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Debut at Opéra national de Paris

Cecilia Molinari makes her debut at Opéra national de Paris this September, performing the title role of Handel's Ariodante this fall.

Her award-winning portrayal of Handel’s Ariodante was recognised this year at the Premio Abbiati awards, where she was honoured as Best Singer this summer.

This revival of Robert Carsen's production at Opéra de Paris sees Raphaël Pichon conducting the Ensemble Pygmalion, as the show graces the Palais Garnier stage. The cast also includes Jacquelyn Stucker as Ginevra, Sabine Devieilhe as Dalinda, Luca Tittoto as Il Re di Scozia, Ru Charlesworth as Lurcanio, Christophe Dumaux as Polinesso and Enrico Casari as Odoardo.

The performances are on September 16, 18, 21, 24, 26, 29; October 1, 3, 7, 9, 12. It will be broadcast by France Musique on October 25.

More information

DVD Releases

The world premiere recording of Donizetti’s Zoraida di Granata was just released, featuring Cecilia Molinari as Abenamet. Filmed in November 2024 at the Festival Donizetti in Bergamo, this production presents the original 1821 version of the rarely performed opera. Directed by Bruno Ravella, the staging shifts the action from the medieval Reconquista to the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s. Alberto Zanardi conducts the Orchestra Gli Originali.

Cecilia Molinari stars as Abenamet and receives high praise from Diapason, who writes: “the beauty of her phrasing and the ardor of her coloratura reveal a bel canto singer of the highest caliber, dazzling in the final rondo.”

The cast also includes Zuzana Markova as Zoraida, Konu Kim as Almuzir, Lilla Takács as Ines, Tuty Hernandez as Almanzor, and Valerio Morelli as Ali.

You can stream/purchase the recording here.

September also marks the release of Handel's Giulio Cesare in Egitto, filmed at the Dutch National Opera & Ballett in Amsterdam in 2023. Emmanuelle Haïm conducts Le Concert d'Astrée for this production staged by Calixto Bieito. Cecilia Molinari stars as Sesto and was acclaimed by Bachtrack for her "flawless vocal presence". 

The cast also includes Christophe Dumaux as Giulio Cesare, Julie Fuchs as Cleopatra, Teresa Iervolino as Cornelia, Cameron Shahbazi as Tolomeo, Frederik Bergman as Achilla, Jake Ingbar as Nireno, Georgiy Derbas-Richter as Curio. The DVD can be streamed or purchased here.

Cecilia Molinari is featured in Bachtrack's article about the Rising stars to watch this September.

As she prepares for her house debut at Opéra national de Paris in the title role of Haendel's Ariodante, Bachtrack highlights that "her voice is dark, but lithe and athletic, great for bel canto and Baroque."

On August 16th, Cecilia Molinari returned to the Rossini Opera Festival for her solo recital debut, marking the 10th anniversary since her first appearance at the festival as a member of the Accademia Rossiniana in Il viaggio a Reims.

Accompanied by pianist Jean-Paul Pruna, Ms. Molinari presented a richly varied program featuring works by Gioachino Rossini, Pauline Viardot, Maria Malibran, and Ignaz Moscheles. From Pêchés de vieillesse to Soirées musicales, the recital includes rarely performed pieces by the legendary Maria Malibran and her sister Pauline Viardot, creating a rich dialogue between the French and Italian repertoire of the Pesaro-born composer.

Roberta Pedrot’s review on the concert for Ape Musicale, can be read here.

In the 2025/26 season, Cecilia will sing the title role Ariodante for Opéra National de Paris, marking her house debut and return to the role for which she was awarded the Abbiati Award as Best Singer. She then performs the role of Sesto in Mozart's La Clemenza di Tito at Teatro La Fenice. At the beginning of 2026, she makes her US debut singing Dorabella in Mozart's Così fan tutte for Lyric Opera of Chicago, followed by Cherubina in a new production of Le nozze di Figaro for Dutch National Opera.

Find out more on her Agenda page here.

Ms. Molinari received the award for her performance in the title role of Haendel’s Ariodante at the 2024 Festival della Valle d'Itria in Martina Franca, Italy. Critics praised her interpretation as "sculpted in its phrasing, kaleidoscopic in its colors, with perfect agility, and characterized by a luminous expressive richness."

Cecilia Molinari opens her 2025/2026 season with a return to Ariodante at the Opéra national de Paris, marking her debut at the opera house.