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French-Argentinean Mezzo-Soprano Eugenia Forteza has been praised for her “earthy vocal presence” (Opera Wire), "powerful voice" (Atuvu.ca) and “wonderful legato lines and impressive breath control”
(Voce di Meche).
Born in Paris, France, Eugenia grew up in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and moved to the United States to continue her musical education at age 19. Eugenia is fluent in French, Spanish, English and Italian and speaks
intermediate German.
Eugenia was a Finalist in the 2017 Concorso Internazionale di Canto Lirico Katia Ricciarelli in Cerisano, Italy, where she was awarded an Opera Role Prize, a finalist in the 2018 Vienna Summer Music Festival Vocal Competition, a Semi- Finalist in the 2018 Mary Trueman Vocal Art Song Competition and a Semi-Finalist in the 2018 Premiere Opera Foundation International Vocal Competition.
During the 2018/2019 season, Eugenia covered the title role in L'incoronazione di Poppea with Bare Opera, sang Mrs. Tonti in Adriana McMannes with Christman Opera Company, returned to the "St. John's Concert Series" in Philadelphia, joined New Camerata Opera for their Haunted Cabaret and New Amsterdam Opera for Handel's Messiah and performed preview concerts in NYC for Felix Jarrar's new opera Mother Goose. During the Holiday Season, Eugenia sang the role of La Pastorcita in the US Premiere of El Rey Nació with Puntaclassic Productions. In the Spring, Eugenia covered the title role in María de Buenos Aires with Bare Opera, made her company and role debut as Frasquita in Carmen with Hudson Opera Theater, covered the role of Babylonienne in Hérodiade with New Amsterdam Opera, sang at Carnegie Hall with The National Children's Chorus and joined the cast of A Modern Reveal's debut "Leading Ladies Liberated" concert at The Flea Theater as part of the 2019 NY Opera Fest. In the summer, she returned to IVAI in NYC and ICAV in Montréal on full scholarship, where she reprised the role of Eufemia in Leoncavallo's La Bohème.
During the 2017/2018 season, Eugenia sang Noémie in Cendrillon with L'Institut Canadien d' Art Vocal, where she attended on full scholarship. She also originated the roles of Therese/Dada Queen in Tabula Rasa for the NY Opera Fest and the role of the Ghost of Christmas Past in A Christmas Carol with Gramercy Opera. Both runs were World Premiere operas by duo Jarrar - Goodwin.
Other recent roles include the role of Suora Infirmiera (Suor Angelica) with IVAI NYC at Mannes School of Music, the Doe in the NJ premiere of Beloved Prey (by Kento Iwasaki) with The Traveling Opera Company and Giulietta in selected scenes from I Capuleti e i Montecchi for Ana Maria Ruimonte's Manhattan Series. In 2016, Eugenia performed Genovieffa in Suor Angelica with Capitol Opera Albany, Eufemia in the rarely performed La Bohème by Leoncavallo with IVAI in NYC, the lead role of Despina (Così fan tutte) with Opera at Rutgers and also represented the International Vocal Arts Institute in its community outreach performances of The Magic Flute as Second Lady.
Past roles include Miss Rose (Lakmé), Lucy (The Threepenny Opera), Clori (Acis and Galatea) with Opera at Rutgers, Duchess Carolina (Luisa Fernanda) with Concert Operetta Theater in Philadelphia, the leading role of Bastienne (Bastien und Bastienne) with FAVA in Salzburg, Peaseblossom (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) with Poor Richard’s Opera, Nella (Gianni Schicchi) and La Zelatrice (Suor Angelica) with Temple University Opera Theater, Oscar (cover) in Un Ballo in Maschera with ConcertOpera Philadelphia and Soeur Constance (Dialogues des Carmelites) with Opera Academy of California.
In concert, Eugenia has recently made her Colombian debut singing at Museo Nacional de Colombia in Bogota with mezzo-soprano, Monica Danilov. Eugenia is praised for her concert performance of the Seven Spanish Popular Songs by Manuel de Falla, which she has sung many times, both in Philadelphia and NYC. She has also been the Soprano soloist for Ramirez' Misa Criolla with the University Singers at Boyer College of Music and Dance. She was the Soprano II soloist for Vivaldi's Gloria with the First Presbyterian Church in Springfield.
Eugenia has participated in several prestigious summer festivals. In 2015, Eugenia was selected to participate in the International Vocal Arts Institute (IVAI) in NYC, where she worked with some of the top teachers and coaches in the industry. She has been invited to return on scholarship, from 2016 to 2019. In 2018, she also joined IVAI's sister program in Canada, L'Institut Canadien d'Art Vocal, also on full scholarship. In 2014, Eugenia was selected to participate in the 10th Barcelona Festival of Song where she was praised for her interpretation of Iberian and Latin American repertoire. In Salzburg, she attended the Franco American Vocal Academy. In San Francisco, she was part of the Opera Academy of California. Eugenia also participated in the Florence Voice Seminar in Italy, studying voice with the late Julian Rodescu.
In 2017, Eugenia was awarded a full scholarship to study Italian in Florence, through the Italian Cultural Institute in NYC. Eugenia is the 2015 recipient of the Opera Graduate Assistantship at Mason Gross School of the Arts. In 2013/2014 Eugenia was awarded NEC’s Community Performances and Partnerships Program Opera Fellowship. Eugenia is also the 2013 recipient of The Florence Berggren Voice Scholarship and The Richard M. Scholarship for Music Studies from the Boyer College of Music and Dance.
Eugenia holds a Master of Music from the Opera Institute at Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, where she studied with bass-baritone Eduardo Chama. Eugenia also holds a Bachelor of Music in Voice Performance, Summa Cum Laude, from the Boyer College of Music at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. She studied with Randi Marrazzo while at Temple and prior to that, Eugenia studied at the National Conservatory of Buenos Aires with Ana María Osorio. Eugenia currently studies with soprano Elizabeth De Trejo.
Upcoming engagements for the 2019/2020 season include Eugenia's NY Theater debut in "Four Seasons" with The Evening Crane at Access Theater and the World Premiere of Felix Jarrar's new opera, "Mother Goose". Eugenia also returns to the St. John's Concert Series in Philadelphia, for her third year as a guest soloist and sings with companies such as Una Voz, Un Mundo, Eurasia Festival, Olympia Arts, Teatro Grattacielo and Olympia Arts.
Eugenia currently resides in NYC, where she freelances as a vocalist, actor and model.
She is the Founder and Lead Editor of 360° of Opera, a Board Member of Urban Playground Chamber Orchestra and the
Social Media Manager at Lenny's Studio.