Interview with Benedetta Orsi, Opera Singer and Bologna Native in St Louis

Benedetta Orsi in "Norma" with Winter Opera St Louis

Michael Cross, President of the St Louis - Bologna Sister Cities, interviews Benedetta Orsi, a Bologna native living in St Louis, on her 15 year career anniversary as an opera singer, recording artist, and performer.

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Michael: Today we celebrate Benedetta Orsi's 15 year career anniversary as an opera singer and recording artist. I've had the pleasure of working with Benedetta since her arrival in St Louis eight years ago and it is truly an honor to celebrate this momentous occasion with her. Benedetta, let's start from the very beginning. Who would you say inspired you to become an opera singer, and in particular, a mezzosoprano?

Benedetta: Thank you, Michael, for your words and this interview. Since I was little, I’ve always loved singing, but I have to be honest: I never liked classical music. At the age of 17,  for my birthday, my mother took me to Teatro alla Scala in Milan to see La Traviata by Giuseppe Verdi conducted by the amazing Maestro Muti. I cried for the entire performance, and at the end I stared at my mom’s eyes and I told her: “Thanks for bringing me here. I want to try to become an opera singer!”. I did not know anything about this fantastic world, despite the fact that my mom constantly listened to classical music and opera. My sensational mentor Maestro Sergio Bertocchi accepted me to the Accademia Filarmonica in Bologna, and that’s how my new operatic journey started. I remember the disappointment when he told me I was a mezzo soprano, and not a soprano as I was hoping. But when he introduced me to Marilyn Horne, Teresa Berganza, and Fedora Barbieri in operas like Carmen, L’Italiana in Algeri and Norma, among others, my vision immediately changed. My mother has always been my biggest supporter, together with my entire family, believing in me and my capabilities, supporting all my choices, lastly the one to move to the States. I owe my career to her and to my Maestro.

Benedetta Orsi as "Carmen" with Winter Opera St Louis

Michael: Do you come from a musical or artistic family?

Benedetta: Mom grew up playing piano, but not professionally. Later on, she started painting and had several vernissages in Italy. My maternal grandparents were both music lovers, but no musician in the family. 

Michael: What would you say are the two most significant achievements during the last 15 years of your music career?

Benedetta: I still remember my first trip to New York together with my family to celebrate my parents’ 25th anniversary: I walked in front of Carnegie Hall and I thought to myself: “One day, I’ll sing here”… and that happened: in 2012 I debuted at Carnegie Hall, and in the subsequent years I had three more concerts in that beautiful venue. The second big achievement in my musical career was the opportunity to study the role of Ann Boleyn with the fantastic Teresa Berganza in Spain: after that, I made my debut in the Tudor Trilogy (Ann Boleyn, Maria Stuarda e Roberto Devereux) in England. 

Michael: Has your style evolved since the beginning of your career?

Benedetta: The voice changes and evolves constantly, and so does the repertoire and the singers’ style.  At the very beginning of my career I was always trying to control my voice to make it “perfect”, not giving as much space to emotions and enjoying. But we know that no one is perfect, and emotions makes us human and open up to the audience. Nowadays, I always keep trying to have a perfect technic, but giving constant space to my emotions, and enjoying sharing with my audience my gift: my voice!  

Michael: What musician/singer do you admire most and why?

Benedetta: As an Italian, the great Maestro Pavarotti. Even if he wasn’t able to read music, he became one of the biggest singers in the operatic history, and with his marvelous voice and modesty introduced the world to opera, showing how powerful and exciting it is.

Benedetta Orsi in Maria Stuarda with Opera Seria (United Kingdom)

Michael: Time for a fun question: If you could have a musician tag along with you on tour for one month, who would you choose?

Benedetta: Without a doubt, the sensational American Tenor Lawrence Brownlee. I truly admire this great musician I had the pleasure of meeting him in Pesaro during the Rossini Festival. Years later we met again in New York, and it was a great joy to hug him again this past March here in St. Louis, during his recital at the Washington University.  

Michael: Are there any plans that you'd like to share with us for the coming year?

Benedetta: It’s going to be another wonderful season! In September I’ll made my debut at the World Chess Hall of Fame in an exuberant Spanish concert, followed by an event that will unite music and scents at the Missouri Botanical Garden. In October I’ll collaborate with Arts and Faith St. Louis, and Chamber Music Society in two gorgeous concerts, plus many more events that can be found on my website  www.benedettaorsi.com 

Michael: Thank you once again for sharing your time and talent once again. We treasure you in St Louis and we're so fortunate to have you with us. I look forward to our collaboration for many more years to come.

Benedetta: Thanks to you, Michael. You were the first one to interview me as soon as I arrived in St. Louis, and since then our collaborations have bene a huge success! I hope to see your followers at my anniversary concert on Tuesday, May 13th at the Sheldon Concert Hall. Ad maiora! 

​Link to purchase tickets for Benedetta's concert on May 13 at The Sheldon Concert Hall: https://www.metrotix.com/events/detail/benedetta-orsi-2025