Lella Cuberli

Lella Cuberli was born in Austin, Texas. She studied at the Southern Methodist University in Dallas, and then moved to Italy, making her mark in several international contests. In 1975 she debuted in Hungary with Traviata, thus starting with a very intense international career, which brought her to sing at La Scala theater in 1978 with Mozart’s The Abduction from the Seraglio, to later become a specialist in Mozart and Händel. She successfully performed in Donna del Lago, Turco in Italia, Viaggio a Reims and Bianca e Falliero (at the Rossini Opera Festival in Pesaro), Semiramis and Elisabetta Regina d’Inghilterra with which she achieved fame as one of the best sopranos for works by Rossini. In 1982 she was invited to the Carnegie Hall in New York to perform in Tancredi together with Marilyn Horne. In September 1985 she participated in the Berlin’s Festival with Missa Solemnis by Beethoven under the direction of Herbert von Karajan. In 1986 she went to Saltsburg for The Mariage of Figaro by Mozart, where she later interpreted Beethoven’s 9th Symphony under conductor Herbert von Karajian (a show that was released in a film), Missa Solemnis by Beethoven, Requiem by Brahms, and a new production of Don Giovanni with conductor Daniel Barenboim and director Patrice Chereau. She also interpreted several other roles, thus proving the flexibility of her talent, such as: Lucia, Violetta, Desdemona, Mimì, Melisande, Anna Trulove in Rake’s Progress by Stravinsky, and many others. For her voice, composer Nino Rota wrote Rabelaisiana for soprano and orchestra. In 1979 her first recording – Vivaldi’s La Senna Festeggiante – was released, followed by Rossini’s Tancredi (Cossotto, Cuberli), a Recital with belcanto arias, Paisiello’s Barbiere di Siviglia, and Mozart’s Lucio Silla. A triology of Mozart’s works conducted by Daniel Baremboim was also produced which includes: Così fan tutte, Nozze di Figaro, and Don Giovanni. Italian critics bestowed on her the 1982 Franco Abbiati award, “for numerous performances of high stylistic value”, while in 1986 the Academy of France assigned her the Gran Prix du Disque as the best female interpret in the recording of Viaggio di Reims. She also received the 1985/86 Prize by the Committee of Experts of the Maschera d’Argento contest at Campione d’Italia, Italy. In 1995 she was appointed “Chevalier dans l’ordre des Arts et des lettres” by the Ministry of Culture of France. During the most recent years she sang in the world’s most important opera theaters. Her biography was published in French in a book titled Les Divas. In 2010 she received the Bellini d’Oro Award.

Reasons for assigning the award

American soprano Lella Cuberli’s interpretations have always been characterized by refined elegance and style in all the roles of her vast repertoire, with particular regard to Mozart’s and Rossini’s, whose characters were so successfully interpreted that her performances are still considered a reference point. She also achieved extraordinary results with the Romantic repertoire of the 19th century as well as with the 20th century operas, faithfully sticking to the authors’ stylistic provisions. Lella Cuberli’s acting skills allowed her to stage any character with naturalness and spontaneity. Last but not least, she is a very gracious, sincere, genuine and polite woman, which makes her an extraordinary artist. These qualities, which cannot be learned by studying music, vocal techniques or interpretation, are an integral portion of a great artist’s personality.