Member Spotlight: Mezzo-Soprano Erica Cortese

By Audition Oracle – Tue 30 Apr 2024 @ 15:18

This weeks Member Spotlight falls on Italian mezzo-soprano Erica Cortese

 
Erica Cortese Mezzo Soprano

How do you describe yourself as an artist?

Passionate, devoted to [my] art
 

What other skills or passions do you have that help shape you as an artist?

I’m very good at languages, I speak 5. This helps me a lot to shape my characters, as I can fully understand the lyrics in Italian, French, German, English and Spanish.
 

What has been the most memorable and rewarding experience you have had as an artist?

Meeting great singers of the past like Raina Kabaivanska and Viorica Cortez, hearing words of encouragement from them and having the possibility to improve myself with their guidance. It’s an honor!
 

What role, company or performing situation would be a dream come true for you as an  artist?

My current dream role is Charlotte in Massenet’s Werther. Then, for the future, if my voice evolves in the right direction, it would be a dream to sing characters like Lady Macbeth and Abigaille! We’ll see where my voice takes me.
 

What do you like most about being a creative artist?

I love that I can put all of myself in what I sing and that I can make the masterpieces of the great composers live again through my voice.
 

One piece of advice you would give your younger self?

I would advise my younger self to be more confident and ambitious, I struggled a lot with self doubt and that made me lose time and some occasions.
 

Three words that are the pillars you shape your career by.

Dedication, honesty, kindness
 

Where can we see you perform next?

I have a double debut coming up! Next month I will be singing Carmen for the first time and it will also be my first time in Japan, I’m so excited and grateful for this opportunity!
 
The performance is going to be at the Kumamoto Prefectural Theater. The conductor is Stefano Nigro and the stage director is Keiichi Nakamura. For further information and to buy tickets, please visit https://www.kengeki.or.jp/audienceevent/audienceevent-133160