Maria Natale, an acclaimed Italian-American soprano, has been praised by The New York Times for her “plummy, penetrating voice” and continues to captivate audiences with her commanding stage presence and vocal brilliance. A proud recipient of numerous prestigious awards, she has been honored by the James Collier Foundation, the Joan Sutherland Foundation, the Gerda Lissner Foundation, the Loren L. Zachary Competition, and the Olga Forrai Foundation.
Natale has brought to life some of opera’s most iconic heroines, including Mimì in La Bohème, Nedda in Pagliacci, and the title roles in Madama Butterfly, Manon Lescaut, and Tosca. Her performances have graced the stages of Opera San José, Sarasota Opera, Opera Maine, Vero Beach Opera, Opera Festival of Chicago, and Cedar Rapids Opera. Her portrayal of Floria Tosca earned acclaim from Opera News for her “powerful soprano that effortlessly filled the house,” while her Sarasota Opera debut as Liù in Turandot was praised for its “unequivocal Italian sound.” Her riveting performance as Lady Macbeth in Ernest Bloch’s Macbeth was hailed for delivering “high voltage vocal thrills” and a “merciless stage presence.”
In the 2024–25 season, Natale made her debut as Judith in Bluebeard’s Castle with Opera San José and returned to Germany’s Immling Festival in summer 2025 to reprise Manon Lescaut. She will also debut as Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana and revisit the title role in Tosca.
As a concert soloist, Natale has performed at Carnegie Hall in Fauré’s Requiem and appeared in Dvořák’s Te Deum and Verdi’s Requiem. She holds a master’s degree in vocal performance from the Natalie L. Haslam College of Music, where she studied under esteemed baritone Andrew Wentzel.
