Cristina Castaldi, Soprano

• Giovanna (Giovanna D'Arco)

American soprano Cristina Castaldi is making her debut with Sarasota Opera.  Most recently, she sang the role of Donna Elvira in Connecticut Grand Opera's production of Don Giovanni. Other roles include Mimì in La bohème with the Natchez Opera Festival and the National Lyric Touring Company; Madame Lidoine in The Dialogues of the Carmelities at the New England Conservatory of Music; Nadia in the New York premiere of Wargo's A Chekhov Trilogy and Miss Jessel in The Turn of the Screw. 

Ms. Castaldi made her operatic debut with Westchester Hudson Opera as Musetta in La bohème for the 100 year celebration of the work. She spent several years with Dicapo Opera in New York City, where she sang Magda in La rondine and Violetta in La traviata. She repeated the role of Violetta with the National Lyric Touring Company in performances throughout New England.

Recent orchestral engagements have included soprano soloist in operatic galas with the Allentown, Norwalk and Springfield Symphony Orchestras.  She has  performed in Handel's Messiah and Vivaldi's Gloria with the Rhode Island Civic Chorale and Orchestra, Mozart's Requiem, Rutter's Gloria, and the Coronation Mass with Kennesaw State College in conjunction with the Cobb County Symphony in Georgia. Performances of Strauss’ Vier Letzte Lieder, Soprano soloist in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony and Soprano soloist in Mahler’s Second Symphony are projected for 2010 and 2011 in Mexico.

Ms. Castaldi regularly performs solo recitals throughout New York. Most recent recital venues included the Trinity Church Concerts at One series and at the Kosciuszko Foundation. 

She was a winner in the Liederkranz Foundation Vocal Competition, finalist in the New Jersey Verismo Vocal Competition, and winner at the Opera at Florham Vocal Competition