1. Bern University of Applied Sciences
  2. Bern Academy of the Arts
  3. Music
  4. Studies
  5. Opera
  6. Student Portraits
  7. Raísa Ierone
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Raísa Ierone

Profile

Voice type

Mezzo-soprano

Nationality 

Swiss

Email

raissa.ierone@gmail.com

Web

raisaierone.com

Current studies

Master Specialized Music Performance – Opera

Vocal coach

Tanja Ariane Baumgartner

A young woman with short, curly hair photographed diagonally from the front. A meadow and trees can be seen in the background.

Former musical studies

  • 2022: Bachelor of Arts in Music (with honors) Hochschule Luzern – Musik HSLU, Peter Brechbühler

CV

Raísa Ierone was born in Lucerne and began her studies at the Lucerne School of Music under Peter Brechbühler, where she completed her Bachelor of Arts with honours and the Strebi Memorial Prize as the best graduate. Since September 2022, she has been part of the Swiss Opera Studio, Bern University of the Arts, in Biel with Prof. Tanja Ariane Baumgartner, where she is completing her Master of Performance with a focus on opera. In 2023, she appeared as Dorabella in W.A. Mozart's "Cosi fan Tutt(e)i" (Opera Young), as a soloist in Mozart's "Requiem" and "Coronation Mass" at the KKL (Eberhard Rex), as Thirza in E. Smythe's "The Wreckers" (Opernskizzen, M. Behrends), as well as in G. Mahler's "des Knaben Wunderhorn" (M. Tarbuk, M. Behrends) on stage. In 2021 she won 1st prize at the SJMW and in April 2022 she was awarded the Friedl Wald Foundation Prize. In May 2022 she made her debut as 2nd lady in "Die Zauberflöte" (youthforopera), in September 2022 she was heard as Donna Bianca in the world premiere of "Die Eifersüchtigen" by Joachim Raff and as Zulma in "L'italiana in Algeri" (Kulturschock). In 2023 she was a finalist in the Elvirissima competition. In the 23/24 season, she is completing her internship at the Biel Solothurn Theatre and Orchestra (TOBS) and will be heard there in the world premiere of "Heidi feiert Weihnachten" by Fabian Müller and Reinhard Kaiser's "Ulysses".

Interview: Three questions for Raísa Ierone

Why are you studying opera?

Since my first visit to the "Die Zauberflöte" at Zurich Opera House, it has been my greatest dream to be on the big stage one day. Being able to share moments with other musicians, the whole team and the audience is simply magical. 

What was your first encounter with opera?

When I was 4 years old, I saw my first performance of "Die Zauberflöte" at Zurich Opera House and my passion has grown ever since. 

Which is your favourite opera and why? 

For me, there is no one favourite opera, because every era, every style has something unique. For example, I love Strauss's "Woman without a Shadow" for its drama and character development, but Puccini's "La Bohème", with Musetta as one of the most emancipated women in the opera world. And of course Wagner's Ring, which was amazing and made me cry a bit.