Claudia Marchi

Born in Bologna and trained at its Conservatorio Giovanni Battista Martini, with theatrical study at the Galante Garrone school, Claudia Marchi won early competition prizes and made her debut in the title role of Rossini's Sigismondo under Richard Bonynge. Luciano Pavarotti chose her, at the very start of her career, to sing the Verdi Requiem with him on an Australian tour. Leading mezzo-soprano roles in Rossini, Verdi, Puccini and the Italian twentieth century have since taken her across Europe and to Australia, Canada and Korea, comic and character parts among them. Her discography includes complete opera sets and live festival recordings. She teaches as well. Isabella in L'italiana in Algeri and Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia belong to her Rossini repertoire; at the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro she sang Lucilla in La scala di seta, while the heavier end of the repertoire brings Amneris, Ulrica, Carmen and Santuzza. She has also written about the singer's vocal instrument.