Angela Mortellaro

Rising Star Angela Mortellaro has captivated audiences from the outset of her young career.  Described as “beautiful to watch on stage,” the “richness” of her voice, the skilled delivery of “dazzling vocal pyrotechnics,” and her innate actor has made this soprano a singer in demand.  The summer of 2015 will bring an exciting role debut as Adina in Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore with the Dorset Opera Festival located in Dorset, England. Other future engagements include Musetta in La Boheme and Despina in Cosí fan tutte with Sarasota Opera, and Juliette in Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette with a tba company.

In 2015, Ms. Mortellaro completed two exciting World Premier productions in the roles of Doris Parker, wife of Charlie Parker, in Opera Philadelphia’s Charlie Parker’s YARDBIRD and Jocie in Minnesota Opera’s of The Manchurian Candidate.  YARDBIRD is written by the composer and saxophonist Daniel Schnyder with the libretto by Bridgette A. Wimberly, the project stars Larry Brownlee and is being produced in partnership with Gotham Chamber Opera.  The Manchurian Candidate is the second opera from composer Kevin Puts and librettist Mark Campbell, creators of the 2011 Pulitzer Prize-winning Silent Night.  Also in the 2014-2015 Season, Ms. Mortellaro reprised Gretel in Hansel and Gretel with the Minnesota Opera and Violetta in La Traviata for Opera North.

Enjoying consistently full itineraries from the start of her career, Ms. Mortellaro’s 2013-2014 Season began with projects for several distinguished companies.  She returned to Opera Philadelphia for Anna in Nabucco, sang Adele (Die Fledermaus) for Sarasota Opera, and premiered Jean Acker in Dominic Argento’s Dream of Valentino for the Minnesota Opera.  She sang Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor with Opera North, and concluded the season with a company and role debut singing the title role of Thaïs for Florida Grand Opera.

2012-2013 brought performances of traditional and new repertoire for Ms. Mortellaro in addition to a role debut for her.  She reprised Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor for the Dayton Opera, debuted Galatea in Handel’s Acis and Galatea for Madison Opera and reprised Madeleine Audebert while covering Anna Sorensen for Opera Philadelphia in Kevin Puts’ opera Silent Night, winner of the Pulitzer Prize in Music.

While a Resident Artist with the Minnesota Opera, Ms. Mortellaro sang a “saucy, hammy” and “foxy” Despina (Così fan tutte) garnering high praise for her portrayal as the sister’s maid.  Also in the season, she sang Madeleine Audebert and covered Anna Sorenson in the company’s enormously successful world premiere of Kevin Puts' Silent Night.  Next, Ms. Mortellaro sang Sophie (Werther) with James Valenti for the first Minnesota Opera web broadcast portraying her character with a "welcoming lightness and physicality." Her debut as Lucia (Lucia di Lammermoor) proved to be the highlight of her experience as a Resident Artist with the company.  Additionally, Ms. Mortellaro presented the exceptional opportunity to perform Amore (Orfeo ed Euridice) with countertenor David Daniel and the renowned St. Paul Chamber Orchestra under the baton of Harry Bicket under the auspices of the opera company.

Among her first professional opera experiences, Ms. Mortellaro performed Gretel (Hansel and Gretel) for both the Sarasota Opera and PORT Opera in Portland, Maine in 2010, and once again enjoyed high marks for her performances.

In concert, Ms. Mortellaro has sung soprano solos in Mahler’s Symphony No. 4, the Resurrection Symphony, Poulenc’s Gloria, Knoxville Summer of 1915, Anneliese of J. Whitbourne, Handel's Messiah and tributes to Leonard Bernstein and Rogers and Hammerstein among others.

Ms. Mortellaro has been a Resident Artist with the Minnesota Opera, a Young Artist with Caramoor Opera, a Young Artist with the Sarasota Opera, Chautauqua Opera, and Aspen Opera Theater.  She is a proud graduate of the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University in Houston, TX.