Latvian soprano Marina Rebeka is widely regarded as one of the most exceptional artists of our time. Her performances as Violetta in Verdi’s La traviata are heralded as definitive portrayals of the role, and she is frequently lauded as a leading Rossini and Mozart singer of her generation.
Since her landmark performance at the Salzburg Festival in 2009, under the baton of Riccardo Muti, Marina has been a regular guest at the world’s most prestigious concert halls and opera houses, such as the Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, the Teatro alla Scala, Royal Opera House (Covent Garden), Amsterdam’s Het Concertgebouw, the Bavarian State Opera, Vienna State Opera, and the Zurich Opera House.
She collaborates with leading conductors such as Zubin Mehta, Antonio Pappano, Fabio Luisi, Marco Armiliato, Michele Mariotti, Thomas Hengelbrock, Paolo Carignani, Stéphane Denève, Yves Abel, Ottavio Dantone and Alberto Zedda. Her spectacular array of repertoire spans ranges from jewels of the Baroque era (Handel), Bel Canto masterpieces (Rossini, Bellini, Donizetti), and much loved works by Verdi (La Traviata), Tchaikowsky (Eugene Onegin), and Stravinsky (The Rake’s Progress).
Ms. Rebeka is also active on the recital and concert stage, having performed at the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro, the “Rudolfinum” Concert Hall in Prague, the Rosenblatt Recital series in London, Teatro alla Scala, and the Großes Festspielhaus Salzburg. She has shared the stage with venerated ensembles including the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Latvian National Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Teatro Comunale di Bologna, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Filarmonici della Scala. She recorded Rossini’s Petite messe solennelle for EMI (Warner Classics) with the Orchestra of Santa Cecilia in Rome, led by Sir Antonio Pappano. Her first solo CD titled “Mozart Arias” was also released by the label in November 2013.
Her current season features performances as Mathilde in Guillaume Tell and Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni at The Metropolitan Opera, her debut in the title role of Maria Stuarda at Latvian National Opera, followed by performances in the role at the Teatro dell’Opera Roma. Ms. Rebeka also stars as Marguerite in Faust with Latvian National Opera, and sings La Traviata at the Wiener Staatsoper and Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia. Marina appears in concert as the soprano soloist in Rossini’s Stabat Mater with the Wiener Symphoniker, and performs operatic highlights in a New Year’s Gala Concert with the Czech Philharmoniker.
Marina Rebeka’s 2015/16 performances included her critically acclaimed debut in the title role of Thaïs at the Salzburg Festival with the Münchner Rundfunkorchester, and portrayals of Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, Violetta in La traviata, and Juliette in Roméo et Juliette at the Vienna State Opera. She sang Violetta as well as Vitellia in La Clemenza di Tito at the Opernhaus Zürich; Mimì in La bohème at the National Theater Mannheim and Latvian National Opera; made her debut as Ginevra in Handel’s Ariodante at Opera Lausanne; sang Donna Anna at the Bavarian State Opera; and took the stage for her highly anticipated debut in the title role of Norma at the Teatro Verdi Trieste. She also starred as Violetta in the annual NDR Klassik Open-Air with the NDR Radiophilharmonie and Elettra in Idomeneo at the Audi Festival in Ingolstadt. In concert, Marina was a featured soloist in Rachmaninov’s The Bells at the Concertgebouw, the inauguration concert of Great Amber Hall in Liepaja (Latvia), and also performed with the Luzern Symphony Orchestra and Symphonieorchester des Bayerischen Rundfunks. Additionally, Marina made her debut at the Red Ribbon Celebration Concert in Vienna.
Future engagements include Norma at the Metropolitan Opera, Leïla in Les pêcheurs de perles at Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Amelia in Simon Boccanegra at the Vienna State Opera.
In previous seasons, Marina has performed the role of Donna Anna in Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Don Giovanni, and returned to the Metropolitan Opera as Violetta in La traviata and Musetta in La bohème. She also portrayed Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte at the Bavarian State Opera, and Violetta at the Vienna State Opera and Royal Opera House (Covent Garden). Additionally, Ms. Rebeka debuted with the renowned Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra at the Mozartwoche in Salzburg, and sang Rossini’s Stabat Mater at the opening of Rheingau Musik Festival.
Born in Riga, Marina Rebeka began her musical studies in Latvia and continued in Italy, where she graduated from the Conservatorio di Santa Cecilia in Rome (2007). During her training, she attended the International Summer Academy in Salzburg and the Rossini Academy in Pesaro. Marina has also been awarded top prize at several international vocal competitions, including the renowned Bertelsmann Stiftung “Neue Stimmen” Competition in Gütersloh, Germany.
