Anna Tonna

Mezzo-Soprano

Personal website: http://www.annatonna.com

A Lyric Opera of Chicago Center for American Artists finalist, mezzo-soprano ANNA TONNA has been seen in such roles as Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Opera Illinois and New Jersey State Opera, Lola in Cavalleria Rusticana with New York Grand Opera and the New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera, Cherubino in Le Nozze di Figaro and Musetta in Leoncavallo’s La Boheme with New York Grand Opera, and Suzuki in Madama Butterfly with the Teatro Nacional de Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.
Ms. Tonna has placed in many competitions, including the Liederkranz Foundation, Gerda Lissner Foundation, Marjorie Lawrence International competition, Teatro Grattacielo Competition, National Opera Association and Violetta Dupont/Opera at Florham.

Of Anna Tonna’s portrayal of Ernestina in the U.S. Premiere of Rossini’s L’Equivoco Stravagante, The Rossini Gesselschaft said “Like many a Rossini comic opera, its success depends to a large part on that charm of the mezzo heroine, a heroine who knows also how to sing Rossini. This the Bronx opera had in Anna Tonna …Ms. Tonna, handled the difficult fioriture with ease. Just as important, she carried off the opera’s “bizarre deception” with aplomb (feigning male status, a castrato and military deserter at that!)”. Peter G. Davis, New York Magazine wrote, “Anna Tonna effectively stole the show as Ernestina, offering a prototype of the classic quick-witted Rossini heroine with a heart of gold as well as showing off her warm, secure mezzo-soprano to maximum advantage”.

In Teatro Grattacielo’s North American Premiere of Zandonai’s La Farsa Amorosa in New York City’s Lincoln Center in November of 2006, the New York Times said she “brought a penetrating sound to her alert portrayal of Donna Mercedes”.

Concert appearances in New York City, Miami and the Dominican Republic are scheduled for the next months. Upcoming opera productions include Il Barbiere di Siviglia (Rosina), La Cenerentola (Angelina) , and Cosí fan tutte (Dorabella).