Anna Maria Chiuri
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Anna Maria Chiuri (born October 3, 1968) is an Italian mezzo-soprano known for her extensive operatic repertoire, which includes roles in works by Verdi, Wagner, Strauss, and Puccini. She has performed at leading opera houses and collaborated with renowned conductors and directors.
Early life and education
[edit]Chiuri was born in San Candido, Bolzano, on October 3, 1968. She studied at the Conservatorio Arrigo Boito in Parma under soprano Jenny Anvelt and further refined her technique with tenor Franco Corelli.[1]
Operatic career
[edit]Chiuri has appeared at prestigious venues such as Teatro alla Scala for Don Carlo and Il Trittico under Riccardo Chailly, Arena di Verona as Amneris in Aida, Salzburger Festspiele as Herodias in Salome under Franz Welser-Möst, Teatro Regio di Torino as Eboli in Don Carlo under Gianandrea Noseda, Teatro Comunale di Bologna as Ortrud in Wagner's Lohengrin, and Bolshoi Theatre as Herodias in Salome.[2]
Her notable roles include: Fricka in Wagner's Das Rheingold and Die Walküre at Teatro Massimo in Palermo, Azucena in Il Trovatore at Teatro La Fenice in Venice, Klytemnestra in Elektra, Ulrica in Un Ballo in Maschera at the Opéra Royal de Wallonie in Liège and NCPA in Beijing, and Miss Quickly in Verdi's Falstaff at the Festival Verdi in Parma. Chiuri has also performed in contemporary works, including the role of Una Donna in Luigi Nono's Intolleranza 1960 at the Salzburger Festspiele.[3]
The Verdi Sessions Vol.1
[edit]In 2024, Chiuri participated in the recording of The Verdi Sessions Vol.1, an innovative project that reinterprets Giuseppe Verdi's works through a fusion of classical music and jazz. The project features a unique arrangement of "Oh, dischiuso è il firmamento" from Nabucco, highlighting Chiuri's voice alongside renowned jazz and classical musicians including Alessandro Bertozzi (alto saxophone), Francesco Chebat (piano), Riccardo Fioravanti (double bass) and Ettore Fioravanti (drums).
The Verdi Sessions Vol.1 showcases the versatility of Verdi’s compositions, combining their timeless beauty with the improvisational nature of jazz.[4]
Concert performances
[edit]Chiuri has an active career in concert performances and oratorios, appearing in: - Beethoven's Ninth Symphony at Lincoln Center, New York, and at the Mostly Mozart Festival. - Verdi's Messa da Requiem in Prague and Washington, and Te Deum by Bruckner at the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino under Zubin Mehta. - Mozart's Requiem in Florence and Mendelssohn's Ein Sommernachtstraum at Teatro Regio di Parma.
Discography
[edit]- Pasqua Fiorentina by I. Capitanio (Bongiovanni label)
- Bellini's Messa in Sol
- Puccini's Il Trittico (DVD), live from Teatro alla Scala under Riccardo Chailly[5]
- Strauss's Salome from the Bolshoi Theatre[6]
Awards and recognitions
[edit]Chiuri received critical acclaim for her performances, including the Premio Abbiati in 2012 for her portrayal of Herodias in Strauss's Salome.