|
|
ANNA TONNA combines a distinguished career as an operatic mezzo with a dedication to the music of Latin American and Spanish composers – a natural consequence of her Dominican parentage and her affinity for Hispanic culture and language. Her performances of zarzuela (Hispanic operetta) have included Roig’s Cecilia Valdés at New York’s Town Hall, Moreno Torroba’s Luisa Fernanda, and the tango opera “María de Buenos Aires” with the Connecticut Grand Opera’s, which inspired the Stamford Advocate to report, “Luisa was Anna Tonna, an experienced zarzuela singer whose penetrating mezzo clearly defined her character,” and “Mezzo Tonna was sultry and fiery as Maria.” She has also been a passionate advocate of Hispanic Art Song, performing a wide repertoire of music from the Caribbean, South America, México and Spain. Her appearances have included Gala performances for the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors honoring film stars Antonio Banderas, Alfred Molina and “Harry Potter III” director Alfonso Cuarón.
A New York City resident, Ms. Tonna enjoyed a successful 2003 Lincoln Center debut as Willie in Teatro Grattacielo’s Guglielmo Ratcliff. In January 2004, she sang Ernestina in Rossini’s L’Equivoco Stravagante with the Bronx Opera. Peter G. Davis of New York magazine reported, “Anna Tonna effectively stole the show as Ernestina, offering a prototype of the classic quick-witted Rossini heroine with a heart of gold as well as showing off her warm, secure mezzo-soprano to maximum advantage.”
Ms. Tonna has won first place honors at the Teatro Grattacielo Competition, the New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera Vocal Competition, the Gerda Lissner Foundation Competition, Opera at Florham Competition, and third place at the Center for Contemporary Opera Competition and the Marjorie Lawrence Competition.
As Amaranta in Paisiello’s La Molinara (U.S. premiere) in New York City’s Town Hall, The New York Times described her performance as “pert and youthful.” As Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Opera Illinois, the Peoria Times-Observer reported, “…Anna Tonna as Rosina displayed brilliant coloratura in the upper register and a clear, darkly beautiful lower register in her opening aria”. The Illinois Journal Star called her portrayal of Rosina “outstanding.”
|
