bio
Josy Santos was born in Bahia. The Brazilian mezzo-soprano has had a remarkable career in Latin America and Europe, where she has received numerous positive reviews.
She began her vocal training in São Paulo with voice teacher Marcia Soldi. She graduated with a Bachelor's degree in voice from Cruzeiro do Sul University. She studied at the Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts (HfMDK) with Prof. Ursula Targler-Sell, where she completed her master's degree with distinction. In 2019, she started her doctoral studies in Performance at HfMDK in Frankfurt am Main.
Josy Santos makes her debut this season as Angelina/La Cenerentola at the Royal Danish Opera and as Witness 2/Singer 2/Woman 2 in George Benjamin's Opera "Lessons of Love and Violence" at the Zurich Opera, as a mezzo-soprano in Verdi's Requiem and in the concert "Viva Verdi!" at the Kultur und Kongresszentrum Luzern. Highlights from the previous season include Dorabella/Cosi fan tutte at the Lucerne Theatre, Zefka/O Diario de um desaparecido at the Opera National du Rhin, Marcellina/Le nozze di Figaro at the Oper Frankfurt, Romeo/I Capuleti e i Montecchi, and Glutz in Casanova in Switzerland's Burkhard at TOBS Biel Solothurn.
From 2017 to 2019, Josy Santos was a soloist at the Staatsoper Hannover in roles such as João/João e Maria, Ottavia/L'incoronazione di Poppea, Hermia/A Midsummer Night's Dream, La marchesa Melibea/A viagem à Reims, Second Lady/The Magic Flute, Page/Salome, Musico/Manon Lescaut, Robin in Offenbach's Le roi Carotte, and Frau von Hufnagel in Hans Werner Henze's Der Junge Lord. She appeared as Silvia in Haydn's L'isola disabitata at the Rheingau Music Festival, as Dardano in Haendel's Amadigi di Gaula at the Kammeroper Schloss Rheinsberg, and in the title role of Rossini's La Cenerentola at the Oper Schloss Hallwyl. At the Opéra National du Rhin, she sang Samaritana in Riccardo Zandonai's Francesca da Rimini and returned in 2018/2019 as Bernardo Cenci in Ginastera's Beatrix Cenci. The production received the Grand Prize for Best Performance of the Year 2019 from Le Syndicat Professionnel de la Critique.
Josy Santos is a laureate of the Concours International de Chant Toulouse 2019, Operalia 2018, Emmerich Smola Förderpreis 2018, Anneliese Rothenberger Competition 2017, and was a finalist in the Belvedere Competition 2017.
As a member of the Opera Studio of the State Opera Stuttgart from 2015-2017, she performed important roles such as Cherubino/Le Nozze di Figaro, Siebel/Faust, Oberto/Alcina, and Zweite Magd/Elektra.
Additionally, she has participated in international music festivals such as the Rheingau Music Festival, Kammeroper Schloss Rheinsberg, Trancoso Music Festival, and Oper Schloss Hallwyl.
reviews
CENERENTOLA - Premier 11.009.2022
“Fortunately, Josy Santos managed to make the main character Cinderella (or Angiolina, as she is actually called) a somewhat believable character who is strong and independent. Santos had a lovely, dark voice that gave the part just the right weight, with the natural highlight of her beautiful coloratura being the great aria at the end of the piece where Angelina forgives her tormentors.”
Critique, 17 September 2022
“Add to that, that the singing team is excellent, and not least the spinning side impresses: ..., and in the title part, Josy Santos is really a find ... Her voice has a golden glowing depth with sparkling high diamond sparks and her technique is impeccable.”
Operamagasinet ASCOLTA, 11 September 2022
“Not least Cinderella, sung by Josy Santos, develops throughout the opera, and the voice ends up beautifully rich and full of charm.”
Kulturkupeen.dk, 16 September 2022
“…Cinderella (sung by the wonderful Josy Santos)…”
Den 4. Væg
“…the Brazilian mezzo-soprano Josy Santos had found an Angelina (the call-Rossini called her) as a highly effective Cinderella, who in no way stood up for buttermilk, and whose voice had sufficient impact to reach the back rows of the park.”
Kristeligt Dagblad, 13 September 2022
“First of all, it is a feast to hear the Brazilian mezzo-soprano Josy Santos as an exuberant, precisely singing leading lady in the demanding part as Cinderella.”
Politiken, 12 September 2022