Gemma Coma-Alabert

Gemma Coma-Alabert, acclaimed mezzo-soprano, captivates with her versatile and emotional voice. With a career spanning opera, oratorio, cantatas and contemporary works, her masterful and profound interpretation moves audiences around the world, establishing her as a prominent figure on the international musical scene.

Biography

Born in Girona, Gemma Coma-Alabert was awarded the 1st prize at the National Conservatory of Paris and continued her training at the Guildhall School of Music in London and then at the Opéra Estudi at the National Opera of Lyon.

She sang Medea in Cavalli’s Giasone conducted by Harry Bicket at the Aspen Opera Theater (USA), or which the New York Times said: “Gemma Coma-Alabert, a Spitfire mezzo-soprano, did a refined job as Medea, both in vocal tone and characterization.” She returned to Aspen as a guest artist for a recital of Spanish songs with guitarist Sharon Isbin, and made her New York debut at the 92nd Street Y, also with Ms. Isbin.

Her repertoire includes roles such as Carmen, Ottavia (Poppea), Cherubino (Le Nozze di Figaro), Dorabella (Cosi fan tutte), Rosina (The Barber of Seville), Isaura (Tancredi), Zulma (l’Italiana in Algerie), Cloe (L’Arbore de Diana), Teresa (La Sonnambula), Rossweisse (Walküre), Flora (La Traviata), Nicklausse / Muse (Les Contes d’Hoffmann), Suzuki (Madama Butterfly), Abbessa (Suor Angelica), Mrs. Herring (Albert Herring) and Selysette (Ariane et Barbe-bleue). She has sung at the Liceu de Barcelona, Palau de les Arts de Valencia, Opera de Bilbao, Opera de Oviedo, Opera de Catalunya/Opera de Sabadell, Opéra National de Montpellier, Théâtre des Champs Elysées de Paris, Teatro Real de Madrid, among others.

Her recent symphonic repertoire extends from Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony to Schumann’s Szenen aus Goethes Faust, Pau Casals “El Pessebre”, Manuel de Falla L’Atlantida (Reina Pirene) and Mahler’s Symphony no. 8 (Alt 1) to Granados’ Dante (Naxos CD version). She has sung with orchestras such as the Montpellier National Orchestra, Barcelona Liceu Orchestra and the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra.

She has worked with directors such as Ivor Bolton, Harry Bicket, Fabio Biondi, Ottavio Dantone, Stéphane Denève, Pablo Gonzáles, Lawrence Foster, Jean-Claude Malgoire, Andrea Marcon, Zubin Mehta, Josep Pons, Arthur Post, Antoni Ros Marbà, Robert Spano, and stage directors Peter Brook, Massimo Gasparón, Claus Guth, Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier, Marc Arturo Marelli, Francisco Negrín, Laurent Pelly, Emilio Sagi, Krzysztof Warlikowski and Barrie Kosky.

Recent releases include the Opus Art DVD of Ariane et Barbe-bleue at the Liceu de Barcelona and the recording of Bottesini’s Requiem with the London Philharmonic for Naxos. In 2014 she recorded Granados’ Dante with the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra for the Naxos record label.