Partenope all with Antonio Florio.

In the early baroque Italian repertoire she sang Euridice, La Musica and Proserpina in Monteverdi’s Orfeo at Teatro Real in Madrid with William Christie and Pierluigi Pizzi; Venere
in Cavalli’s La Didone with Europa Galante in Venice La Fenice and Floralba in Cavalli’s Statira in Teatro San Carlo in Naples.

In sacred music, she has sung Messa per l’Incoronazione di Napoleone di Paisiello in Festival St-Denis; and Mozart’s Exultate Jubilate at Teatro Real in Madrid.

She has recorded several cds for Naïve: Pulcinella Vendicato by Pasiello; La Statira by Cavalli and Coralità e Devotione by Provenzale. She has also recorded Pergolesi’s Stabat
Mater for the label Eloquentia with Stéphanie D’Oustrac and Antonio Florio.

It was recently released by Glossa Cantate Italiane by Handel with la Risonanza and a program on the Venetian Ospedali with the Vocal Concert Dresden. Her first solo cd  “Furor” with music by Spanish composer Terradellas received a great critical acclaim.

Recent and future engagements include: Carmina Burana with Riccardo Muti in Chicago; Cimarosa’s Il Marito Disperato in Naples with Christoph Rousset; Vivaldi’s Giustino at the Theater an der Wien; Pergolesi’s Olimpiade in Naples; Konstanze in Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail in Roma; Cleopatra in Handel’s Giulio Cesare with  Ottavio Dantone in Ferrara and Ravenna etc.

Date Last Edited:
July 2011

Biografia in Italiano: Maria Grazia Schiavo CV_ ITA