bio
Brazilian baritone Leonardo Neiva is known for his vocal versatility, combined with intensity and stage presence.
A member of the permanent soloist ensemble at the Wiener Staatsoper, he made his debut with great success performing Michelle (Il Tabarro) and Marcello (La Bohème, both by G. Puccini) in the 2023/24 season. He was also part of the cast of the Estonian National Opera in 2022, where he sang several leading roles, notably Telramund (Lohengrin by R. Wagner) and Giacomo (Giovanna d’Arco by G. Verdi).
Recently, he also performed Scarpia (Tosca by G. Puccini) at Theatro Municipal de São Paulo (a stage to which he will return in 2025 for Friedenstag by R. Strauss in the role of the Commander), in addition to Giacomo in Giovanna d’Arco at Malmö Opera and the Copenhagen Opera Festival, and the roles of Morales and Dancaïre (Carmen by G. Bizet) with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra.
Over his twenty-year career in South America, he has sung in numerous operas, concerts, and musicals in major theaters, including Ford (Falstaff by G. Verdi) with OSESP, Zurga (Les Pêcheurs de Perles by G. Bizet), Silvio (I Pagliacci by R. Leoncavallo), and Athanaël (Thaïs by J. Massenet) at Teatro Municipal de Santiago, Figaro (Il Barbiere di Siviglia by G. Rossini) in several capitals with the Cia. Brasileira de Ópera, Wozzeck (Wozzeck by A. Berg) and Carmina Burana (by C. Orff) at Teatro São Carlos in Lisbon, Marquis de La Force (Dialogues des Carmélites by F. Poulenc), Kurwenal (Tristan und Isolde by R. Wagner), and Vater (Hänsel und Gretel by E. Humperdinck) at the Festival Amazonas de Ópera, Musiklehrer (Ariadne auf Naxos by R. Strauss), Gunther (Götterdämmerung by R. Wagner), and Don Giovanni (Don Giovanni by W. A. Mozart) at Theatro Municipal de São Paulo, Rodolfo (La Bohème by G. Puccini) at Palácio das Artes in Belo Horizonte, Mercutio (Roméo et Juliette by C. Gounod) at Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro, and Bottom (A Midsummer Night's Dream by B. Britten) in the first-ever performance of the opera in Brazil.
He recorded Symphony No. 10 "Ameríndia" by H. Villa-Lobos with OSESP under the baton of Isaac Karabtchevsky.
Leonardo Neiva was born and raised in Brasília, studied at the Escola de Música de Brasília and at UnB – Universidade de Brasília, lived most of his life in São Paulo, and currently resides in Vienna.
Neiva’s recent engagements include Le Nozze di Figaro as Count Almaviva and Mandarin in Turandot at the Wiener Staatsoper, Friedenstag by Strauss in São Paulo, among others.
reviews
"Leonardo Neiva is a baritone with a warm, tropical, incandescent voice, who links phrases beautifully and shows an amazing understanding of the text."
Opera Tristan und Isolde 2011, Opernwelt, Germany
Rienzi, der letzte der Tribunen | Rienzi, le dernier des tribuns opéra de Richard Wagner
"In the same register, young Brazilian Leonardo Neiva gives a flattering impact to the fiery Cecco, a character he makes particularly endearing."
ANACLASE. Bertrand Bolognesi. 10/10/2012
"Leonardo Neiva often manages to overcome this handicap and bring their characters to life, reinforcing the coherence of a homogeneous and first-rate cast."
ODB Opera, Jean Toulouse. Wagner – Rienzi - Toulouse
'Crepúsculo' com toque de virtuose'
"On the other hand, Leonardo Neiva's Gunther is an example of skillful characterization combined with excellent vocal performance."
Estado de São Paulo, João Luiz Sampaio 16/08/2012
"Belo Horizonte presents "La Boheme" by Puccini"
"Baritone Leonardo Neiva, one of the most beautiful and expressive voices of today."
Concerto Magazine, Nelson Kunze 03/11/2011
Through the Looking Glass, or What Isolde Found There
Tristan and Isolde – XV Amazonas Opera Festival
"Inspired and competent participation of young Brazilian talent Leonardo Neiva (Kurwenal). With excellent musical performance, excellent vocal projection, and natural stage movement, Neiva, who already has an important career, is undoubtedly one of our most prominent singers today."
Concerto Magazine, Leonardo Martinelli 23/05/2011
The Miracle of Opera in the Forest – Tristan and Isolde – XV Amazonas Opera Festival
"Leonardo Neiva had a memorable night as Kurwenal, the squire of the hero Tristan. With a brilliant voice and very natural stage movement, Neiva, who already has an important career, is undoubtedly one of our most prominent singers today."
Concerto Magazine, Nelson Kunze 24/05/2011
Diaries of Belo Horizonte: Notes on the Brazilian Opera Company
"The cast, led by Leonardo Neiva... is homogeneous and efficient both vocally and theatrically."
Estado de São Paulo, João Luiz Sampaio 25/06/2010
"...a high technical level of voice and a lot of emotion in his character... excellent Brazilian baritone Leonardo Neiva (Silvio)."
Opera Pagliacci
Mundoclassico.com, Johnny Teperman Santiago, Chile, 13/05/2010
"... it is impossible not to mention Leonardo Neiva (Professor)..."
Ariadne auf Naxos
Folha de São Paulo, Arthur Nestrovski, 19/08/2008
"A second cast introduced a new and intriguing Zurga in the person of Leonardo Neiva, who brought to life the character's ongoing interior drama."
Opera Pecheurs des Perles, Chile
Opera Magazine, February