Cecilia Gasdia, a celebrated Italian operatic soprano of great renown, emerged onto the scene on August 14, 1960, in the historic city of Verona, Italy. As a young and ambitious individual, she dedicated herself to the pursuit of music and piano studies at the prestigious Conservatorio di Verona, where she diligently honed her skills and acquired a deep understanding of her craft. Her academic endeavors ultimately culminated in her graduation in 1980, marking the beginning of a long and illustrious career as a talented operatic soprano.
Biography:
Cecilia Gasdia is an Italian operatic soprano born on August 14, 1960, in Verona. She studied music and piano at the Conservatorio di Verona, graduating in 1980.
In the same calendar year, Gasdia made a groundbreaking achievement by securing the top prize in the prestigious "New Voices for Opera" competition, a prestigious event that honored the legendary Maria Callas.
Her inaugural foray into the world of opera unfolded in Florence in 1981, where she made a stunning debut as the captivating Giulietta in Bellini's timeless masterpiece, I Capuleti e i Montecchi.
Gasdia's meteoric rise to fame began with her triumphant debut at the prestigious La Scala opera house in 1982, where she stepped into the title role of Donizetti's Anna Bolena at incredibly short notice, seamlessly filling the shoes of the renowned Montserrat Caballé.
Gasdia embarked on a significant milestone in her illustrious career, making her American debut on October 5, 1985, by taking on the iconic role of Gilda in a concert performance of Giuseppe Verdi's timeless masterpiece, Rigoletto, with the esteemed conductor Riccardo Muti at the helm. This momentous occasion took place in the cultural hub of Philadelphia, where she showcased her remarkable vocal talents to a captivated audience.
Just days later, on October 8, Gasdia repeated her breathtaking performance of Gilda at the renowned Carnegie Hall, further solidifying her reputation as a soprano of exceptional caliber. This remarkable achievement was swiftly followed by her debut with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, where she brought her unique interpretation to the role of Giulietta in Vincenzo Bellini's I Capuleti e i Montecchi, marking another significant milestone in her burgeoning career.
John Von Rhein, esteemed music critic of the Chicago Tribune, penned a glowing review of Gasdia's performance, remarking that her appearance was akin to a masterpiece by the renowned Renaissance artist Raphael, with her pale complexion and petite, high-waisted figure evoking the subtle nuances of a carefully crafted work of art.
As she took to the stage, Gasdia's voice soared with a sweetness, purity, and fluency of tone that was nothing short of remarkable, characterized by a rich tapestry of soft shadings and a consistent quality that spanned the full range of her vocal capabilities, from the highest notes to the lowest.
The illustrious Gasdia made her Metropolitan Opera debut in the year 1986, stepping into the iconic role of Juliette in Gounod's timeless masterpiece, Roméo et Juliette. As her career continued to unfold, Gasdia's artistic trajectory began to shift, and by the late 1990s, she found herself increasingly drawn to the world of recitals and concerts.
Notable Italian soprano, Cecilia Gasdia, has enjoyed a storied career marked by esteemed collaborations with renowned conductor Claudio Scimone and the esteemed I Solisti Veneti, both on the concert stage and in the recording studio.
As her professional trajectory continues to unfold, Gasdia has assumed the distinguished role of General Manager and Artistic Director of the opera at the prestigious Arena di Verona Festival, a position she has held since 2018.
