The world-famous soprano Maria Agresta, one of the stars of Raina Kabaivanska School is nominated for “Best female singer” for the International Opera Awards 2020. The world’s most prestigious opera awards ceremony will take place on 4th of May at Sadler's Wells Theater, London.
Maria Agresta graduated from the Conservatorium in Salerno. Since 2009 she improveds her skills under the guidance of Raina Kabaivanska at Vecchi-Tonelli Music Institute in Modena and in the Master Classes at New Bulgarian University. She is a scholarship holder of Raina Kabaivanska Fund at New Bulgarian University.
In 2010 she debuted as Mimi from "La Bohemè" on the stages of Sofia Opera and Teatro Comunale in Modena in performances with all Raina Kabaivanska’s students cast.
In the next years the Italian soprano was engaged in the most prestigious opera houses - Metropolitan Opera, MilanLa Scala,Covent Garden, the Paris Opera, Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, Arena di Verona, Teatro Real Madrid, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Bayerische Staatsoper, La Fenice Theatre in Venice,Salzburg Festival and many others. Her partners on the stage are the world's most famous tenors - Plácido Domingo, Jonas Kaufmann, Roberto Alagna, Francesco Demuro,Andrea Carè etc. Her repertoire includes the roles of Norma (Norma), Desdemona (Othello), Elvira (I Putritani), Leonora (Il trovatore), Alice Ford (Falstaff), Leonora (La forza del destino), Mimi (La Bohemè), Nedda (Pagliacci), Liu (Turandot), Amelia (Simon Boccanegra), Micaela (Carmen), Marguerite (Faust) etc..
In January 2020 Maria Agresta performed as Mimi in "La Boheme” at Metropolitan Opera, New York. She is currently preparing her debut as Queen Elizabeth from "Roberto Devereux" - in March at Champs-Elysees, Paris and in April at Teatro Massimo, Palermo.
“To get acquainted with Raina Kabaivanska was a discovery! I discovered a wonderful and caring person just like a mother. In difficult times she did not stop encouragingme and giving me confidence in my abilities and my professional future, even when I was hesitant.
She is a great teacher! Strict and demanding, yet caring, loving and generous beyond belief. I have never encountered another person so capable and willing to share her knowledge and experience.
I have received many special gifts throughout my life, but Raina is the most essential for me!”- says Agresta about her teacher.
In September (7 – 27)2020 Raina Kabaivanska will carry out her XX-th International Master Class at New Bulgarian University.