The Voice Foundation
About
Bringing out your first class sound is my super power.
TEACHING: Each student comes with a unique set of characteristics, both personal and vocal, defying the use of any formula or set method to reach healthy vocal production. The primary goal I have in teaching voice is to develop maximum quality of sound using the minimum of effort. To achieve this, we work on releasing unnecessary tension and establishing correct phonation and articulation. I work with students to identify blockages and gain confidence in their singing.
Recent master classes I taught were at at Theatro Municipal of São Paulo, Northwestern University, University of South Carolina School of Music, College of Charleston, Columbia College, and Coker College in South Carolina and Nazareth College of Rochester.
I enjoy the students and the music! I take pleasure in their progress and success.
STUDENTS: My students are college students, and professionals, including many coming from Brazil and Germany. I will take serious Jr. and Senior High school students.
My studio work is generally conceptual, using the power of disciplined imagination and basic anatomy and physiology of the voice. Science of Singing is something I am glad to share with those who like to learn in a more technical way.
Specialties
Musical styles
Years experience
Able to read music
Lesson length
Student's age
No reviews (yet)
Frequently asked questions
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
The soprano is a graduate of Northwestern University (MM) and the Academy of Vocal Arts.
LANGUAGES German – conversational (lived 22 years in German speaking countries) Italian – conversational (studied two years in Mantova, Italy, work often in Italy) French (seven years of study – good diction and reading comprehension) Initial studies in (Brazilian) Portuguese
SINGING EXPERIENCE- Maria Russo has sung more than fifty of the most demanding soprano roles in the operatic repertoire including Brünnhilde, Isolde, Elektra, Senta, the Kaiserin, Turandot and over 100 performances as Abigaille in "Nabucco". Highlights of Maria Russo’s operatic career include nine years at the Vienna State Opera and Volksoper (Abigaille, Giorgetta, Donna Anna, Helmwige, Saffi, Loriot-Brünnhilde, cover-Elsa under conductors Barenboim, Runnicles, von Dohnányi, Schneider, Young) and performances at the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires (Senta, under Dutoit), Zurich Opera (Giorgetta, under Viotti), Stuttgart State Theater (Alceste, Cio-cio-san, Helmwige, Lady McBeth under Davies, Eschenbach), Teatro Comunale di Bologna (Wozzek-Marie under Gatti), Hamburg Opera (Helmwige, under G. Alberecht), Teatro Verdi di Trieste (Isolde, Brünnhilde) and Bavarian State Opera in Munich (Sawallisch). In 2006, in the very first Ring ever produced in Brazil, Ms. Russo sang all the Brünnhildes. She sang Isolde at the National Theater of Mannheim (Märkl) covered Isolde at the Amsterdam Opera (Rattle), Elektra at the Tokyo Opera in Japan (Schirmer), Elsa at the San Fransisco Opera (Runnicles) and sang Gioconda at the Hannover State Opera. In addition to living and singing throughout Europe for 23 years, the soprano has sung repeatedly as a guest in Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Argentina, Venezuela, and Brazil. Alongside her stage performances, she is often engaged as a concert performer in the oratorio repertoire and has sung with major orchestras such as the Vienna Philharmonic (Quadri), the Radio Orchestras of Munich, Frankfurt (Renzetti), Berlin, Hamburg and Stuttgart, Bamberger Sinfoniker, Orquesta Sinfonica Venezuela, Philharmonic Orchestra of Mulhouse, Orchestra di Bologna (Fagan) and the Orchestra Sinfonica dell’Emilia–Romagna. Ms. Russo won First Prize in the prestigious ARD German Radio Competition and was voted "best new female artist" in the German opera magazine "Opernwelt" [OperaWorld] for her portrayal as Chrysothemis in the John Dew production of "Elektra."
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Executive Director of The Voice Foundation, NATS, Mu Phi Epsilon, Who's Who in Music, Chicago Musicians Club of Women
What types of students have you worked with?
Beginners to elite Singing Professionals.