Origins & Early Life

Cecilia Bartoli OMRI (Italian: [tʃeˈtʃiːlja ˈbartoli]; born 4 June 1966) is an Italian mezzo-soprano, widely known for her renditions of the music of Bellini, Handel, Mozart, Rossini, and Vivaldi, as well as lesser-known music of the Baroque and Classical periods. She has also sung soprano and alto repertory. Bartoli is considered a singer with an unusual timbre. According to Nicholas Wroe in 2001, her voice was known for its "fully developed sumptuousness of the lower register, the vibrancy of the middle range...the top was limpid and powerful." She has been one of the most popular opera stars of recent years.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Bartoli was born in Rome. Her parents, Silvana Bazzoni and Pietro Angelo Bartoli, were professional singers and her first music teachers. Cecilia first performed publicly at age nine as the shepherd boy in Tosca. She later studied at the Conservatorio di Santa Cecilia in Rome. At 19, she made her singing debut on the Italian TV variety show Fantastico.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

She did not win the show's competition, but was asked to sing with Paris Opera for a concert in homage to Maria Callas. Bartoli made her professional opera debut in 1987 at the Arena di...

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