BIO
Malena is a distinguished Argentinian singer and director renowned for her innovative approach to opera, integrating cutting-edge and interactive technologies into her performances.
As a Princeton Hodder fellow for 2022/23, Malena has made significant contributions to the field of opera. Her recent project, Firesongs, a composition by Thomas Cabaniss, debuted at Chelsea Factory, New York City, in a groundbreaking collaboration with National Sawdust.
In April 2023, Malena brought her directorial talents to Fort Worth Opera with a production of Aida and later led the first-ever U.S. production in Spanish of Menotti's work this season.
Her directorial prowess was also on display at Opera Naples in the 22/23 season with critically acclaimed productions of Roméo et Juliette, Carmen, and Frida.
Malena is the co-creator of luzAzul, an innovative opera aimed at engaging very young audiences, which was showcased at Princeton's Lewis Arts Center and New York City's Chelsea Factory.
November 2021 saw her directing Cuando el fuego abrasa, a collaborative effort between Opera Hispánica and Teatro Grattacielo that featured compositions by Piazzolla and De Falla's El Amor Brujo, performed at LaMama, New York City.
Her directorial skills were further highlighted in Teatro Grattacielo's rendition of Mascagni's L'Amico Fritz at the Festival of the Voice in Phoenicia, NY, and at LaMama in 2021.
The Late Walk, an opera co-produced with Bare Opera and the Decameron Opera Coalition, earned a place in The Library of Congress's Performing Arts COVID-19 Response Collection under her direction. Furthermore, in 2021, she directed Heroes of New York for Bare Opera and DOC.
In 2020, Malena was awarded the 1st Prize by Catapult Opera in recognition of her innovative contributions to opera. She directed video productions of Fedora and Mefistofele by Teatro Grattacielo, acclaimed at the Munich Music Video Awards, the 4th Dimension Independent Film Festival, and the London International Music Video Awards.
Malena both starred in and directed a production of Piazzolla’s Maria de Buenos Aires and Don Giovanni with Bare Opera in New York City, showcasing her versatility as both an artist and director.
Together with Sangmin Chae, Malena developed Exercises on The Presence of Odradek, an avant-garde operatic piece performed live online, demonstrating her commitment to pushing the boundaries of traditional opera.
Malena's academic credentials include an MFA from CUNY Brooklyn College in Performance and Interactive Media Arts, and both a Master of Music and a Professional Studies Diploma from the Mannes College of Music, The New School, reflecting her comprehensive training and expertise in her field.