Barbara Frittoli Opera singer Country: Italy

1. Early Life and Education
2. Professional Debut and Early Career
3. International Success
4. Personal Life
5. Awards and Recognition

Early Life and Education

Fiorenza Cedolins was born in Milan, Italy. At the age of nine, she began studying piano at the Milan Conservatory with the aspiration of becoming a pianist. However, at 12 years old, while singing in the conservatory's choir, she was noticed by Giulio Bertola and Bruno Casoni. On their recommendation, she switched to studying alto, which led to vocal problems. She only regained her voice after studying with Giovanna Canetti, under whose tutelage she transformed into a soprano.

Professional Debut and Early Career

Cedolins made her professional debut in 1990 as Ines in "Il Trovatore" under the baton of Zubin Mehta, with Luciano Pavarotti in the lead role, at the Teatro Comunale in Florence. In 1992, she made her US debut with the Opera Company of Philadelphia as Micaëla in "Carmen." Three years later, she debuted at the Metropolitan Opera in 1995 as Micaëla in "Carmen" and went on to sing in over 80 performances there, including Donna Elvira in "Don Giovanni," Fiordiligi in "Così fan tutte," Angelica in "Suor Angelica," Desdemona in "Otello," the title role in "Luisa Miller," Amelia in "Simon Boccanegra," Vitellia in "La clemenza di Tito," and Alice Ford in "Falstaff."

International Success

Cedolins performed in two Glyndebourne Festival Opera productions, in Graham Vick's new stagings of "Così fan tutte" (Fiordiligi, 1998) and "Don Giovanni" (Donna Anna, 2000). In June 1998, she sang Liù in Puccini's "Turandot" in the open-air Forbidden City. In December 1999, she sang Alice Ford in Vick's new "Falstaff," which opened the first season after the renovation of the Royal Opera House. In December 2004, she added Elisabeth de Valois in "Don Carlos" to her repertoire, alternating the role with Adrianne Pieczonka at the Teatro Comunale in Florence. In December 2008, she took the title role in a new production of Massenet's "Thaïs," opening the Teatro Regio di Torino's new season. In 2012, she debuted in the title role of "Adriana Lecouvreur" at the Liceu.

Personal Life

Cedolins was married to baritone Natale De Carolis, with whom she had a daughter named Arianna. She was also in a relationship with Ildar Abdrazakov.

Awards and Recognition

Cedolins was named Singer of the Year (Sängerin des Jahres) at the 2001 Echo Klassik Awards. In 2012, she became an Austrian Kammersängerin.