The Last Verista

Latonia Moore makes her Met debut as Aida at 1pm, March 3rd, 2012

Every now and again, the opera world gets to marvel in the thrill of excitement when a young singer makes their debut…but not any debut.  A debut at the Metropolitan Opera is probably the most exciting of them all.  In a few hours, young soprano Latonia Moore will make her debut in a role that established many a great singer; Zinka Milanov, Renata Tebaldi, Leontyne Price, and Aprile Millo: Verdi’s magnificent Aida. In this historical and political opera, Verdi created three roles that are powerhouses of vocal prowess:  Aida, Amneris, and in my mind, Amonasro, even more than Radames.  This afternoon, Ms. Moore will sing Aida to Stephanie Blythe’s Amneris, Marcello Giordani’s Radames, and Lado Ataneli’s Amonasro.  The performance will be conducted by Marco Armiliato.  In Bocca al Lupo to Latonia!

Born in Houston and raised in Texas, Latonia Moore began her study at the University of North Texas, originally planed to study Jazz. Fortunately for opera lovers, one of her teachers convinced her to study classical music. She continued as a student of Bill Schuman at the Academy of Vocal Arts, Philadelphia where she graduated in 2005.

She has won:

• Richard Tucker Foundation Grant (2005),
• first price and audience award at Concours International d’Opéra in Marseille (2003)
• special price “Kammeroper der Internationalen Hans Gabor Belvedere Gesangswettbewerbe” (2003)
• first price and adiance award “Internationalen Gesangswettbewerbs der italienischen Oper Dresden (2002)
• Metropolitan Opera’s National Auditions (2000)

Here is a link to a “Sneak Peak” of Latonia’s singing from La Cieca on Parterre Box

“Cieli Azzurri” from Aida