Joanna Parisi is internationally acclaimed for her portrayals of the most iconic spinto and dramatic soprano roles of Wagner, Verdi, verismo and bel canto operatic repertoire.
In 2023, she debuted the role of Elsa in Wagner's Lohengrin, "born to sing this Wagnerian role", "an astounding soprano with radiant high notes that gleam luminously onstage. Her command of her instrument is dazzling.”
“The Elsa of Italo-American soprano Joanna Parisi set the performance in the right direction as soon as she graced the stage. A frequent artist in European houses, Ms. Parisi’s soprano permeated the hall with the sort of Italianate warmth that is increasingly becoming less available in recent decades. Her voice is of imposing lirico spinto proportions, distinguished by a central quality that stretched horizontally to create a satisfying wall of sound through the auditorium. She brought a wealth of firm tonal beauty.”
Her performance televised on RAI Italia in January 2023, she was awarded the Maria Callas Tribute Prize from the Italian Consulate in New York, offered to those who stand out in the world of Italian culture, art and social justice, where she was recognized as the most exciting young star in Italian opera.
Her opera debut was the title role of Tosca in New York's Central Park, followed by Aida and Abigaille in Nabucco, discovered during her studies at Juilliard by Vincent La Selva, who also presented her at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in Beethoven's 9th Symphony and as as Maddalena di Coigny in Andrea Chenier. She received awards and accolades from The Metropolitan Opera National Council, Operalia, The World Opera Competition and honored as one of The Next Generation of Great Opera Singers by WQXR Classical Radio of New York. Her recent performance of the title role Lucrezia Borgia earned her recognition from The New York Times, Opera Magazine of London, Opera News, New York Observer and more.
She is currently performing leading roles in prestigious theaters all over the world: throughout Europe, USA and beyond. She performed at the Grand National Theater in Beijing, China, Lincoln Center in New York City, the Grand Hall of St. Petersburg Philharmonia, Russia, Teatro de Bellas Artes in Mexico City (Leonora in Il trovatore), the renowned Lotte Concert Hall in South Korea (title role of Carmen), and the famous pink marble opera house, Teatro Amazonas (Micaela in Carmen), featured in the film Fitzcarraldo among many others-- Opera Wroclawska in Poland (Leonora Il trovatore, Amelia in Un ballo in maschera), the Aurora Opera House in Malta (Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana, Leonora in Il trovatore), Opera Romana Craiova (Elisabetta di Valois in Don Carlo), Teatro Solis (Tosca, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni), Teatro Politeama of Calabria (Desdemona in Otello, Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni), Sarasota Opera House (Norma, Madama Butterfly), the Axelborg Theater in Copenhagen, Denmark (Maddalena in Andrea Chenier) Teatro Centofiori in Bologna (Leonora in La forza del destino and Rosina in Il barbiere di Siviglia) and many more.
She is especially sought after for her beautiful, powerful and expressive voice at the great outdoor theaters of the world, including the Teatro Antico di Taormina in Sicily (Manon Lescaut, Micaela in Carmen), Central Park, (Tosca, Aida, Abigaille in Nabucco) the Ancient Roman Theater in Bulgaria (Leonora in Il trovatore) and many more. She is a frequent invited guest star singing leading roles in Verdi operas during the annual celebrations of The Cultural Capital of Europe.
Her signature roles include Elisabetta di Valois in Don Carlo, Tosca, Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana, Leonora in Il trovatore and La forza del destino, Aida, Norma, La Gioconda, Manon Lescaut, Abigaille in Nabucco, Madama Butterfly, Desdemona in Otello and Margherita/Elena in Mefistofele.
Her current Wagnerian repertoire includes Elsa, Isolde, Senta, Elisabeth/Venus and Sieglinde.
Joanna Parisi was born of Italian heritage in New York. She is a dual citizen of the United States and Italy.
Joanna Parisi appears in opera films and recordings, including a film version of Carmen featured at the Berlin Film Festival. She sang selections from the complete Verdi art songs released by Capriccio Records in Vienna, Austria. She debuted a world premiere aria composed for her voice in Copenhagen, Denmark by Frederik Magle, the official composer of the Danish Royal family.
