About Alicia
American Soprano Alicia Gianni, whose performances have been described as “charming, impressive” and “powerfully real,” has enjoyed successes on both operatic and concert stages, including recently being nominated for Houston’s Best Jazz Vocalist by the Houston Press 2011 Music Awards. Such nominations have followed concerts in Las Vegas for T-Mobile, Magic Johnson, and The Late Late Show’s Craig Ferguson.
The Washington Post acclaimed Ms. Gianni’s debut as Despina in Così fan tutte with Wolf Trap Opera as “firm and sparkly.” Performances of both Fortuna/Giunone in Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria followed shortly after, concluding the season with Portuguese songs by Villa Lobos in a collaborative recital titled The Pursuit of Love with Steven Blier. In 2009, she sang the role of Beryl and covered Elizabeth Futral in the role of Laura Jesson during the world premiere of André Previn’s Brief Encounter with Houston Grand Opera. She sang the role of Laura during the original workshop, performing for Mr. Previn, librettist/director John Caird, and Maestro Patrick Summers. Ms. Gianni can be heard on the recording of this premiere, released by Deutsche Grammophon in 2011.
In her debut with the Houston Grand Opera, Ms. Gianni sang Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, followed by her appearance as the Rooster/Jay in The Cunning Little Vixen. She also made her debut with the Houston Symphony Orchestra where she was featured in a 2007 New Year’s Eve performance under the baton of Maestro Randall Craig Fleischer, and again in 2008 performing Kapilow’s Green Eggs and Ham as part of the symphony’s Children’s Series. Ms. Gianni was heard in Die Zauberflöte as an “aurally wonderful evil hag who turns into a lively Papagena” (Houston Chronicle), covering Pamina in the same production. In addition, she was heard as Musetta in La Bohème in the end of that season. As a studio member, she covered Ana Maria Martinez as Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni, was showcased in scenes as Mimi in La Boheme, Stella in A Street Car Named Desire, 2nd Niece in Peter Grimes, and Héro in Béatrice et Bénédict, and sang recitals in both the Rienzi and Taste This series in Houston, directed by Kathleen Kelly.
While a member of Florida Grand Opera’s Young Artist Program, Ms. Gianni made her debut as the Countess Ceprano in Rigoletto. She was featured in scenes as Nedda in Pagliacci, Zerlina in Don Giovanni, and Tatiana in Eugene Onegin, performed in recitals with pianist Scott Gilmore, and sang for master classes given by Evelyn Lear, Thomas Stewart, and Ms. Virgina Zeani.
In performances as Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte with Maestro Mischa Santora, she was hailed as “a standout…delivering Come scoglio with convincing defiance, “ and “traversed a range of emotions with impressive coloratura.” (Cincinnati Enquirer). The Cincinnati Post raved, “Gianni displayed a remarkable voice…warm and strong at both ends…Fra gli amplessi was the single most beautiful moment in the opera.” During the summer festival in Torre del Lago, Italy, Ms. Gianni was heard as the title role in a concert performance of Puccini’s Suor Angelica, and during the study of her Artist Diploma at the College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati, she performed Micaëla in Carmen, Ms. Poe in The Voyage of Edgar Allan Poe, Infantin Klara in Zemlinsky’s Der Zwerg, and Zillergut in The Good Soldier Schweik,
While earning her Bachelor’s in Music degree at the University of Washington, Ms Gianni was heard as Mařenka in The Bartered Bride, Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi, Elisetta in Il Matrimonio Segreto, and Dido in Dido and Aeneas. She was also featured in scenes as Arabella in Arabella and Marzelline in Fideleo. Her concert work includes the Brahms Requiem, Mozart’s C Minor Mass with the Hickory, NC Choral Society and Orchestra, and the Mozart Requiem with the Palm Beach Symphony Orchestra. She has also performed with the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra and the Florida West Coast Symphony.
Musical theater credits include Dolly Levi in Hello Dolly, Polly Baker in Gershwin’s Crazy For You, scenes from Show Boat (Magnolia and Julie), The Sound of Music, Guys and Dolls, Oklahoma, Annie, and was a featured singer and dancer in both Cinemagic and 100 Years of Broadway at the Clyde Theater in WA.
Ms. Gianni was the winner of the Advanced Division of the Seattle District NATS competition in 2003, received 1st place in CCM’s Corbett Scholarship Competition in 2004 and again in 2005 she won 3rd place. In 2006, she respectively earned both 2nd Place and Audience Choice titles in the Houston Grand Opera Eleanor McCollum Competition, was a regional finalist in the Metropolitan National Council Auditions in both 2006 and 2007, and a Sara Tucker Grant nominee in 2007 and 2011.