Erika Miklosa dances fleetly through Verdi's bolero to High E

THE SONGBIRD: Born in Hungary in 1970, Erika Miklosa spent her youth as an athlete training for the heptathlon. However, an accident forced her to switch career. While singing at local events and weddings, a music teacher heard her and began to work with the 16-year-old. She studied at Franz Liszt Conservatory of Music as well as as in Milan and New York. She became a soloist at the Hungarian State Opera in 1990 with roles including Adele, Gilda, Konstanze, and Queen of the Night. This became her signature role with more than 500 performances including London, Vienna, Paris, Munich, Mannheim, and New York at The Met, as well as a 2006 commercial recording on DGG conducted by Claudio Abbado.
THE MUSIC: The complete role of Elena in Verdi's "I vespri siciliani" can be considered a "soprano assoluta" role, ideal for a heavier lyric soprano with a wide vocal compass (both high notes and low notes) and considerable dramatic punch, but also able to put over this showy florid bolero in the last act. “Mercè dilette amiche," with its intricate scales, turns, mordents, grace notes, and long trills is so infectious it has over the years been lifted out of the opera by lighter coloratura sopranos who could never sing the entire role, and performed as a concert selection. Erika Miklosa is one such singer, who interpolates a sustained final High E6.

[@georgemeiser3231]

Thank you for this posting. It’s always I delight to encounter a coloratura soprano, one that I have not yet heard.

[@chevogliadiprenderlo8134]

There was a video where she was shamelessly singing this with the orchestra and hit an impressive high E without even cutting the final bar. Loved it.

[@operaartgallery]

exciting !