An engaging interpreter…
The Washington Post
Rosana Orsini’s passion for music has always driven her forward in pursuit of beauty and knowledge. With a strong belief that there can be no future if there is no awareness of the past, Rosana Orsini unites passion for music and history in her art form. She has been engaged in several projects relating music to historical heritage in her home country Brazil, such as the preservation of the Opera House of Ouro Preto (1770), the restoration of the historical organ of Diamantina (1784-87) and the modern premier of the opera A Noite de São João, the first Brazilian opera written 1860 with music by Elias Álvares Lobo. She is currently working on the re-discovery of female conventual music of 18th and 19th century Portugal. Her talent as a Lyric Soprano has given her the opportunity to perform the most varied roles on celebrated stages around the world; while her curiosity as a Theatre Historian has led her to uncover important facts about the History of Ibero-American music.
Born in Vitória (Brazil), Rosana Orsini's work ethic enabled her to become the versatile artist she is nowadays. Her repertoire spans from the 16th to the 20th century, including the performance of several Mozart operas (Così Fan Tutte, Le Nozze di Figaro, Don Giovanni), Bizet (Les Pêcheurs de Perles), Puccini (Gianni Schicchi), Verdi (Un Ballo in Maschera) and Massenet Manon. She also performed in the first stage production in modern times of the zarzuela Vendado es Amor, no es ciego, by Spanish composer José de Nebra Blasco. Alongside performing the role of Venere, she undertook the artistic direction of the production of Monteverdi's Il ballo delle Ingrate at the prestigious Festival of Brazilian Colonial Music and Early Music of Juiz de Fora (Brazil), in celebration of the 450th anniversary of Claudio Monteverdi.
Over the past eight years, Rosana Orsini has, in partnership with organist Marco Brescia, delighted audiences in Europe, Central, and South America, in critically acclaimed recitals of 17th and 18th-century music. Rosana Orsini has also appeared in operas and recitals of sacred music in Rio de Janeiro, Madrid, New York, London, and Prague, having performed for various dignitaries such as Portugal’s presidents Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and Aníbal Cavaco Silva and Italian President Sergio Mattarella.
Gifted with strong curiosity and creativity, Rosana Orsini has, in parallel to the artistic activity, dedicated herself to a prolific academic career. She has published three books on the history of Ouro Preto’s Opera House as well as on different aspects of operatic performances in the 18th century’s Portuguese and Brazilian theatres. In addition, she has published several academic papers in important peer-reviewed journals across the globe.
Rosana Orsini has an under graduation in music from the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (BRA), a master in music degree from the Manhattan School of Music (USA), a post-graduate diploma in vocal performance from the Royal Academy of Music in London (GBR) and a joined Ph.D. in History and Musical Sciences from the Université Sorbonne – Paris IV (FRA) and the Universidade Nova de Lisboa (PRT).