Begoña Bilbao, Venezuelan Soprano and accomplished
Pianist and Journalist as well. She started her voice training in Caracas,
Venezuela at the Prudencio Esaa School of Music, under the guidance of
Francisco Krauss and Luis Contreras, obtaining her bachelor’s degree in
1992. Later on, she completed a Master Program in Voice Performance with
Tom Cultice in 1998, at the Brooklyn College of Music in New York City.
Begoña is a versatile singer with a wide operatic and oratorio repertoire.
While in Caracas, she sang numerous recitals and made her operatic debut
in 1993, with the role of
Lauretta from Il Maestro di Musica
by Pergolessi. In the United States, she made her operatic debut in 2002,
as
Manon in Manon Lescaut by Puccini in Los Angeles. Since then,
her engagements have become quite frequent, singing the title roles of
several Operas like Faust as
Marguerite (2004), La Traviata as
Violetta (2004), Un Ballo in Maschera as
Amelia (2004),
La Boheme as
Mimi (2005), Suor Angelica as
Angelica (2006),
Manon Lescaut as
Manon (2006), Il Pagliacci as
Nedda (2007),
Carmen as
Micaela (2007) and Tosca as
Tosca (2007).
She is currently a leading Soprano at the Casa Italiana Opera Company
in Los Angeles, under the direction of Mario Leonetti. Other roles have
included :
1st spirit in Magic Flute,
Despina in Cosi
Fan Tutti and
Goddess in L’incoronazione di Poppea.
Mrs. Bilbao performances have been characterized for her great dramatic
intensity, keeping still the candor and smoothness of her voice. Tom Pruden
wrote in L’Italo Americano newspaper in Los Angeles “
Begona Bilbao,
singing Violetta, has a brilliant soprano voice that is capable of quiet
subtlety as well as enormous power. Her acting was very moving, particularly
the death scene,”. Her numerous performances have allowed her to
work with acclaimed conductors such as maestros Valery Ryfkin, Adil Metha,
Richard Barret, Mario Leonetti, Charles Dickerson, Miguel Ester, Giovanni
Reggioli, Bruce MacIntyre, Joseph Bartolozzi, Walter Unterberg, Kent Kormeyer
and Al Medak.
Her extraordinary vocal range and colorful voice have allowed her to explore
works from the oratorio and choral repertoire as well. She was a soloist
singer for 10 years in the internationally recognized Venezuelan Choral
group
Madrigalistas Vicente Emilio Sojo, with Ugo Corsetti as
a conductor. In between 1984 and 1994, she traveled in highly successful
tours to Ecuador, Cuba and several cities in Venezuela. Most recently
in 2007, she sang the Faure’s Requiem at the Rolling Hills Methodist Church
in Rolling Hills Stated, California.
Begoña´s love for music goes beyond the frontiers of singing. She underwent
a rigorous Piano training in her early years, completing her Bachelor´s
degree in 1991 at the Lino Gallardo School of Music in Caracas, under
the guidance of Beatriz Vegas and soon later, with recognized pianist
Arnaldo Pizzolante. She has been a terrific piano performer, both as a
soloist as well as an accompanist. She played numerous recitals while
in Caracas, was awarded at the First Piano Competition Moises Moleiro
in Caracas for her outstanding interpretation of a Moises Moleiro’s work
and accompanied widely renowned singers such as Laura Flanigan, Violeta
Aleman, Fedora Aleman among others. When living in New York city, she
was the official organist at the Saint Patrick’s Old Cathedral and The
Presbyterian Church.
Mrs. Bilbao once trained as a Journalist also, obtaining a bachelor’s
degree in Social Communication in 1992, at the Central University of Venezuela
in Caracas. But her love for music made her focus all her attention to
it, love and passion that she shares with her students in her private
studio in Los Angeles. She is also happily married to a Venezuelan and
the proud mother of two children.
Begoña Bilbao
