Named “Opera Artist of the Year” at the prestigious Opus Klassik 2022, Franco-Italian mezzo-soprano Lea Desandre is one of the most inspiring talents of her generation. His artistry and musicality have opened doors for him on major international stages such as the Paris Opera, Salzburg Festival, Aix-en-Provence Festival, Zurich Opernhaus and Liceu Barcelona.
Lea Desandre collaborates with international artists such as Gustavo Dudamel, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, William Christie, Myung-Whun Chung, Marc Minkowski, Emmanuelle Häim and Jordi Savall. His remarkable career continued in 2023/24 with a season of role-takings: Idamante Idomeneo in a new production at the Grand Théâtre de Genève, the title role in Charpentier’s Médée at the Opéra de Paris, Handel’s Ariodante on a European tour and Rameau’s Samson at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence.
Lea Desandre studied with Sara Mingardo in Venice. In 2015, she joined William Christie’s Jardin des Voix academy and the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence’s Mozart academy in 2016. She was named Révélation des Victoires de la Musique Classique in 2017, won the Prix HSBC in 2018 and was nominated in the Lyric Artist category of the Victoires de la Musique Classique in 2021 and 2023.
His first recording, Amazone, was recorded in 2021 exclusively for Erato Warner, with the Ensemble Jupiter conducted by Thomas Dunford, and guests Cecilia Bartoli, Véronique Gens and William Christie. His second album, Eternal Heaven, recorded alongside Thomas Dunford, Iestyn Davies and Jupiter, was released in autumn 2022. Her third album, Idylle, a duet with Thomas Dunford, was released in autumn 2023.
Lea Desandre, soprano Named “Lyric Artist of the Year” at the prestigious Opus Klassik 2022, Franco-Italian mezzo-soprano Lea Desandre is one of the most inspiring talents of her generation. His artistry and musicality have opened doors for him on major international stages such as the Paris Opera, Salzburg Festival, Aix-en-Provence Festival, Zurich Opernhaus and Liceu Barcelona.
His remarkable career continues in 2023/24 with a season of roles: Idamante Idomeneo in a new production at the Grand Théâtre de Genève, the title role in Charpentier’s Médée at the Opéra de Paris, Handel’s Ariodante on a European tour and Rameau’s Samson at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence.
At the same time, she gave the New Year’s concert at the Konzerthaus Berlin under the direction of Joana Mallwitz, Chasing Rainbows, a tribute recital to Julie Andrews with Thomas Dunford/Jupiter, with whom she toured Europe in the summer of 2024 in the Vivaldi and Songs of Passion programmes. She is back at Carnegie Hall and in the USA, as well as touring Japan and Europe for the release of her latest album Idylle for Erato/Warner, in duet with Thomas Dunford. Finally, she will be back with Annio in a concert version of La Clemenza di Tito at the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence.
These projects are in line with his 2022/23 season: Stephano Roméo et Juliette at the Opéra de Paris, Dido Dido and Aeneas in Madrid, C minor Mass at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Berenice che fai Haydn at the Muzikverein Wien, Cherubino Le Nozze di Figaro at the Salzburg Festival and the Zurich Opera.
Cherubino, a role in which she has established herself internationally in 7 different productions since her debut in 2021: Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, Opéra de Paris, Salzburg Festival, Liceu Barcelona, Opéra de Zurich, Opéra de Lausanne, Ravenna Opera.
She has also appeared as Urbain Les Huguenots at the Opéra de Genève, Rosina Il Barbiere di Siviglia at the Opéra de Rouen, Amour Orphée and the title role of Alcione at the Opéra-Comique, Flerida Erismena at the Festival d’Aix-en- Provence, Messaggiero Orfeo at the Harris Theater Chicago. She sings regularly at the Salzburg Festival: Despina Cosi fan Tutte, Annio Clemenza di Tito,Valletto/Amore Incoronazione di Poppea, Vénus Orphée aux Enfers, Abel La Morte d’Abel.
Her love of music and text has led Lea Desandre to perform frequently in concerts and recitals: Wigmore Hall, Vienna Musikverein, Walt Disney Concert Hall, Philharmonie de Paris, Berliner Philharmoniker, Théâtre des Champs-Elysées, Mozarteum Salzburg, Sydney Opera House, Opéra de Bordeaux, Alice Tully Hall NYC, Tchaikovsky Concert Hall, Shanghai Symphony Hall and Opéra de Versailles.
She collaborates with international artists such as Gustavo Dudamel, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, William Christie, Myung-Whun Chung, Raphaël Pichon, Adam Fischer, Joana Mallwitz, Carlo Rizzi, Cristian Macelaru, Manfred Honeck, Enrique Mazzola, Marc Minkowski, Emmanuelle Häim, Jordi Savall – Barrie Kosky, Christof Loy, Netia Jones, Thomas Jolly, Lotte de Beer, Jan Lawers, Blanca Li, Jossi Wieler and Jean-Yves Ruf.
Lea Desandre studied with Sara Mingardo in Venice. In 2015, she joined William Christie’s Jardin des Voix academy and the Festival d’Aix-en-Provence’s Mozart academy in 2016. She was named Révélation des Victoires de la Musique Classique in 2017, won the Prix HSBC in 2018 and was nominated in the Lyric Artist category of the Victoires de la Musique Classique in 2021 and 2023. In addition to her vocal training, she practiced ballet for 12 years.
Her first recording, Amazone, was recorded in 2021 exclusively for Erato Warner with Ensemble Jupiter conducted by Thomas Dunford and Cecilia Bartoli, with Véronique Gens and William Christie as guests. His second album, Eternal Heaven, recorded alongside Thomas Dunford, Iestyn Davies and Jupiter, was released in autumn 2022. Her third album, Idylle, a duet with Thomas Dunford, was released in autumn 2023.
