French Mezzo-Soprano Marina Viotti Signs with Naïve Records

Following her performance at the Olympic Opening Ceremony, Viotti will release her first album on the label in October 2024

The French mezzo-soprano Marina Viotti, who recently performed to a worldwide audience of 1 billion people during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, has recently signed with the French label naïve records. Her debut album on the label, which pairs music by John Dowland with contemporary rock ballads, will be released on October 11, 2024.

Viotti trained with Heidi Brunner in Vienna and continued at the Lausanne University of Music in the class of Brigitte Balleys. She then completed further studies in bel canto singing with Raul Gimenez and Alessandra Rossi.

In 2015, Viotti made her operatic debut as Isabella (L’italiana in Algeri) at the Rossini Festival in Bad Wildbad. Since that time, she has sung roles including Olga (Onegin) and Bradamante (Alcina) in Opera du Rhin, Elisabetta (Maria Stuarda) and Isabella in Lucerne, Rosina (Barbiere) at the Bolshoi and in Dresden, Melibea (Viaggio a Reims) in Valencia and at the Liceu.

During the 2021/22 season, she made her debut as Dorabella (Cosi) in a new production at the Staatsoper Berlin under the direction of Daniel Barenboim, and later sang her first Cherubino (Nozze) there.

At the opening ceremony of the 2024 Olympics, Viotti appeared as a female pirate in a red dress singing on the Nave de la Liberté in front of the Conciergerie, alongside the French metal band, Gojira. She sang the famous Ah! ça ira from the French Revolution, followed by the 'Habanera' from Bizet's Carmen.

"I am very excited to sign with naïve and also join Believe Group," Viotti said. "Their modern views and ways, their passion and diversity are the perfect match to both my artistic projects and my personality, and I believe they will help me develop and grow as a singer and as a person."

"It is an honor for naïve to welcome Marina Viotti, one of the most talented, creative and multifaceted mezzo sopranos of today’s stage worldwide," said Aurélia Rippe, head of A&R at naïve. "Marina has shaped over the years a voice capable of embracing her vast musical horizons and vibrant curiosity. From heavy metal to baroque opera and world music, Marina masters an infinite range of techniques, nuances and emotions, all of which connect deeply with her audience."

"Discovering Marina’s projects is not only about music, it is a real life experience and we can’t wait to dive into this exciting collaboration with her. Welcome to naïve, Marina!"