The soprano takes the stage starting tonight, May 3, in the fairytale-inspired production directed by Michael Mayer

Described by The New York Times as a soprano who “brings Italy back to life,” and recognized as one of the leading international interpreters of the bel canto repertoire, Rosa Feola returns to the Metropolitan Opera in New York starting tonight, May 3. She stars in a production of La traviata directed by Michael Mayer, which reimagines Verdi’s masterpiece through a fairytale-like vision. With this return, Feola joins the great tradition of Italian sopranos who have performed the role of Violetta Valéry at the Metropolitan Opera, including Renata Scotto – who was her teacher – Anna Moffo, and Mirella Freni. In  La traviata, she will perform the role of Violetta Valéry under the baton of Marco Armiliato on May 3, 8, 11, 15, 20, and 23, and under Michele Spotti on May 28, 31, and June 6. Already a frequent guest on the prestigious New York stage – where she has also performed another of her signature roles, Gilda in Rigoletto –  Feola will return to the Metropolitan Opera in September to portray Musetta in La bohème presented in the historic production by director Franco Zeffirelli.

Discovered by Riccardo Muti and winner of the 2010 Operalia Competition founded by Plácido Domingo – which brought her to international prominence – Rosa Feola regularly appears at the world’s most prestigious opera houses. Recently, she has increasingly focused on rediscovering, promoting, and performing 18th-century Italian repertoire, to which she dedicated her latest recording project: the album Son regina e son amante, a tribute to lesser-known arias by Niccolò Piccinni, released by Pentatone and awarded the 2025 Abbiati Prize by Italian Music Critics for Best Recording.

Highly sought-after as a concert performer, she has appeared at the BBC Proms at London’s Royal Albert Hall, at the Salzburg Festival with the Vienna Philharmonic conducted by Muti, and in several engagements with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra under Muti’s direction.

Following her New York performances, Feola is awaited at Teatro alla Scala starting June 26, where she will perform the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor in a production directed by Speranza Scappucci and staged by Yannis Kokkos.

Photo credits: Rosa Feola ©Todd Rosenberg