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CATALINA CUERVO
SOPRANO
BIOGRAPHY
Colombian-American singer Catalina Cuervo, known internationally as the "Fiery Soprano” and named one of the “Five Most Outstanding Colombian Sopranos in the World,” is a versatile performing artist making her mark in a variety of exciting repertoire. The South Florida Classical Review has praised her as a “powerhouse,” “tour de force,” and a “larger than life” singer who “commands the stage with her impressive soprano voice and range.” She recently made her role débuts as Elisetta in Il matrimonio segreto with Florida Grand Opera and Micaëla in Carmen in her return to Anchorage Opera. Additionally she made her début with Fort Worth Opera in two concerts which she curated: Noches de Latinidad: El fuego de una mujer and Noches de Zarzuela, brought her celebrated Maria in Maria de Buenos Aires to Opera San Antonio, made her début with Opera Naples with her much-acclaimed Frida, and an sang an opera gala with the South Florida Symphony. Catalina will join the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra for Manuel de Falla’s Three Cornered Hat.
Ms. Cuervo holds the outstanding distinction of having performed the most productions by any singer in history of both Piazzolla and Ferrer's Maria de Buenos Aires and Rodriguez and Cruz’s Frida. Consequently, she is regarded as one of the leading voices of Latin American repertoire in the world. She has performed her highly celebrated interpretation of the title role in Maria de Buenos Aires over eighty times for numerous companies including New York City Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Arizona Opera, The Atlanta Opera, and Cincinnati Opera, to name a few. Her most recent success was at Theatro Municipal de São Paulo in Brazil, where she won Best Performance of 2021 – Audience Choice at the Concerto Awards (Prêmio Concerto) by Concerto Magazine (Revista Concerto). Ms. Cuervo recently starred in the revival of Frida with Michigan Opera Theater. Productions throughout the United States have seen sold-out shows and triumphant reviews, many naming Frida the best opera of the season.
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CRITICAL ACCLAIM
"...an unbelievable performance that tugged at the heart strings..." – American Presswire"
Carmen – “Catalina Cuervo’s voice soared in an unbelievable performance that tugged at the heart strings and brought people to tears, particularly with her aria “Je dis, que rien ne m’epouvante,” sung while she is frightened and alone in the mountains, praying for courage while searching for her love.”
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"...gutsy, rich toned instrument..." – South Florida Classical Review
The Three-Cornered Hat – “Soprano Catalina Cuervo’s gutsy, rich toned instrument gave dramatic life to the three mostly unaccompanied solos”
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"...a sophisticated, lyric instrument..." – Schmopera
Frida – “She steps from the canvas in spitting image of Frida’s icon– her fiery attitude and intentional interpretation brought a sharp wit and honesty to the woman. . . Cuervo’s soprano endures again as a sophisticated, lyric instrument, fitted with a strong sense of musicality and empathy.”
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"...her portrayal was characterized by strength, vulnerability and sensuality..." – South Florida Classical Review
Frida – Soprano Cuervo is a powerhouse in FGO’s episodic but colorful “Frida”
“In the role of Kahlo, Cuervo gave a focused, emotional performance that avoided the diva-like, over-the-top dramatics that might have seemed obvious for such a role. Singing with smooth vocal intensity, her portrayal was characterized by strength, vulnerability and sensuality. Kahlo’s emotional exposure came through, as she sang sadly from her hospital bed of surrendering her youthful dreams.”
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"...her dark voice and strong lower register were well suited to it...." – Opera News
Frida – “As Frida Kahlo, soprano Catalina Cuervo was totally convincing, conveying Kahlo’s courage, determination, and passion at every moment. Much of her music lies low, and her dark voice and strong lower register were well suited to it.”
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"...Catalina Cuervo’s performance as Frida was nothing short of a tour-de-force..." – Cincinnati Enquirer
Frida – “Catalina Cuervo’s performance as Frida was nothing short of a tour-de-force. She inhabited the role completely, from the defiant schoolgirl who joins the Mexican Communist Party to the woman who lusts for life in all of its interpretations.”
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“…Her dark chest register snarled and purred …” – The Observer
Maria de Buenos Aires – “The Colombian soprano Catalina Cuervo reprised the title role, which in the past decade she has sung practically everywhere from Anchorage to Atlanta. Her dark chest register snarled and purred and she flaunted sufficient diva assurance to transmogrify a few simple walking steps into a bravura choreographic turn.”
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“…Soprano Catalina Cuervo sang Maria with full-throated passion…” – The Chicago Tribune
Maria de Buenos Aires – “Soprano Catalina Cuervo sang Maria with full-throated passion, her ability to articulate tango rhythm while spinning long, sensuous lines a marvel to behold. Rare is the singer who can walk the line between populist and classical traditions, but Cuervo accomplishes this feat seemingly with ease.”
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“…erotic and lush sounding…” – Opera News
Maria de Buenos Aires – “Cuervo seemed to embody Maria, erotic and lush sounding, even in the extreme low reaches of her range.”