NEWS

Ms. Nafornita was awarded the trophy of gratitude at the 2023 Generosity Ball of CCF Moldova for her philanthropic contributions to the association since 2012. She was lauded for her advocacy on behalf of marginalized children in the Republic of Moldova. The event raised an impressive 71,241 euros which will go towards supporting children with special needs in their local community schools.

In addition to her charity work, Valentina has made history as the first high-profile advocate from Moldova to be appointed as a Goodwill Ambassador of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Her work aims to highlight the situation of refugees and host communities around the world. The soprano expressed her gratitude in earning this position, stating that she is “happy to be able to contribute and support UNHCR's work for refugee rights around the world, especially during this difficult time in which our neighbor country Ukraine is, thereby helping Ukrainian refugees in the Republic of Moldova.”

To conclude her 2023/24 season, Ms. Nafornita performs at the Teatrul Verde in Chișinău, for a special concert entitled ‘O seara in parc’ (An evening in the park) on 22nd July. This event marks the 5th anniversary edition of the largest symphonic music festival in Moldova. Valentina is joined by several international artists including: Eugene Doga, Mariana Bulicanu, Bogdan Mihai, Constantin Moscovici, Ionel Manciu, Vitalie Advahov, and Dumitru Mătu. The singers are accompanied by the extended Orchestra of the Teatrului Național de Operă și Balet, and a mixed choir of over 200 voices, conducted by Maestro Dumitru Cârciumaru .

For tickets and more information, click here.

Valentina is thrilled to announce that she’s expecting her first child with her fiancé Cristian Spataru! Ms. Nafornita thanks you for your love and support as she embarks on this new chapter in her personal life.

After a successful performance of Strauss’ Vier Letzte Lieder in Denmark last month, Valentina performs the role of Micaëla in Bizet’s Carmen, for the second time this season, at the Teatro Maggio Musicale in Florence. Premiered in 1875 at the Opéra-Comique in Paris, this fiery, violent and morbid love story, the last of George Bizet’s compositions, was adapted from the 1845 novel of the same name by Prosper Mérimée. In this production by Piero Faggioni, Valentina is joined by her colleagues Clémentine Margaine as Carmen, Francesco Meli as Don Josè and Mattia Olivieri as Escamillo. Zubin Mehta conducts the Coro delle voci bianche dell'Accademia e Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino. 

Performances take place on March 28th; April 6th, 11th, 14th and 16th. Tickets and more information can be found here. 

This February, Valentina returns to the Musikkens Hus in Denmark after her debut there in 2014, where she performed alongside esteemed tenor Rolando Villazon. On this occasion, under the baton of Maestro Michael Schønwandt, Valentina performs Strauss’ notorious Vier Letze Lieder, accompanied by the Aalborg Symphony Orchestra. The programme for the evening also features Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra and Kodály’s Galánta dances. 

Tickets and more information can be found here.

After her successful role debut as Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus at the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genova, Valentina makes a return to Paris to perform a Symphonic Concert at the Maison de la Radio et de la Musique. Accompanied by the Choeur de Radio France and the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France under the baton of Mikko Franck, the programme features the world premiere of French composer Nadia Boulanger’s uncovered work, Allegro, along with her Trois pièces pour piano, and her sister, Lili Boulanger’s Pie Jesu. Also featured in the concert are two works by Fauré, including his Requiem and Trois pièces pour piano. Valentina also shares the stage with baritone Jérôme Boutillier and pianist Nour Ayadi. 

The concert takes place on January 18th in the auditorium. For tickets and more information, click here.

Valentina makes her role debut as Rosalinde in Strauss II’s Die Fledermaus at the Teatro Carlo Felice in Genova, marking her house debut. First performed in 1874 at the Theater an der Wien, Die Fledermaus is a highlight of Viennese operetta. Under the baton of Maestro Fabio Luisi, Valentina is joined by Bo Skovhus as Eisentstein Danae Kontora as Adele, Deniz Uzun as Prinz Orlofsky and Giovanni Sala as Alfred. 

Performances are held on December 31st; January 8th, 10th and 11th. 

Tickets and more information can be found here. 

Click here to listen to Valentina perform the ‘Terzett’ from Die Fledermaus alongside Oksana Volkova and Aleksandr Trofimov.

Last year, Valentina recorded an album of Mozart’s and Salieri’s Requiems at the Château de Versailles which has just been released on disc. The CD offers a wonderful comparison between the two compositions, separated by a decade, and explores the myth surrounding Mozart's death. Under the baton of Maestro Hervé Niquet, Valentina was joined by Ambroisine Bré (alto soloist), Robin Tritschler (tenor soloist), and Andreas Wolf (bass soloist). The singers were accompanied by the choir and orchestra of Le Concert Spirituel. 

For more information and to purchase the CD, click here.

Valentina returns to Chişinău to perform once again for the annual fundraising concert for CCF Moldova, for which Valentina is the organisation’s patron. This ‘Generosity Gala’ is the biggest charity event in Moldova, raising money for children in need. The concert is set for October 28th.

For more information about the organisation. Click here. 

Valentina makes a return to Opéra de Lausanne to perform the role of Adina in Donizetti’s melodramatic masterpiece, L’elisir d’amore. Her interpretation of the aria, "Prendi, per me sei libero", was described by The Opera Critic as “affecting, perfectly paced, and one of the evening’s highlights. Naforniță’s unaffected demeanour is warmer and less artful than certain predecessors here...” Conducted by Maestro Adriano Sinvia, Valentina is joined by her colleagues Dovlet Nurgeldiyev as Nemorino and Giorgio Caoduro as Belcore. 

Performances are held on October 2nd, 5th, 7th, 9th.

Click here for tickets and more information.

After a successful concert at Castel Mimi, Valentina remains in Moldova for a performance of Bizet’s Carmen at the Teatrul Național de Operă şi Balet Maria Bieșu on September 8th. Under the baton of Nicolae Dohotaru, Valentina, who sings the role of Micaëla, will be joined by her colleagues Ramona Zaharia as the title role, Jonothan Tetelman as Don Jose, and Andrei Jilihovschi as the bull fighter Escamillo in this production by Mihai Timofti.

Tickets and more information can be found here. 

Valentina’s 2022/23 season includes exciting performances at the world’s leading opera houses and concert halls. In September, her season begins with a return to the Teatrul Național de Operă şi Balet Maria Bieșu in Chişinău, Moldova, to perform the role of Micaëla in Bizet’s Carmen. She performs the same role later on in the season at the Maggio Musicale in Florence under the baton of Zubin Mehta. Ms. Nafornita then performs the role of Adina in L’elisir d’amore at Opéra de Lausanne, alongside Dovlet Nurgeldiyev and Giorgio Caoduro. Returning to Italy, Valentina makes her house debut at the Opera Carlo Felice in Genova, as she performs the role of Rosalinde in Die Fledermaus. On the concert stage, Valentina performs in several Gala concerts in Bulboaca, Chişinău (CCF Charity Gala), and Tallinn (as part of the Saarema Opera Festival). She also gives a recital of Strauss and Bartók at the Aalborg Koncertsalen in Denmark and performs in a symphony concert with the Maison de la Radio et de la Musique in Paris.

For further details, please see her calendar page here.

Valentina returns to the Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino for the second time this season to make her debut as Juliette in Gounod’s timeless tragic love story, Romeo et Juliette. Premiered in Paris in 1867, the opera was an immediate success. Maestro Henrik Nánási conducts the Chorus and Orchestra of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in this Shakespearean drama. Join Valentina and her esteemed colleagues, Juan Diego Flórez as Roméo, Evgeny Stavinsky as Frère Laurent, Alessio Arduini as Mercutio, and Ruzil Gatin as Tybalt in fair Verona, as the star-crossed lovers fight for love in the midst of political strife. Performances are set to take place on April 27th, May 3rd, 5th, 8th, and 10th. 

Tickets and additional information can be found here.

Valentina stars as Musetta in a movie version, Puccini’s La Bohème, directed by Mario Martone and produced during the pandemic by the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma and Rai Cultura. Her performance of Musetta in Àlex Ollé’s production at the Gran Teatre del Liceu was praised by Opera Online: “Valentina Naforniţa was good vocally as Musetta and scenically spectacular in the disinhibited character – perhaps that's why the public applauded her so much.”

The film is set backstage in the scenography workshops of the theater. Under the baton of Michele Mariotti, Valentina is joined by Jonathan Tetelman as Rodolfo, Federica Lombardi as Mimì, Davide Luciano as Marcello, Roberto Lorenzi as Schaunard and Giorgi Manoshvili as Colline. These protagonists express the joy of living and fear of facing the responsibilities that life presents and are immersed in a world that takes us back to the poetics of the French Nouvelle Vague. The television premiere of Puccini's masterpiece will be broadcast on April 8 on Rai3 at 9.20pm. 

Click here to watch the trailer.

Valentina makes her debut at the Grande Auditório da Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian in Lisbon, Portugal, performing her much beloved role, Fiordiligi, in Mozart’s Così fan Tutte, which was praised by Opera Click for possessing ‘a certain charm, both vocal and scenic’. Under the baton of Maestro Nuno Coelho, Valentina is joined by esteemed colleagues; Sunhae Im as Despina, Natalie Pérez as Dorabella, Ilker Arcayürek as Ferrando, Samuel Hasselhorn as Guglielmo and Marcos Fink as Don Alfonso and stage director. Performances will be held on 18th and 20th March.

Tickets and additional information can be found here.

Valentina is joined by Russian soprano Olga Peretyatko in a concert to celebrate the history of women. Hosted by “Be Classical” at the Salle Gaveau in Paris, the two sopranos present a programme of works that illustrate the place of women through different historical eras and the performance concludes with an ode to women composers whose works have remained unknown. Accompanied by the Ensemble Appassionato under the baton of Mathieu Herzog, this Women’s Rights concert also featured the largest visual design for theatrical production in Europe orchestrated by Fête des Lumières de Lyon.

Tickets and additional information can be found here.

Valentina wishes you and your loved ones happy holidays and a wonderful 2022!

Stepping out of her performances as ‘La Contessa’ at Opéra de Lausanne, Valentina will be performing a more solemn Mozart. Under the baton of Hervé Niquet, she will be singing the soprano solos in the Mozart and Salieri Requiem concert at the Royal Chapel of Versailles. Valentina will perform these magnificent works alongside her colleagues; Ambroisine Bré, Robin Tritschler and Andreas Wolf, accompanied by the musical ensemble ‘Le Concert Spirituel’. 

This programme will also be recorded for the discographic collection of Château de Versailles Spectacles' label.  

Tickets and additional information about theperformance can be found here.

After having started her season as Fiordiligi in Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte, Valentina tackles another Mozart heroine: La Contessa! James Gray’s production of Le nozze di Figaro will be performed starting on November 5th at the Opéra de Laussane, followed by performances later in the month - and stretching into December - at the Opéra Royal de Versailles. Valentina and the certain members of the cast perform in both cities under the baton of Frank Beermann. Phillip Addis sings Il Conte, Robert Gleadow performs Figaro in both locations, while Lea Desandre sings Cherubino in Lausanne and Giuseppina Bridelli performs the role in Versailles, and the role of Susanna is performed by Arianna Vendittelli in Lausanne and Florie Valiquette in Versailles.

Be sure to follow Valentina closely on social media to catch some fun behind-the-scenes moments!

Tickets and additional information about the Lausanne performances here.

Tickets and additional information about the Versailles performances here.

Valentina Nafornita has been awarded Moldova’s highest state honor, “The Order of the Republic” for her exceptional artistic contributions. The award, given in commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the country’s independence, was announced by the president of the Republic of Moldova who praised Ms. Nafornita for her remarkable successes, civic initiatives and unique talent which have greatly benefited both her country and humanity as a whole.

Valentina begins her 2021/22 season by returning to the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino to sing Fiordiligi in “Così fan tutte”, a role she recently performed on the same stage last April. The cast includes Kate Lindsey (Dorabella), Matthew Swenson (Ferrando), Mattia Olivieri (Guglielmo), Bernadette Torre (Despina), and Thomas Hampson (Don Alfonso). Ádám Fisher conducts this exceptional cast along with the Chorus and Orchestra del Maggio Musicale. Join Valentina for an evening of soaring Mozartian melodies. 

Performances are August 28, 30, September 1, 3. Tickets and additional information are available here. 

This Spring, Valentina will make her highly anticipated debut at Teatro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino performing the role of Fiordiligi in Mozart's Così fan tutte. The performances will be led by renowned conductor, Zubin Mehta, directed by Sven-Eric Bechtolf, and will feature an outstanding cast including Vasilisa Berzhanskaya (Dorabella), Matthew Swensen (Ferrando), Matthias Olivieri (Guglielmo), Benedetta Torre (Despina), and Thomas Hampson (Don Alfonso). This complex opera buffa, Mozart's third and final collaboration with librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte, offers a satirical perspective on relationships between women and men. 

Performances were planned for March 28, April 1, 6, 8 and 11, but due to Covid-19, the performance on March 28th will be filmed and available for streaming. For more information, please visit this link.

Valentina will be making her role debut as Mimì in Puccini’s La bohème on January 24th. She is overjoyed to return to Chişinău to perform her dream role in this special production directed by Andriy Yurkevych at The National Opera and Ballet Theatre of Moldova. This performance will be one of the opera house’s first productions in 2021 as they begin to reopen with a limited number of audience members. 

The performance will take place in Chişină on January 24th at 5:00pm. More information coming soon at www.tnob.md.

Debut as Micaela in Carmen at Opéra national de Paris

Production cancelled due to Covid-19

Valentina Naforniţa returns to Opéra national de Paris for Calixto Bieito’s intense production of Carmen. Making her role debut as Micaela, Ms. Naforniţa is delighted not only to be on stage alongside Varduhi Abrahamyan (Carmen) and Charles Castronovo (Don José), but also to be under the brilliant baton of conductor Keri-Lynn Wilson. The two collaborated on Ms. Naforniţa's debut album, Romance. French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that theaters have the right to open on December 15th, making this the celebrated reopening of the Opéra national de Paris following the pandemic and reconstruction work.

Performances are December 16, 19, 22, 25, 28 and 31st. Tickets and additional information are available here.

The Wiener Staatsoper has announced that it will be streaming shows from its archive, free of charge, during the month of November when the theater remains closed due to Covid-19 regulations. Valentina is featured on the November 4th broadcast of Britten’s A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, recorded in October 2019. This recording captures Valentina’s role debut in what was a new Irina Brook production. The cast also includes Erin Morley as Titania and Lawrence Zazzo as Oberon, and is conducted by Simone Young. The broadcast begins at 19:00 CET, and will be available to stream for the subsequent 24 hours; click here to watch. Click here to see the complete streaming calendar.

Valentina’s first operatic production of the season will be Orfeo ed Euridice at the Staatsoper Berlin. Singing the title role of Euridice, Valentina performs opposite American countertenor Bejun Mehta as Orfeo and Norwegian Victoria Randem as Amor. Conducted by Marc Minkowski, the production is by Jürgen Flimm with costumes by Florence von Gerkan. Performances are November 14th, 21st, 25th, and tickets and additional information are available here.

Valentina’s 2020/21 season was announced today, with more engagement expected to follow in the near future, once the theaters have announced their 2020/21 season’s productions. Despite the difficulties that the Covid-19 virus has posed for live theater, Valentina has an exciting 2020/21 season ahead of her. Highlights include Euridice in Orfeo ed Euridice at the Staatsoper Berlin, Micaëla in Carmen at the Opéra national de Paris, Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Musetta in La bohème at the Gran Teatre Liceu and concerts throughout Europe. For additional information, please visit Valentina’s calendar page here.

In celebration of the continuation of the 2019/20 season, after the Covid-19 Virus suspension, the Wiener Staatsoper has announced a series of concerts this June, several of which feature Valentina. On the 12th of June, she will sing in the "UNA FURTIVA LAGRIMA" - Ensemblemitglieder singen Ausschnitte aus Belcanto-Opern concert, on the 16th of June she will be featured in "SALUT, DEMEURE CHASTE ET PURE" - Ensemblemitglieder singen Ausschnitte aus französischen Opern, on the 22nd of June she will perform in the "KUDA, KUDA" - Ensemblemitglieder singen Ausschnitte aus Werken slawischer Komponisten concert, on the 24th Of June she sings in "CHE GELIDA MANINA" - Ensemblemitglieder singen Ausschnitte aus Werken von Puccini und Verdi concert, and on the 27th of June she joins her colleagues to sing in the GALAKONZERT DES JUNGEN ENSEMBLES. Each concert will also be live streamed via the Staatoper’s live streaming website, www.staatsoperlive.com.

Valentina has been selected as a member of the jury for the Goldene Note competition, to be held in Austria this June. The competition concludes with a televised concert featuring Valentina, her fellow jury members and the winners of the competition on June 21st at midnight. Tune in on Fidelio or ORF 3.

Valentina joins Anna Netrebko, Juan Diego Flórez, Jonas Kaufmann, and other stars of the operatic stage in a special gala concert, without audience yet broadcast on TV, called Wir spielen für Österreich. A collaborative effort between ORF III Kultur und Information, Ö1, ORF RadioKulturhaus, ORF Radio-Symphonieorchester Wien, the Wiener Staatsoper, the Volksoper and the Vereinigten Bühnen Wien TV-Konzepte, this concert will be broadcast on April 19th and on May 3rd at 20:15 on Ö1. You can watch live online, or for a limited time following the concert here.

Although the Wiener Staatsoper is closed due to Covid-19 regulations, the opera house is offering a nightly stream of previously recorded shows. On March 30th, at 19:00, Valentina will be featured in Le Nozze di Figaro as Susanna. Recorded in 2016, Cornelius Meister conducts as Valentina sings opposite Rachel Willis-Sørensen as Contessa,  Luca Pisaroni as Conte d’Almaviva, Alessio Arduini as Figaro, and Marianne Crebassa as Cherubino.

On April 6th, Valentina sings Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream opposite Lawrence Zazzo as Oberon, Erin Morley as Titania, Théo Touvet as Puck, Peter Kellner as Theseus, Szilvia Vörös as Hippolyta, Josh Lovell as Lysander, Rafael Fingerlos as Demetrius, and Rachel Frenkel as Hermia. Filmed in 2019, Valentina made her role debut in this new Irina Brook production conducted by Simone Young.

The operas are presented on their website, which can be accessed here.

Valentina hopes that all of her fans and friends stay safe during this period, and looks forward to performing live again as soon as it is safe.

Photo: Dragosh Cojocaru

Valentina has been invited to sing for the Romanian royal family on January 18th. The gala concert celebrates the royal family’s thirty year anniversary of their return to Romanian after decades of exile.

Two Donizetti Roles

Following her critically acclaimed role debut as Helena in Britten's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream,' Valentina conquers two Donizetti roles back to back: first Norina in 'Don Pasquale,' at the Wiener Staatsoper, then Adina in 'L'elisir d'amore' at the Nationaltheater Mannheim. 'Don Pasquale' is an Irina Brook production which Valentina knows well, having sung in the production at its debut in 2015. This time, she sings opposite Dmitry Korchak as Ernesto, while Ambrogio Maestri performs the title role. Performances are October 30th and November 3rd, and tickets can be purchased here.

In Mannheim, Ms. Nafornita returns to the role of Adina in a one night only gala performance of 'L'elisir d'amore.' Conducted by Mark Rhode, Valentina is joined by René Barbera as Nemorino. Tickets for this November 9th performance are available here.

Role debut as Helena in 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'

Valentina makes her role debut as Helena in Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream in a new Irina Brook production at the Wiener Staatsoper. This is her first role in English, and her first foray into Britten, which she describes as "magical." Australian conductor Simone Young leads the Wiener Philharmonic, and Valentina is joined by Erin Morely as Titania, Lawrence Zazzo as Oberon, Théo Touvet as Puck, Peter Kellner as Theseus and Szilvia Vörös as Hippolyta. The show opens on October 2nd, with subsequent performances on the 05th, 09th, 13th, 17th, and 21st. The opening night performance will also be livestreamed online here.

Tickets and additional information are available on: https://www.wiener-staatsoper.at/spielplan-tickets/detail/event/968359567-a-midsummer-night-s-dream/

"Her voice shone out many different colors. Iolanta’s famous arioso in the first scene was a big moment when she showcased youthful energy locked inside by her limited perception of life. And then, this energy was slowly released to reveal new facets of her personality — in comprehending love and gaining courage, and later exploded with the excitement of witnessing the skies."

/  operawire  /