“Montalbetti is ready for a great career. Period. Her voice rings, her breath support is flawless, she can turn an elegant phrase and she has dramatic ability.”
Canadian soprano Ileana Montalbetti is a recent graduate of the Canadian Opera Company Ensemble Studio where she performed Elettra in the Ensemble Studio Performance of Idomeneo and First Lady in the Ensemble Studio Performance of The Magic Flute. In the 2008/09 season she performed Fiordiligi in the Ensemble Studio Production of Così fan tutte and Mavra Kuzminichna in War and Peace. Her cover assignments for the Canadian Opera Company have included; Elisabetta in Maria Stuarda, The Cook in Stravinsky’s The Nightingale, Helena in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Amelia in Simon Boccanegra and Foreign Princess in Rusalka.
During the 2010/11 season Ms. Montalbetti covered Anai in Rossini’s Moise et Pharaon, under the baton of Maestro Riccardo Muti at the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, performed Countess Almaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro with Saskatoon Opera and, with the Canadian Opera Company; performed Clorinda in La Cenerentola and The Newspaper Seller in Death in Venice. Ms. Montalbetti also covered the roles of Pat Nixon in Nixon in China, First Lady in The Magic Flute and High Priestess in Aida, all for productions by the Canadian Opera Company. During the summer of 2011, Ms. Montalbetti attended the Steans Institute for Singers at the Ravinia Festival.
The 2011/12 season opened with performances of Fifth Maid in Lehnhoff’s production of Strauss’ Elektra at the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma. With the Canadian Opera Company Ms Montalbetti covered Antonia in Tales of Hoffmann, Bianca in Zemlinsky’s A Florentine Tragedy and Nella in Gianni Schicchi
Future seasons see Ms Montalbetti return to the Canadian Opera Company and in the 2012/13 season she will make her debut with Edmonton Opera as Antonia in Tales of Hoffmann and be heard in recital at the Gustin House in her hometown, Saskatoon. Ms. Montalbetti has attended the Chautauqua Institute where she performed Tatyana in Eugene Onegin and Countess Almaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro. She has also held two consecutive soprano fellowships at the Tanglewood Music Centre where, most notably, she performed Celestial Voice in a concert version of Don Carlo under the baton of Maestro James Levine. Ms. Montalbetti is a graduate of the opera diploma program at the University of Toronto, where she performed the roles of Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus, Countess Almaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro and Female Chorus in The Rape of Lucretia. She has also appeared as Donna Anna in Don Giovanni for Saskatoon Opera and The Toronto Summer Music Academy and Festival and was the guest soloist for Manitoba Opera’s “Bravo Gala”.
Ms. Montalbetti is a 2012 & 2010 Laureate of the Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyrique. She was a winner of the 2012 New York District Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and was given a 2012 Encouragement Award from the Sullivan Foundation. Ms. Montalbetti placed second in the 2011 Christina and Louis Quilico Awards and was nominated by the Canadian Opera Company to compete in the 2011 Stella Maris Vocal Competition.
Aldeburgh Connection Canadian Opera Company Edmonton Opera Manitoba Opera Ravinia Festival Steans Institute Saskatoon Opera Tanglewood Music Center Teatro dell’Opera di Roma Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra
"The second half opened with soprano Ileana Montalbetti...the rich, penetrating, somewhat steely tone and ample volume is ideal in certain Italian spinto roles and the jugendliche dramatisch roles in Wagner and Strauss. montalbetti offered beautifully poised singing in "Einsam in truben Tagen" and Come in quest'ora bruna". La Scene Musicale - Joseph So
“Montalbetti is ready for a great career. Period. Her voice rings, her breath support is flawless, she can turn an elegant phrase and she has dramatic ability.” Toronto Star – John Terauds
“…dramatic soprano Ileana Montalbetti (Elettra)…with her big steely sound and comic flair, Montalbetti gave the performance of her career.” Opera – Joseph So
“Ileana Montalbetti sang the role of Electra, the Argive princess. She has a commanding stage presence and a considerable voice. The Greek Press – James Karas
“…soprano Ileana Montalbetti, sang Donna Anna’s “Or sai”. Hers is a big budding spinto…with a big ringing sound.” La Scene Musicale – Joseph So
“Soprano Ileana Montalbetti does a great job of showcasing her character’s anguish. Dressed in a white satin gown with her hair in curls, Montalbetti cries “My dear father,” and it sends chills up the spine…Soprano Ileana Montalbetti also shines as one of Don Giovanni’s seductees, with her bright, clear, strong voice easily bending at her will. At age 23, it’s easy to see Montalbetti has a long, successful career ahead of her, and opera fans will become increasingly familiar with her names as the years go on.” The Saskatoon Star Phoenix – Shannon Bolkaschuk
