PROFESSIONAL BIOGRAPHY

“Classic elegance meets contemporary flair”

Latvian-born mezzo-soprano Natalja Sticco (née Černohajeva) has emerged as one of the foremost dramatic voices of her generation, captivating audiences with her extraordinary vocal presence and unmatched artistry. Sir Simon Rattle OM CBE, Music Director of the London Symphony Orchestra, exalts, "Natalja's voice soars with amazing resonance and brio. Her style and technique are truly reminiscent of opera's golden age." Fabio Cerroni of the Bayerische Staatsoper further highlights her "highly intelligent approach and deep care of musical structure and interpretation... exceptional vocal quality in all its extension."

Acclaimed for her "voice of uncommon richness" and "enchanting stage presence," Ms. Sticco is widely regarded as "a rare, true Verdi mezzo." Her powerful interpretations of some of the most demanding roles in the mezzo-soprano repertoire have solidified her reputation, with cornerstone performances as Carmen in Carmen, Azucena in Il Trovatore, Eboli in Don Carlo, Ulrica in Un ballo in maschera, and Madame Flora (Baba) in The Medium – roles that showcase both her vocal mastery and dramatic intensity.

Ms. Sticco's international career has led her to some of the world's most prestigious stages, where she has performed alongside legends such as Jonas Kaufman, Elena Obraztsova, Kristine Opolais, and Elina Garanca. Her distinguished engagements include appearances at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow (Eugene Onegin, Lucia di Lammermoor), the Opéra de Monte-Carlo (Carmen), and the Royal Opera House Muscat. She has also performed at the Teatro Calderón in Spain (Macbeth), the National Opera and Ballet of Belarus (La Traviata), and in multiple performances at Estonia's Rahvusooper (Eugene Onegin, Madama Butterfly).

As a Young Artist with the Latvian National Opera & Ballet for seven seasons, Ms. Sticco delivered over 200 performances across 30 operas, mastering an extensive repertoire that spans Verdi's monumental works (Un ballo in maschera, Nabucco, Otello, Macbeth, La traviata, Aida, Il trovatore), Wagner's masterpieces (Der fliegende Holländer, Götterdämmerung, Rienzi), Puccini's operatic gems (Madama Butterfly, Il trittico, Turandot, La bohème, Tosca, Manon Lescaut, Le Villi), and Tchaikovsky's emotional profundity (Queen of Spades, Eugene Onegin, Mazepa).

Her vast repertoire also includes celebrated works by Mozart (Die Zauberflöte, Don Giovanni, Le nozze di Figaro), Donizetti (Lucia di Lammermoor, L'elisir d'amore), Shostakovich (Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District), Prokofiev (The Love for Three Oranges), and Rimsky-Korsakov (The Tsar's Bride), among others. Daniel Serafin, Artistic Director of Oper Im Steinbruch in Austria, lauds her ability to "beautifully convey emotion with passion and dignity."

A graduate of the esteemed Jāzeps Vītols Latvian Academy of Music, she has studied under the guidance of legendary voice teachers such as Diana Soviero and Paolo de Napoli. Her dedication to the expansion of classical music is exemplified by her critically acclaimed recording of "Requiem for a Soldier," which Fabio Cerroni describes as showcasing her "skill and sensibility to produce different colors in her execution." This versatility, coupled with what colleagues term her "immense musicality" and "fierce beauty, commitment, and honesty," has established Ms. Sticco as one of the most captivating and dynamic classical artists of her generation.