Katia Ricciarelli
Ricciarelli in 1973
Ricciarelli in 1973
Background information
Birth nameKatiuscia Maria Stella Ricciarelli
Born (1946-01-18) 18 January 1946 (age 78)
Rovigo, Italy
Genres
Occupation(s)
  • Singer
  • actress
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active1969–present
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 1986; div. 2004)​

Katiuscia Maria Stella "Katia" Ricciarelli (Italian pronunciation: [ˈkaːtja rittʃaˈrɛlli]; born 16 January 1946) is an Italian soprano and actress.

Katia Ricciarelli's signature on the Muretto [it] in Alassio

Biography

Born in Rovigo, Veneto, to a very poor family, she struggled during her younger years.[1] She studied at the Benedetto Marcello Conservatory in Venice, won several vocal competitions in 1968, and made her professional debut as Mimì in Puccini's La bohème in Mantua in 1969.[1] She appeared as Leonora in Verdi's Il trovatore in Parma in 1970. In the following year, she won RAI's "Voci Verdiane" award. Between 1972 and 1975, engagements followed in the major European and American opera houses, including Lyric Opera of Chicago (1972); Teatro alla Scala (1973); Royal Opera House, Covent Garden (1974); and the Metropolitan Opera in 1975. In 1981, she began a decade-long association with the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro, thus broadening her repertoire of Rossini's operas.[1]

Beside her many opera performances, she also appeared as Desdemona in Franco Zeffirelli's film version of Verdi's Otello in 1986, alongside Plácido Domingo. In 2005 she won the best actress prize Nastro d'Argento, awarded by the Italian film journalists, for her role in Pupi Avati's La seconda notte di nozze.

In 1991 she founded Accademia Lirica di Katia Ricciarelli, and, since 2003, she has been Artistic Director of the annual summer Macerata Opera Festival. In 2006 she participated in the reality show La fattoria (Italian version of The Farm) on Canale 5.

In 1986, on her 40th birthday, she married Pippo Baudo, a television personality; she filed for divorce in the summer of 2004.

In 2021–2022, she participated in the reality show Grande Fratello VIP 6 (Big Brother VIP 6), getting evicted after 165 days.

Discography

Filmography

Films

Year Title Role Notes
1975 Un ballo in maschera Amelia Lead actress
1986 Otello Desdemona Lead actress
2005 The Second Wedding Night Liliana Vespero Lead actress
2008 Black and White Olga Supporting actress
2009 The Friends at the Margherita Cafe Taddeo's mother Supporting actress
2013 The Chair of Happiness Norma Pecche Supporting actress
2016 Infernet Sara Supporting actress
2022 Mancino naturale Maria Supporting actress

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1982 Lucia di Lammermoor Lucia Television film
1984 Turandot Liù Television film
1998 Canzoni sotto l'albero Herself/ Performer Special
2001 Gian Burrasca Mother Stoppani Television film
2004 Don Matteo Giulia Baldeschi Episode: "Dietro il sipario"
2006 La Fattoria Herself/ Contestant Reality show (season 3) - Evicted Day 81
2006 Ma chi l'avrebbe mai detto Camilla Miniseries
2008 Carabinieri Monica Grandi Main role (season 7); 22 episodes
2009 Il ritmo della vita Secretary Television film
2009 Così fan tutte Katia Sketch comedy show
2010 Io canto Herself/ Judge Talent show (season 1)
2010 Let's dance Herself/ Contestant Talent show
2011–2015 Un passo dal cielo Assunta Scotton Main role (seasons 1–3); 39 episodes
2012 Faccia d'angelo Toso's mother Television film
2013–2014 Un matrimonio Aunt Amabile Main role; 6 episodes
2016 Selfie - Le cose cambiano Herself/ Mentor Reality show (season 1)
2020 Come una madre Elisa Episode: "Episode 3"
2021–2022 Grande Fratello VIP Herself/ Contestant Reality show (season 6) - Evicted Day 165

References

  1. ^ a b c Kutsch, K. J.; Riemens, Leo (2012). "Ricciarelli, Katia". Großes Sängerlexikon (in German) (4th ed.). De Gruyter. pp. 3916–3917. ISBN 978-3-59-844088-5.
Categories