Mariella Devia Italian singer, soprano Date of Birth: 12.04.1948 Country: Italy

Biography of Mariella Devia

Mariella Devia is an Italian singer, soprano, best known for her work in the bel canto technique. She was born in Chiusavecchia and studied at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome. Devia made her debut in 1972 at the 'Dei Due Mondi' festival in Spoleto, where she performed the role of Despina in 'Cosi fan tutte'. In 1973, she appeared as Lucia in 'Lucia di Lammermoor' in Treviso, and later won the Gencer vocal competition, performing as Gilda in 'Rigoletto' in Turin.

Devia's debut was highly successful, and she began performing extensively throughout Italy. In 1977, she performed in the world premiere of Nino Rota's opera 'Napoli milionaria' in Spoleto. In 1987, she made her debut at the legendary La Scala in Milan, portraying Giulietta in 'I Capuleti e i Montecchi'. She has also performed at international venues such as the Metropolitan Opera, where she reprised her role as Lucia, and Carnegie Hall, where she performed as Lakmé, both in 1979.

In 1987, Devia sang at the Paris Opera and performed at the Aix-en-Provence festival. She made her debut at the Royal Opera House in 1988. Devia performed at the Metropolitan Opera for 15 years, portraying roles such as Konstanze, Lucia, Despina, and Nanetta. She is a frequent guest at the Rossini Opera Festival and the Festival della Valle d'Itria in Martina Franca, where she is known for her performances in forgotten operas by Rossini, Donizetti, Bellini, and other bel canto masters. Devia also excels in Mozart operas, such as the role of Constanze in 'Abduction from the Seraglio', and works by Giuseppe Verdi.

Devia was married to the renowned Italian trumpeter Sandro Verzari. She has released several recordings, showcasing her incredible vocal abilities, breath control, mastery of high frequencies, and superb coloratura technique. However, despite these evident qualities, recording companies have unfortunately overlooked Devia, resulting in her infrequent appearances on CDs. She reached the peak of her popularity in the 80s, and was invited to opera houses in Munich, Berlin, Zurich, and Bologna.

Devia continued to thrive in the 90s, frequently performing the roles of Elvira, Amina, Violetta, and Fiorilla. The situation remained the same in the new century, with Devia performing at Covent Garden in 2000, Genova in 2001, Arena di Verona in 2004, and Turin in 2005 and 2006. She also had the opportunity to work in Russia, visiting St. Petersburg in 2001 and Moscow twice in 2007.