Ola Rafalo, dramatic mezzosoprano, has been called a “Vocal Powerhouse”, and “the next Cossotto”. She has earned critical acclaim in a variety of roles and venues with her “voluptuous”, “deep contralto-like sound” and mesmerizing acting. Ola is the recipient of a career grant for young dramatic voices from the Olga Forrai foundation, as well as the winner of the Maria Callas prize at the Giulio Fregosi competition in 2019, and Second Prize in the Altamura-Caruso Competition. Ola has performed Azucena in Il Trovatore, Maddalena in Rigoletto, Fenena in Nabucco, as Amneris in Aida, and Ulrica in Un Ballo in Maschera. Her most celebrated role is Carmen, which she has sung with Syracuse Opera, the Lyric Orchestra, Gulfshore Opera, New Jersey Verismo Opera, and highlights with the Pacific Symphony. Other roles performed include Charlotte in Werther, Fricka in Die Walkure, Brangaene in Tristan und Isolde, La Frugola in Il Tabarro, Suzuki in Madama Butterfly, and Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana. Notable concert works performed have been DeFalla’s El Amor Brujo, Brahms 2 songs for voice and viola, Verdi Requiem, Beethoven’s 9th, and Vivaldi’s Gloria.

She has been featured at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Opera Tampa, Springfield Symphony, Orlando Opera, Baltimore Lyric, Opera Carolina, Teatro Curci di Barletta, Paderewski Symphony, Opera Festival Chicago, Chicago Opera Theater, Florentine Opera, the Eugene Symphony, and the Evanston Symphony Orchestra.

Upcoming, will sing the role of Brangaene in Tristan und Isolde, with the Eugene Symphony, the role of Ulrica in Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera, with Opera Project Columbus, and then return to Oregon to sing the Alto solo in Mahler’s 2nd Symphony.