AURA VERUNI
ABOUT
Acclaimed French Soprano Aura Veruni, praised by Opera News for her "pristine sound" and "considerable top power note," graces stages throughout the United States.
A frequent collaborator with Ars Minerva, Ms. Veruni recently joined their roster as Emilia in Sartorio and Zinai's La Flora, following her appearances as Alinda in Freschi's Olimpia Vendicata and her compelling portrayals of the title roles in both Ifigenia in Aulide and Messalina. She also made her Opera San Jose debut covering the role of the third lady in The Magic Flute by Mozart as well as her West Edge Opera debut as Eritea in Cavalli's Eliogabalo.
Ms. Veruni's upcoming engagements include Britten's Les Illuminations with the Zion Chamber Orchestra and "Love is in the Air" at the OFJCC, where she will share the stage with mezzo-soprano Deborah Martinez Rosengaus and pianist Jonathan Erman.
In the 2018/19 season, she returns to the Mendocino Music Festival with a role debut as Adina in L’elisir D’Amore. She also performed concerts with Ars Minerva at prestigious venues such as the 906 World Cultural Center in San Francisco and the Battery Club.
Ms.Veruni also joined the prestigious Ensemble of Sarasota Opera singing the role of Peppa in Eugene D’Albert’s Tiefland, as well as covering the title role of Bellini’s Norma.
In previous seasons Ms.Veruni covered Hamlet’s Ophelia with West edge Opera. She also sang Marie in Donizetti’s La Fille du Régiment with San Francisco Opera Guild. She covered the title role of Manon with Des Moines Metro Opera, sang exerpts as Cleopatra from Handel’s Giulio Cesare, and from the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor. She also joined the roster of Ars Minerva singing the role of Scilla in world the premiere of La Circe by Andrea Ziani.
Ms.Veruni made her international debut with the iSing! International Festival in China where she was featured in a gala concert broadcast on CCTV and Hunan TV, then went on to perform her debut as Nanetta with Cinnabar Theater in Verdi’s Falstaff.
A recipient of numerous awards Ms. Veruni was twice the winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Kansas City District & Washington District , has been awarded top prize from the Cooper Bing International Vocal Competition, Second prize at the East Bay Opera League Competition, the Thelma Dry Award - Henri and Maria Holt Memorial Scholarship Competition, and the prestigious Palm Springs Opera Guild Competition.
Ms. Veruni holds a B.F.A in Music Performance from Gnessin College in Moscow Russia where she received the Tchaikovsky Award for excellence in Music Performance. She holds a Masters degree in music, and a Certificate of Professional Studies in Opera Performance from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She is fluent in French, English, Russian, Spanish and Italian.
LES ILLUMINATIONS | BENJAMIN BRITTEN
THE ZION CHAMBER ORCHESTRA
JANUARY 19th 2025
CA .Stockton
UPCOMING
Reviews
The opera Tattler
Aura Veruni as Ermione Veruni... has a wonderful effortlessness to her sound, which is very clean. She was ferocious here, razor-sharp in her singing.
MESSALINA
San Francisco Classical voice :"Soprano Aura Veruni (whom I last saw
in West Edge Opera’s Eliogabalo) proved a perfect Messalina:
sharp-witted, funny, and nimble in acting and voice, eating up every
scene she appeared in."
MESSALINA
Exotic and Irrational entertainment :"As always in Ars Minerva
productions, though, the singing in every role was of an exceptionally
high standard. Special praise must go to Aura Veruni for her
commanding performance as Messalina. In gorgeous voice throughout, she
performed her music while wearing revealing costumes and executing
Ricci's at times athletically-demanding comic business."
The Opera Tattler:"Soprano Aura Veruni seemed to perfectly embody
Messalina, her voice has such a spark to it, so alive and clear. Her
movements are also very decisive and conveyed humor well."
L’ELISIR D’AMORE
Classical Sonoma by Terry McNeill.
Ms. Veruni in the first act combined coquettish acting with clear Italian and when needed considerable top-note power, important in the large-volume tent space with zero reverberation.
The “Quanto Amore” duet between Adina and Dulcamara was a highlight as in the second act the plot strands were coming together.
Parterre Box by Michael Anthonio.
In the title role, soprano Aura Veruni‘s sweet and creamy tone proved devastating in “Madre diletta” and naively hopeful in the “Verace o menzognera” that closed Act 2.
IFIGENIA
San Francisco Chronicle by Joshua Kosman.
But the plot, which can be hard to follow under the best of circumstances, is less pressing than the opportunity for vocal display, and this is where the Ars Minerva company largely shone. Soprano Aura Veruni gave a vivid, tonally rich performance as Ifigenia.
LE AMAZZONI
San Francisco Classical Voice by Charlise Tiee.
Soprano Aura Veruni, as Pulcheria, had a pristine sound and attacked her brilliant coloratura passages with agility. It was impressive how much heft and volume her slight frame produced.
LA CIRCE
The Rehearsal Studio by Stephen Smoliar.
Scylla (given an unabashed personification by Aura Veruni that recalled the old Hollywood screwball comedies).
LE AMAZZONI
Opera Today by Maria Nockin.
Princess Pulcheria, sung with exquisite Baroque style by French soprano Aurélie Veruni
ASTIANATTE
San Francisco Classical
Aura Veruni made Hermione into a splendidly unpredictable and steely-sharp blade of vengeance.