“What is the best thing that I love about my work?”
The absolute magic of embodiment. As an opera singer, I am called to bring to life heroines who are creations of fiction—we do not even know if they ever truly walked this earth. Yet, it is my mission to manifest the absolute peak of their emotions: their devastating pain, their maternal or romantic love, their fierce loyalty, their consuming jealousy. What I love most is delivering these emotions with such raw honesty and intensity that the audience is completely transfixed, literally hanging on every single note and breath of my performance.
“What is my idea of happiness?”
For me, happiness is the delicate balance between the fierce discipline my art demands and the absolute freedom of creative expression. It is that profound moment of serene stillness right after the curtain falls, or a quiet morning with a warm cup of tea, looking out at a beautiful landscape, knowing that I am fully aligned with my purpose just before a major premiere.
“What is my greatest fear?”
The day the music inside me decides to go quiet. For an opera singer, the ultimate fear is silence—not just the physical loss of voice, but the terrifying thought of standing on a stage and feeling that I no longer have a story to tell, or that the emotional connection with the music has faded.
“What is the trait that I most deplore in myself?”
My relentless perfectionism. In opera, we are constantly chasing the illusion of the ‘perfect note’ or the flawless performance. This hyper-critical nature often makes me incredibly strict with myself, sometimes making it difficult to just stop, breathe, and fully enjoy the beauty of the journey while it is happening.
“Which living persons in my profession do I most admire?”
I deeply admire the late, great baritone and maestro Roberto Coviello, for his absolute belief in me and my voice. At the young age of 25, his immense encouragement changed my entire life when he told me: ‘Your voice is so big and dramatic despite your young age, that it will cross borders.’ I will always be profoundly grateful to him. I am also immensely inspired by the great dramatic soprano Anna Pirozzi. Her burning passion for music led her to launch her major international career at an age when many others simply stop trying. She is a magnificent role model who proves that artistry has no expiration date.
“What is the thing that I dislike the most in my work?”
The deep-rooted injustice that sometimes exists within the industry, and the painful reality of traveling far away from my family. The life of an opera singer demands long periods of isolation, and being separated from the people I love most is undoubtedly the hardest part of this journey.
“When and where was I the happiest, in my work?”
I am always at my happiest when embodying my favorite role, Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana. This role feels tailor-made for me; it perfectly captures the raw, passionate emotions of a young woman from Southern Italy—which happens to be my own place of origin, allowing me to channel my roots directly into her soul. Another moment of pure bliss is hearing the thunderous applause echoing through grand, imposing venues after a successful concert, knowing that the music has deeply united me with the audience.
“If I could, what would I change about myself?”
The overwhelming anxiety and stage fright I experience just before stepping into the spotlight. It is something I have been working on within myself for years, hoping to one day banish it completely. Yet, as the legendary Maria Callas once beautifully said, ‘The stage fright before a performance is exactly what gives you the push to “rush” onto the stage.’ I try to embrace that adrenaline, but I still wish for a bit more inner peace in those final moments.
“What is my greatest achievement in work?”
Making my debut at a relatively young age at the Megaron – Athens Concert Hall, performing works by Franz Schubert. This opportunity came after a highly competitive audition held at the Athens Conservatoire, where I was studying at the time. Standing on that prestigious stage so early in my path remains a cornerstone of my artistic pride.
“Where would I most like to live?”
Ideally, I would love to live in Rome or Milan, immersed in the heart of the opera world. However, my heart always longs for Potenza, my hometown in Southern Italy. It is a place filled with deep history, rich culture, and an absolute sense of peace and tranquility, nestled beautifully within green nature.
“What is my most treasured possession?”
The most precious thing I carry with me through life is a piece of advice from my parents: ‘Whatever you do in life, do it with dignity and hold your head high. That way, no one will ever be able to hurt you.’ I have guarded these words like pure gold to this day, and they remain my ultimate shield and compass.
“What is my most marked characteristic?”
It is a blend of a few deep traits. First, the absolute passion for the characters I am called to embody on stage; that fire will always guide me. Then, my stubborn persistence—knowing how to hold onto a dream even when I know it might take time to arrive. And finally, an intense emotional sensitivity. Sometimes, diving deep into the psyche of a betrayed or wounded heroine leaves me emotionally exhausted for days. It is something I carry heavily, and perhaps a trait I need to balance a bit more in the future.
“What is my most inspirational location, in my city?”
The sea. It always invites me to travel without moving. My mother is Greek, so half of my heritage is rooted in Greece, and I am blessed to live in a coastal place. Whenever I gaze into the endless, deep blue, I get completely lost in my thoughts. It makes me want to board an imaginary ship and just sail away into the horizon, with no specific destination in mind.
“What is my favorite place to eat and drink, in my city?”
After a grueling rehearsal—especially the ones where I feel things didn’t go as well as I wanted—nothing beats gathering with my loved ones at a beautiful, traditional pizzeria in my neighborhood. Sharing a glass of red wine and talking about everything and nothing allows me to escape the heavy weight of vocal study. It instantly grounds me and gives me the strength to face the next day. And usually, the next day turns out to be a much better one.”
“What books influenced my life and how?”
To be completely honest, I have read very few books; I have always been more of a listener than a reader. However, one book that left a profound, lasting impression on me was a biography of the great Maria Callas. Her life taught me how an entire rose garden can bloom from a single, tiny bud. The immense hardships she faced, her relentless persistence, and her burning passion for both opera and life are truly exembplary.
“You Only Die Once. What music would I listen on my last day?”
It is something I had never really thought about before, but on my final day, I would choose my favorite aria from Puccini’s Tosca: ‘Vissi d’arte, vissi d’amour’ (‘I lived for art, I lived for love’). In this aria, Floria Tosca asks God with tears in her eyes why life treated her this way when she never caused harm to anyone. She loved deeply, she was loved, and ultimately, she killed and was killed for love. It is the ultimate testament to a passionate existence.
“Who is my hero or heroine in fiction?”
My answer might seem completely unexpected given my operatic background, but my fictional hero is Rocky Balboa. He is a modern-day David who was never intimidated by the many Goliaths he had to face. No matter how many brutal hits he took, he found the strength to endure until the very last round. That resilience deeply speaks to me.
“Who are my heroes and heroines in real life?”
In real life, I could never name anyone else but my mother. She has always been there for me—an immovable rock standing tall against the crashing waves of life. She faces everything with grace, unwavering strength, and immense pride.
“Which movie would I recommend to see once in a lifetime?”
Rocky, without a doubt. It is much more than a sports movie; it is a profound lesson on human spirit, survival, and determination.
“What role play stories in my life and work?”
Stories allow us to experience and learn things that we might never have the chance—or the need—to face in real life. In opera, stepping into the shoes of the heroines I portray is the ultimate experience for me. In reality, I would never kill like Tosca; I would never blindly believe grand declarations of love like Madama Butterfly; I would never betray my lover’s infidelity to an avenging husband like Santuzza… And yet, on stage, I live through all of it. I taste their tragedies, and I absolutely love it.
“What do the words ‘You are the storyteller of your own life’ mean to me?”
To me, it means that you hold the conductor’s baton of your own destiny. You choose what to do and how to do it. Even when life forces you into choices influenced by others, you are the one who ultimately signs off on them. For an opera singer, it means realizing that while you don’t write the libretto of life, you are the one who chooses the color, the passion, and the truth of the performance. You are the ultimate director of your own journey.
“Who is my greatest fan, sponsor, partner in crime?”
Without a doubt, my husband—my partner in life and in madness! We have shared so many crazy adventures together. Beyond being my greatest fan and most loyal supporter, he is the one who says ‘let’s do it, right here, right now.’ For him, the present moment is everything. His ability to live in the ‘now’ is incredible, and it gives me immense strength..
“Which people or companies would I like to work with?”
While every opera singer dreams of Teatro alla Scala in Milan—and it is certainly high on my list—my absolute dream starts at Teatro Massimo di Palermo. Following that, the historic Teatro di San Carlo in Naples, the grand theatres of Rome, and of course, the breathtaking ancient Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Greece, which holds a very special place in my heart. Conductors-wise, my ultimate dream is to work under the baton of the legendary Maestro Riccardo Muti. He is a phenomenal figure of our era; there will never be anyone like him again.
“What project am I looking forward to work on?”
I am incredibly excited to sing the role of Santuzza in an upcoming production in Milan with renowned artists in 2027! Looking further ahead, I truly look forward to embodying Floria Tosca or Gioconda. I also wouldn’t say no to Aida, although her emotional tug-of-war between her father and her lover is heartbreaking. I feel such deep empathy for her; during the aria ‘Ritorna Vincitor’, tears literally well up in my eyes. Seeing her father chained behind the chariot of her victorious lover is suffocating. It is a breathtaking masterpiece of a drama.
“Where can you see me or my work?”
You can easily find me and follow my journey anywhere online by searching my name. Here are my official channels:
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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/
“What do the words “Passion Never Retires” mean to me?”
Passion is the very oxygen that keeps us alive until our very last breath; that is why it can never step down or retire. There is simply no real life without vital energy, and there is no life without dreams. To live without passion is merely to exist, but to live with passion is to truly be alive.
“Which creative professionals should Peter invite to tell their story?”
Even though she doesn’t know me personally, I would absolutely love for Peter to invite the magnificent soprano Anna Pirozzi. She is a deeply inspiring artist and an incredibly captivating personality in the world of opera. Hearing her perspective on the creative journey would be wonderful.
“How can you contact me?”
You can reach out to me directly for collaborations, inquiries, or just to connect via my email and social media platforms.
Email: mabella.mari1@gmail.com