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The Brazilian-born lyric coloratura soprano, Gabriella Di Laccio, shares both Italian and Brazilian nationalities. She began her singing career under the guidance of the renowned Brazilian soprano Neyde Thomas and graduated with Distinction from the University of Music and Fine Arts of Paraná, Brazil (1991-1994). Whilst still at College, she joined the Guaira Theatre Opera Company in Brazil and made her professional debut as Barbarina in W.A. Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro. Her early success continued when she was offered a place as a soprano soloist at the Camerata Antiqua of Curitiba of Curitiba, a concert touring group with whom she performed extensively throughout her native country for many years as a soloist (1997-2001). During her years in Brazil, she also was also soprano with Madrigal Vocale (1991-2001). She continued her education at the Royal College of Music in London, where she gained Post Graduate Diplomas (PGDip) in Performance - Opera and as an Early Music Specialist (2001-2004). She is also the winner of the Araucaria Foundation Scholarship Award (Brazil, 2001), Peter Pears Prize (UK, 2001) and Richard III Prize for concert singers (UK, 2002).
Winner of the "Air Europa Classical Act of the Year Award 2013", Gabriella Di Laccio enjoys an international career that spans the genres of opera, oratorio and chamber music. Especially known for her virtuoso voice, suited to the opera seria genre of the Baroque, Classical and early Romantic repertoire, she brings intensity to her performance, which transcends the traditional boundaries of classical music, introducing new and exuberant flavour and charisma.
Recognized by Sir Charles Mackerras as “a singer of outstanding talent”, Gabriella Di Laccio has gained notice over the past years due to her expressive tone, impressive coloraturas and powerful stage presence. Her recent performances of Antonio Vivaldi and George Frideric Handel arias have established her as an artist of finest musical intelligence who handles intense technical challenges of the music with seeming ease, precision and great personality. This sensitive and charismatic singer leaves no one indifferent. Sometimes emotional and moving or full of humorous charm, her voice, theatrical and expressive qualities have earned her recognition and praise from an international audience.
Baroque Opera Productions include Platée by Rameau at the Megaron OperaHouse/ Athens, Orfeo by Monteverdi and Dido and Aeneas by Purcell with the English Bach Festival at the Banqueting House Palace in London (2008-2010). Other operatic roles include Adina in L’Elisir d’Amore, Gilda in Rigoletto, Cleopatra in G.F. Handel's Giulio Cesare, Adele in Die Fledermaus, Despina in W.A. Mozart's Cosi fan Tutte, Zerlina in W.A. Mozart's Don Giovanni, Susanna in W.A. Mozart's Le Nozze de Figaro, G.F. Handel's Semele, Musetta in La Boheme among others.
Equally at home on the recital stage, Gabriella Di Laccio is known for her commitment to exploring and performing a vast range of concert repertoire. She performs regularly as a solo recitalist and as a member of various chamber groups covering a wide-ranging repertoire from Baroque to contemporary. As a soloist, her work has included J.S. Bach’s B Minor Mass (BWV 232), St. John’s Passion (BWV 245) and St. Mathew’s Passion (BWV 244), G.F. Handel's Messiah and Dixit Dominus and Lucrezia (London Handel Festival), A. Vivaldi’s Gloria, W.A. Mozart's Exultate Jubilate and Haydn’s Creation, among many others. In concerts, she has appeared at the Wigmore Hall in London (with Florilegium and Emma Kirkby), Purcell Room at Southbank Centre, St John’s Smith Square in London (solo concert) among others.
As a performer of the Baroque repertoire Gabriella Di Laccio has sung with the Amaryllis Consort (2008), Concerto Instrumentale, Di Profundis, Baroque Orchestra of Mercosur and Baroque Ensemble Florilegium (2004). In addition to her solo career, she is the founder member of Il Festino Baroque Ensemble and together with outstanding and talented musicians who have gained their reputation in the Early Music Scene, they perform the repertoire composed by established Baroque figures and also explore less well-known Spanish and Latin American Baroque composers.
Gabriella Di Laccio has also established an important reputation performing Latin American Classical repertoire, including works by Heitor Villa-Lobos, Carlos Gomes, Ernani Braga, Alberto Ginastera among others in several solo concerts in the UK and abroad. Since 2001 she lives in London. She is Founder (2011) & President of Bravo Brazil - Rebuilding lives through music! in London, a UK charity that supports organisations in Brazil that provide free music education to vulnerable and deprived children in Brazil. www.bravo-brazil.com |
