London-based opera singer Katerina Mina is a Greek-Cypriot-born Spinto Soprano. After her initial studies in Cyprus, Katerina moved to London to study at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, having received full scholarships from the Corporation of London and the A. G. Leventis Foundation. Katerina was initially training to become a concert pianist, but her love and passion for singing eventually took over. It was a few years after she joined the Guildhall School of Music & Drama that Katerina decided to devote herself to singing and embark her artistic career as an opera singer. Meanwhile her repertoire changed to the heavier roles of the Spinto Soprano.

 

Katerina has recently performed the roles of Kupava at UCOpera’s production of The Snowmaiden by Rimsky-Korsakov (Bloomsbury Theatre, London), Giorgetta from Puccini’s Il Tabarro (Skull of Yorick Productions) and Santuzza from Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana (CYSO). Previous operatic roles include Donna Elvira Don Giovanni (Staatstheater Cottbus), Elle La Voix Humaine (Grimeborn Opera Festival & Kypria International Music Festival), Nedda I Pagliacci (Kolobov Novaya Opera of Moscow), Violetta La Traviata & Fiordiligi Cosi Fan Tutte (European Chamber Opera), Vivika Vaftistikos (CSO), Mimi La Bohème (British Youth Opera) & Karolka Jenufa (English Touring Opera).

 

At the concert platform Katerina performed recently with the State of Mexico Symphony Orchestra under Enrique Bátiz, and as a special guest in Rick Wakeman’s symphonic concert at the Queen Elizabeth Hall (Orion Symphony Orchestra). Further concert performances include Verdi’s Requiem and Beethoven’s Choral Symphony no.9 (London Chorus, St. John’s Smith Square), Haydn’s Nelson & Little Organ Masses (Shrewsbury Abbey), Tippett's Negro Spirituals & Fanshawe's African Sanctus (Manama Singers Bahrain), Pitta’s symphonic piece 1973 at Athens Megaron (National Symphony Orchestra and Chorus of ERT), Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Stanley Hall Opera), Haydn's Scena di Berenice (Georgisches Kammerorchester), A. Sakali’s oratorio Liturgy beneath the Acropolis (Oxford Philomusica), Rossini’s Stabat Mater, Theodoraki’s Oratorios and Duparc’s Orchestral Songs  (Cyprus Symphony Orchestra).

 

Katerina will be singing the title role of Tosca, Maddalena in Andrea Chénier and Desdemona in Otello for the American National Opera Company’s U.S.A and European tours. Katerina will also sing Elisabetta in Don Carlos in a new film production by Enzo Sisti, conducted by Plácido Domingo. In the following months Katerina will also perform with the Philharmonia Orchestra at Teatro alla Scala in Milan. Katerina sings regularly at international venues such as the Auditorio de Tenerife, Buxton Opera House, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Shrewsbury Abbey, Hackney Empire, Sheldonian Theatre, Bloomsbury Theatre, St James’s Piccadilly, St John’s Smith Square, Konzerthaus Berlin, Gasteig Munich, De Montfort Hall, Lichtwarksaal Hamburg, Steinway-Haus Hamburg & Munich, Les Invalides Paris, ‘Juhlasali’ of the Helsinki City Hall, ZIL Culture Centre Moscow, the Athens & Thessaloniki Concert Halls amongst others.

 

Katerina Mina is the winner of two international singing competition awards, as well as the recipient of the Russian Federation’s Medal for ‘Peace and Friendship’. Her first Single Rainbow of Light Anthem by UK composer Linda Lamon and UK producer Nigel Stonier, has being released on iTunes and all digital outlets on 22 December 2015 for Winter Solstice. Moreover, Katerina’s CD with pianist Elena Mouzalas, features Chopin’s 17 Polish Songs & Schumann’s Frauenliebe und-Leben.

 

‘Singing from the pulpit, Katerina Mina's crystal clear voice exploited the acoustics of St James’s perfectly, soaring through the building, down the aisles and up to the high ceiling... The singing was heavenly’  The Daily Express


“Soprano Katerina Mina gave the full operatic treatment to ‘Help’ by The Beatles, such with all the passion of a Puccini heroine” The Daily Express 

“A beautifully operatic rendition of ‘Morning Has Broken’ by the soprano Katerina Mina” The Daily Express

“Katerina Mina, a fiery Kupava, projected her sweeping lines with assurance and conviction” Opera Magazine

“Greek-Cypriot Soprano Katerina Mina played the role of Kupava in grandiose style, relishing the dramatic possibilities” Bachtrack

“Fine diction from Katerina Mina as Kupava, with a dramatic stage presence” Professor Mark Ronan

“The casting of Katerina Mina is perfect. She is young, elegant, and her singing is superb” Plays to See

“Soprano Katerina Mina is beautiful and thoroughly convincing as the heartbroken heroine. Even to someone who can only pick up the word ‘rien’, it is captivating” Exeunt Magazine

“Leading an outstanding cast, Katerina Mina made a welcome return to Bahrain to sing a stupendous Donna Elvira…” George Younis

“Sublime recital left us spellbound. Katerina Mina – a consummate musician” Colchester News

“A deeply passionate vocal sound” Colchester News

“Ms Mina was entirely convincing as the protagonist and had the audience with her every step of the way... Her final song portraying total desolation on the death of her beloved was truly breathtaking” Colchester News

“The beauty in Katerina Mina’s voice and the grand surroundings of Wakefield Cathedral mingled to produce a very special performance which was warmly appreciated by the audience” Wakefield Internet Learning Domaine

“The surprise of the evening was the soloist, Soprano Katerina Mina… She added layers of depth and visualisation to the work that any singer coming after her will be hard put to replicate…” Gulf Weekly

“Katerina went on to sing superbly in ‘African Sanctus’, soaring over the choir with perfect empathy, in her rich, operatic tones. She was a joy to work with!…” Conductor, Alistair Auld – Bahrain

“Katerina Miná is a pearl. Her mature voice has a given place in any Music Hall. I hope we listen to her often in Finland” Göran Stenius, Helsinki

“The opulent-voiced Katerina Miná thoroughly inhabited Mimi in an emotionally convincing performance. She wowed audiences with both the beauty of her voice and the depth of her characterization” GoDubai News Katerina Mina – Press

“I was particularly impressed by Katerina Miná, who produced one of the best Come scoglios I've heard from a singer of her age” Musical Pointers

“The height of them was undoubtedly the discovery of soprano Katerina Mina, with a dark, ravishingly beautiful soprano voice. Her first song drew a storm of applause and each song thereafter had the same breathing sense of theatre, of ancient yearning and tragedy” Eastern Daily Press (Norfolk and Norwich)

“Katerina has one of those clear-as-a-bell soprano voices, displayed with great charm to the top of the register, and with generous volume” Musical Pointers

“I particularly enjoyed her extract from Adriana Lecouvreur and she exactly caught the wistful longing of Weber’s heroine, Agathe” Musical Pointers

“Katerina Mina dominated with the cantata ‘Berenice che fai’ by Haydn. The smooth and resplendent sound of her voice, as well as the sensual and comparably expressive performed sections interweaved with the dynamic, precisely harmonized sounds of the orchestra” Ingolstadt News

“West Side Story which brought with it yet another revelation in the young soprano Katerina Mina. She is sensational and her faultless rendering of Bernstein’s classic songs ‘Somewhere’ and ‘I Feel Pretty’ almost brought the house down” The Cyprus Weekly

“Greek-Cypriot Soprano Katerina Mina gave a good vocal rendition of Nedda as well as displaying her natural acting abilities – her ease and comfort on the stage visible and convincing, her high notes were all well pitched and nicely rounded” The Cyprus Mail Katerina Mina – Press

“The highlight of the evening was Schumann’s Frauenliebe und Leben. Katerina, with her cultivated dramatic sense and her no-holds-barred passion made something special of this poignant cycle” The Cyprus Mail

Soloist / An Evening with Rick Wakeman / Orion Symphony Orchestra / Queen Elizabeth Hall London “Soprano Katerina Mina gave the full operatic treatment to "Help" by The Beatles, such with all the passion of a Puccini heroine” “A beautifully operatic rendition of "Morning Has Broken" by the soprano Katerina Mina” William Hartston - The Daily Express

Kupava / The Snow Maiden by Rimsky-Korsakov / Bloomsbury Theatre London “Katerina Mina, a fiery Kupava, projected her sweeping lines with assurance and conviction” Yehuda Shapiro - Opera Magazine

“Greek-Cypriot Soprano Katerina Mina played the role of Kupava in grandiose style, relishing the dramatic possibilities” Mark Pullinger - Bachtrack

“Fine diction from Katerina Mina as Kupava, with a dramatic stage presence” Professor Mark Ronan Elle / La Voix Humaine / Grimeborn Opera Festival

“The casting of Katerina Mina is perfect. She is young, elegant, and her singing is superb” Tom Aitken – Plays to See

“Soprano Katerina Mina is beautiful and thoroughly convincing as the heartbroken heroine. Even to someone who can only pick up the word ‘rien’, it is captivating” Carmel Doohan – Exeunt Magazine Donna Elvira / Don Giovanni / Bahrain

“Leading an outstanding cast, Katerina Mina made a welcome return to Bahrain to sing an stupendous Donna Elvira and her interaction with Jonathan Sells’ Leporello made his Madamina, il catalogo è questo all the more fun” George Younis Recital with pianist Simon Crawford-Phillips / Roman River Festival / Colchester

Sublime recital left us spellbound. Katerina Mina – a consummate musician “The programme gave Katerina Mina and Simon C-P ample scope to display their consummate musicianship. A deeply passionate vocal sound was enhanced by block chords and rippling figures. Liszt’s Oh! quand je dors was sublimely lyrical and Bizet’s Ouvre ton Coeur quite thrilling. The performers excelled themselves after the interval with a heartfelt account of Schumann’s bitter-sweet song cycle Frauenliebe und Leben. Ms Mina was entirely convincing as the protagonist and had the audience with her every step of the way as she grew from an excited lovesick young maiden, into a contended and devoted wife and other. Her final song portraying total desolation on the death of her beloved was truly breathtaking. The closing bars were exquisitely executed and left the audience spellbound” Jackie Wallace, Colchester News WYSO Gala Concert / Wakefield Cathedral “The beauty in Katerina Mina’s voice and the grand surroundings of Wakefield Cathedral mingled to produce a very special performance which was warmly appreciated by the audience” Wakefield Internet Learning Domaine Katerina Mina – Press Reviews David Fanshawe’s African Sanctus / Manama Singers Bahrain “The surprise of the evening was the soloist, Soprano Katerina Mina. She appeared on the stage like a little sparrow and proceeded to sing with aplomb and Joie de Vivre. She added layers of depth and visualisation to the work that any singer coming after her will be hard put to replicate…” Christine Hasan – Gulf Weekly

“Katerina went on to sing superbly in ‘African Sanctus’, soaring over the choir with perfect empathy, in her rich, operatic tones. She was a joy to work with!…” Conductor, Alistair Auld – Bahrain Sibelius song cycle Op.90, Michaelides songs / 'Juhlasali' at Helsinki City Hall

“Katerina Miná is a pearl. Her mature voice has a given place in any Music Hall. I hope we listen to her often in Finland” Göran Stenius, Helsinki Leicester Symphony Orchestra / Valentine’s Day Gala, De Montford Hall

“The rich voices of soprano Katerina Miná and tenor James Edwards brought to life such delights as Dvorak's Song to the Moon... The two voices were well matched as duettists in Puccini's O Soave Fanciulla and Lloyd Webber's All I Ask of You” Peter Collett, The Leicester Mercury Mimi / La Bohème / European Chamber Opera, Qanat al Qasbat

“The opulent-voiced Katerina Miná thoroughly inhabited Mimi in an emotionally convincing performance. She wowed audiences with both the beauty of her voice and the depth of her characterization” GoDubai News Katerina Mina – Press Reviews Fiordiligi / Cosi Fan Tutte / Minautor Musical Theatre, London

“Vocal standards matched up to the acting; I was particularly impressed by Katerina Miná, who produced one of the best Come scoglios I've heard from a singer of her age and by Richard Rowe as a meltingly romantic Ferrando” Serena Fenwick, Musical Pointers Series of concerts in Norwich / ETHOL

“…But the height of them was undoubtedly the discovery of soprano Katerina Mina, with a dark, ravishingly beautiful soprano voice. Her first song drew a storm of applause and each song thereafter had the same breathing sense of theatre, of ancient yearning and tragedy” Eastern Daily Press (Norfolk and Norwich) Recital with pianist Anthony Legge / Leighton House Museum

“A capacity audience had turned up to fill the elegant recital studio at Leighton House and there was buzz of excitement in the air as we waited to hear this attractive young soprano, in what proved to be a most enjoyable evening’s entertainment. Katerina has one of those clear-as-a-bell soprano voices, displayed with great charm to the top of the register, and with generous volume... In the second half of the programme, attention turned to the world of opera, with a selection of arias ranging from Mozart to Puccini. These are testing pieces for a young singer, especially when she has to tackle five big arias in rapid succession, and I was impressed by the style and contrasting moods with which Katerina presented them. I particularly enjoyed her extract from Adriana Lecouvreur and she exactly caught the wistful longing of Weber’s heroine, Agathe, and look forward to hearing her again” Serena Fenwick, Musical Pointers Katerina Mina – Press Reviews Scena di Berenice / The Georgian Chamber Orchestra, Ingolstadt

“The Georgian Chamber Orchestra, conducted by Markus Poschner, in its last concert ‘The new Europe’, succeeded in approaching this attractive country in a musical way. Both the young talented pianist Irma Issakadze and the soprano Katerina Mina who was born in Cyprus played a role in this. The last dominated with the cantata ‘Berenice che fai’ (a dramatic love song), composed by Haydn. The smooth and resplendent sound of her voice, as well as the sensual and comparably expressive performed sections interweaved with the dynamic, precisely harmonized sounds of the orchestra” Johannes Seifert, Ingolstadt News Leicester Symphony Orchestra / Opera Gala, De Montford Hall “The two soloists, Katerina Mina (soprano) and Dominic Natoli (tenor) were superb, both individually and as a duet” The Leicester Mercury Elle / La Voix Humaine / Kypria International Music Festival 2009

“The most successful part of the evening was the ‘lyrique tragedy in one act’ – La Voix Humaine… It is an extremely affecting and poignant work which is extremely taxing and demanding on the performer, both musically and dramatically. Mina gave an emotional reading of the call and ably moved through the heart rending panic, desolation and emotional turbulence of Elle. The interruptions of the crossed line were dramatic and her distraught feelings well portrayed.” Saskia Constantinou – Cyprus Mail Katerina Mina – Press Reviews Maria / West Side Story / Oxford Philomusica, Nicosia Municipal Theatre

“The first half of the program would have been enough to send us all home delighted, but there was much more to come: West Side Story which brought with it yet another revelation in the young soprano Katerina Mina. She is sensational and her faultless rendering of Bernstein’s classic songs ‘Somewhere’ and ‘I Feel Pretty’ almost brought the house down. Mina is obviously a major talent that we shall be hearing much more of” The Cyprus Weekly Karolka / Jenufa / English Touring Opera, Wolverhampton and Perth

“Katerina Mina’s ghastly Karolka was a fine characterization…” Barry Tone, Primi Divi “His wife (Penny Ormerod) and daughter (Katerina Mina) look and sound related and are suitably patronizing of Jenufa” Catriona Graham, Perth News Nedda / I Pagliacci / Kolobov Novaya Opera Theatre of Moscow

“Greek-Cypriot Soprano Katerina Mina gave a good vocal rendition of Nedda as well as displaying her natural acting abilities – her ease and comfort on the stage visible and convincing, her high notes were all well pitched and nicely rounded” Saskia Constantinou, The Cyprus Mail Katerina Mina – Press Reviews Concert ‘FOR THE LOVE OF LIFE’ / pianist Anthony Legge, PASYDY Auditorium

“Katerina Mina, who honours our country with her artistic and charity action, and accomplished Britsh tenor James Edwards performed successfully O Soave Fanciulla... The culmination of the programme was their duet Vogliatemi Bene from Madama Butterfly. Katerina Mina deserved the audience's prolonged applause which prompted her to perform yet another piece, this time the nonoperatic but, nonetheless, captivating song Hartino to Feggaraki by Manos Hadjidakis, to receive yet another hearty acclamation from the audience… Katerina Mina was, nevertheless the performer who deservedly earned the audience's enthusiasm, who more than ever excelled herself with her beauty, imposing presence and technical training, her interpretation and resplendent voice. If she can successfully perform arias immortalised by the performances of great artists, such as Maria Callas, before the audience and evoke such enthusiasm, this could only mean that our Cypriot star is rising high the firmament of art” Donis Christofinis, Haravgi Newspaper Celebratory Concert for Launching the Euro / Symphonic works Helen and Rime d’Amore by Christos Pittas / Cyprus Symphony Orchestra, Nicosia Municipal Theatre

“Soprano Katerina Miná not only looked beautiful, but sang beautifully too. Her voice had pathos and negotiated the high lying writing skilfully, never losing the diction, so important in this work (Symphonic Poem Helen for soprano and orchestra). The Cyprus Symphony Orchestra showed incredible teamwork under Baltas and together with Katerina Miná, tenor Nikos Stefanou, baritone Kyros Patsalides and troubadour Alkinoos Ioannidis gave a solid performance of the Rime d'Amore (world-premiere)” Saskia Constantinou, The Cyprus Mail Katerina Mina – Press Reviews LMS INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL / pianist Nicolas Constantinou, PASYDY Auditorium

“Greek-Cypriot soprano Katerina Mina sang Sibelius and Grieg in Swedish and Norwegian having received intensive training in both languages to reach this high performance level. She has a richly varied voice, and handled these fiendishly difficult songs ably. The highlight of the evening was Schumann’s Frauenliebe und Leben. Katerina, with her cultivated dramatic sense and her noholds-barred passion made something special of this poignant cycle. These songs need a light, deft touch and her young soprano voice was suited to the young girl, bride, mother and widow of the cycle. Her delivery of the German words was very responsive, with her voice retaining its rich, warm, and luminous tone. The narrative line was sustained through the eight songs, with the anticipation leading from joy to ecstasy, to the final aching grief” Saskia Constantinou, The Cyprus Mail Recital of Schubert Lieder / Poems by Goethe and Müller, PASYDY Auditorium

“Nicosia’s music lover public had a unique opportunity to enjoy an excellent recital. With her interpretative power, her serious approach towards the art, her expressive power and above all her beautiful voice Katerina Mina succeeded in making it possible for most of us, who do not understand the German language, to participate in high art. Using stage acting and phonetic plasticity, Katerina Mina successfully expressed the spiritual transitions and nuances of feelings from joy to sadness, nostalgia, melancholy, daydreaming and hope… This recital was another step in Ms Mina’s successful course towards the top of the art. With her rich qualifications, her talent and her continuous serious and intensive practice, it is certain that her star will reach the highest point, for her own artistic consummation and for Cyprus” Donis Christofinis, Haravgi Newspaper

BARBER: VANESSA / VANESSA

BRITTEN: QUEEN ELIZABETH I / GLORIANA

GIORDANO: MADDALENA / ANDREA CHÉNIER

MASCAGNI: SANTUZZA / CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA

MOZART: ELETTRA / IDOMENEO

POULENC: ELLE / LA VOIX HUMAINE

PUCCINI: TOSCA // MANON LESCAUT // GIORGETTA / IL TABARRO // MADAMA BUTTERFLY 

RIMSKY-KORSAKOV: KUPAVA / SNEGUROCHKA

VERDI:  AMELIA / UN BALLO IN MASCHERA // LEONORA / LA FORZA DEL DESTINO

WAGNER: ELISABETH / TANNHÄUSER

WEBER:  AGATHE / DER FREISCHÜTZ

BARBER: ANDROMACHE’S FAREWELL

BEETHOVEN: CHORAL SYMPHONY, NO.9 IN D MINOR
EGMONT OVERTURE, OP.84

BERLIOZ: LES NUITS D’ÉTÉ

DUPARC: SYMPHONIC SONGS FANSHAWE AFRICAN SANCTUS

HAYDN: CREATION
NELSON MASS
SCENA DI BERENICE
LITTLE ORGAN MASS

KARIOLOU: HYMN FOR CYPRUS

MAHLER: RÜCKERT LIEDER
DES KNABEN WUNDERHORN
LIEDER EINES FAHRENDEN GESSELEN

MENDELSSOHN: A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM

MOZART: REQUIEM
REGINA COELI KV 276
CORONATION MASS, IN C

ROSSINI: STABAT MATER

STRAUSS: FOUR LAST SONGS

THEODORAKIS EPITAPH & EPIPHANY

TIPPETT: NEGRO SPIRITUALS

VALTULLINI: AVE MARIA

VERDI: REQUIEM

WAGNER: WESENDONCK LIEDER