The veteran Verdi mezzo and looks ahead while she celebrates a 30 year career in opera

“Her voice is a miracle of power and flexibility from top to bottom. It is the emotion which she imparts into her singing, however, that makes her so memorable…Cornetti imbues each [role] with an emotional force all its own.” – Seen and Heard International

Athlone Artists is pleased to welcome mezzo-soprano Marianne Cornetti to its roster of opera and concert artists, conductors and stage directors.

Marianne Cornetti is internationally recognized as a leading Verdiana, who for 30 years has owned both of Verdi’s prime roles for mezzo soprano, Amneris in Aida and Azucena in Il Trovatore. She has also portrayed iconic leading Verdi roles including Lady Macbeth in Macbeth, and Princess Eboli in Don Carlos. Known as a Falcone who can soar into roles often played by sopranos, Cornetti’s versatility has also led her to perform Abagaille in Nabucco and the title role in La Gioconda. She has appeared in opera houses across the world from Teatro alla Scala in Milan, to Royal Opera House to the Metropolitan Opera to her hometown Pittsburgh Opera, where her career first began.

“I first met Marianne Cornetti in 1998 as a young tenor when I was fortunate to play the Messenger to her Amneris at Opera Carolina,” says Athlone Artist’s Miguel Rodriguez. “I have been a fan of her impeccable voice ever since and followed with interest her astounding career. Now I am so pleased to be working with her again at Athlone Artists.”

“What really captured me about Athlone,” says Cornetti, “is that this is an agency run by a person who knew me all those years ago, knows me now and with whom I feel a connection and trust that comes with that. He has been a singer and administrator and excelled at both. He understands voices, which is something so important to me as I look to the next chapter in my career.

In an Athlone Artists Beyond the Bio conversation, Marianne Cornetti talks about facing down fear and keeping her dreams always ahead of her.