14 Facts About Cecilia Bartoli

Cecilia Bartoli OMRI is an Italian coloratura mezzo-soprano opera singer and recitalist.

Cecilia Bartoli is best known for her interpretations of the music of Bellini, Handel, Mozart, Rossini and Vivaldi, as well as for her performances of lesser-known music from the Baroque and Classical period.

Cecilia Bartoli is known for singing both soprano and mezzo roles.

Cecilia Bartoli first performed publicly at age nine as the shepherd boy in Tosca.

Cecilia Bartoli did not win the competition but was asked to sing with Paris Opera for a homage concert for Maria Callas.

Cecilia Bartoli made her professional opera debut in 1987 at the Arena di Verona.

In 1996, Cecilia Bartoli made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera as Despina in Cosi fan tutte and returned in 1997 to sing the title role of La Cenerentola and in 1998 to sing the role of Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro.

In 2012, Cecilia Bartoli produced a project entitled Mission, which premiered the works of Agostino Steffani, a lesser-known Baroque composer.

Cecilia Bartoli produced the music of the composer in CD form as well as an extended music video that portrays her as the priest-composer Agostino in the palace of Versallies.

In May 2008, Cecilia Bartoli sang the title role written for Malibran in a revival of Fromental Halevy's 1828 opera Clari at the Zurich Opera.

In March 2011, Cecilia Bartoli toured five Australian cities with two programs drawn from Sacrificium and Maria.

In 2012, Cecilia Bartoli became the artistic director of the Salzburg Whitsun Festival, an extension of the traditional Salzburg Festival, which produces performances during Whitsun weekend.

Cecilia Bartoli was appointed Chevalier of the French Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, and Commander of Monaco's Order of Cultural Merit.

Cecilia Bartoli is the 2012 recipient of the Herbert von Karajan Music Prize.