Erica’s story

Formal education

Born in December 1994 near Modena, Erica Cortese is a young Italian mezzosoprano.

She studied opera singing at Conservatorio “Arrigo Boito” of Parma, under the guidance of mezzosoprano Adriana Cicogna.

In 2018, she attended the Accademia del Belcanto “Rodolfo Celletti” of Martina Franca.

She completed her studies with soprano Raina Kabaivanska and has been selected for Accademia Verdiana 2025, the Young-Artist Program of Teatro Regio di Parma, as well as the Young-Artist Program of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino.

She has worked with conductors Marin Alsop, Daniele Callegari, Michele Spotti, Beatrice Venezi and Stefano Rabaglia and has been directed by Stefano Monti, Rosetta Cucchi, Paul-Emile Fourny and Cristina Mazzavillani Muti.

Stage experience

In 2024, she debuted in many main roles, such as: the title role of Carmen by G. Bizet at Kumamoto Prefectural Theater in Japan, the role of Amneris in Aida by G. Verdi at Teatro di Villa Mazzacorati in Bologna, the role of Zita in Gianni Schicchi by G. Puccini at Teatro Comunale in Modena. In the same time, she took part in Echoes of ancient Tang Poems world tour with iSING! Festival, with concerts in Beijing, Wuhan and Macau.

Her roles list also includes Hänsel in Hänsel und Gretel by Humperdinck, Leonora in Scarlatti’s Il Trionfo dell’Onore, Bersi in Andrea Chénier, Clotilde in Norma, Marianne in Offenbach’s La chatte métamorphosée en femme, La Badessa in Suor Angelica, La Ciesca in Gianni Schicchi, Flora in La Traviata, and Dama in Macbeth.

She has appeared as a soloist at major theatres and festivals across Italy, including Teatro Regio di Parma, Teatro dell’Unione di Viterbo, Teatro Ebe Stignani di Imola, Teatro Alighieri di Ravenna, Teatro degli Impavidi di Sarzana, Teatro Amintore Galli di Rimini, Teatro Antico di Taormina, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino and Festival della Valle d’Itria. Internationally, she has performed at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in China, Opéra de Nice, Sofia National Opera and Ballet, Kumamoto Prefectural Theater and Opéra de Marseille.

Alongside her operatic work, her concert repertoire includes Rossini’s and Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, Vivaldi’s Gloria RV 589 and Stabat Mater RV 621, Mozart’s Coronation Mass K.317 and Requiem, as well as Verdi’s Requiem. This combination of operatic and concert repertoire reflects a musical activity extending from Baroque and Classical works to the Italian Romantic tradition.

Competitions

Participating in numerous international competitions, she won :

  • the second prize in XXXVI Concours International de Chant Lyrique de Beziers

  • the second prize in VI Mimas Opera Singer International Competition

  • the Kumamoto Opera Special Award in II Concorso Internazionale di Canto Lirico Giuditta Pasta di Saronno

  • the role of Flora in La Traviata by G. Verdi in XI Concorso Internazionale di Canto Lirico Fausto Ricci di Viterbo

  • the second prize at IX Concorso Internazionale di Canto Lirico “Bellano - Paese degli Artisti”.