Natalja Sticco

Known for her interpretations of operatic arias, Natalja Sticco is emerging as a powerhouse classical crossover artist. She is a favorite of the concert-going public for her lively, vivacious on-stage persona, and voice of uncommon richness. The Latvian-born mezzo-soprano launched her singing career in 2009 as a chorus member of the Latvian National Opera, eventually breaking-out as a soloist and concert performer in the United States in 2018. She has appeared in over 200 performances of 30 operas in 6 countries within Europe, the Middle East, and North America. A rare "Verdi-Mezzo" Natalja enchants audiences with a scorching beauty and personal warmth which exemplifies the elegance and sophistication synonymous with classical music. Her thoughtful investigations of Baroque music is also garnering considerable recognition, even among the non-opera-going public. As directors and admirers attest, her vocal talent is immense. In 2019 Natalja further reinforced the changing perceptions of classical music vocalists when she created a haunting legato for director Martin P. Stevens' film, "The House of Schudder." Natalja's ability to approach differing music styles with such a fierce beauty, commitment and honesty; can only be driven from a life that has been deeply-influenced by music. Natalja's passion for music led to her acceptance into the prestigious Jazeps Vitols Latvian Academy of Music where she studied Vocal Performance. There, she earned a coveted spot as a member of Opera Studio 'Figaro,' performing the roles of Filippyevna (Eugene Onegin), Kastcheevna (Kaschey the Immortal), Death (chamber opera Stalin and Death) and while still a student at JVLMA, Natalja was selected for the chorus of the Latvian National Opera & Ballet and it's first Young Artist Program under the Direction of Andrejs Zagars. As a young LNO artist she performed the roles of Orlofsky (die Fledermaus) and mastered the role of Olga (Eugene Onegin). She continued performing as a chorus member from 2009-2017 in LNO's major productions, including those featuring Opera greats Tenor Jonas Kaufmann, Soprano Kristine Opolais and Mezzo-Soprano Elina Garanca. Her touring experience includes performances at Teatro Calderon, Vallladolid, Spain (Macbeth, 2010); National Opera and Ballet of Belarus, Minsk, Belarus (Traviata, 2010); Rahvusooper Estonia, Talllinn, Estonia (Eugene Onegin, M'dame Butterfly, 2011); Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow, Russia (Eugene Onegin, Lucia di Lammermoor, 2013), Monte Carlo (Carmen, 2013), and the Royal Opera House Muscat, Oman (Der fliegende Hollander,2013). Natalja has trained in Master Classes with Axel Everaert (Belgium), Paolo de Napoli (Italy), Margarita Gruzdeva and Anita Garanca (Latvia), as well as private vocal coaching from Soprano Hanneke de Wit (Netherlands). In 2018, Natalja made her US debut as a soloist with roles as Mercedes in Bizet's opera Carmen and as Madame Flora in a re imagined production of Menotti's The Medium, which explored chilling new depths of the character. In 2019, she earned her first film-credit as a background effects vocalist in Director Martin Philip Stevens film "The House of Schudder." Natalja continues performing as a soloist in the Greater Boston area in concerts and events; expanding her repertoire to also include Baroque and Early Music and is coached by Thomas Jones of Harvard University's Office for the Arts.