Bio
An esteemed mezzo-soprano, known as one of the Rocky Mountain region’s most celebrated artists, Marcia Ragonetti has been praised for her “captivating” characterizations (Cherubino, Carmen, Augusta Tabor, Rosina, Siebel, Nicklausse, Prince Orlofsky) as well as her “radiant, effervescent” singing over an illustrious forty-three-year career. That career had its start in 1982 as a chorister and quickly evolved under the expert tutelage of Nathaniel Merrill and Louise Sherman, co-founders of Opera Colorado, to her first featured role as Inez in Il trovatore in 1985, with over twenty OC productions to follow. A career highlight was appearing in the gala inauguration concert and stellar opening production of Carmen for the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in 2005. Her international debut was in Sweeney Todd as the Beggar Woman, a role she first sang with Opera Colorado and then toured to four Emilia-Romagna cities in Italy. Her concert repertoire is vast and varied and she is especially proud to claim a twenty-two-time guest appearance record with the Colorado Symphony alone. Musical theatre credits include garnering Henry nominations for “Outstanding Actress” for her virtuosic portrayals of Maria Callas in Master Class and Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard. Her love of intimate, cabaret-style shows finds her continuing to create and perform bio-based revues of Gershwin, Porter, Kern, Weil, and others. She is delighted and honoured to have come full circle—40 years later—as your insightful guide to this Verdi masterpiece.