Nadia Vella

                              Soprano and Performing Artist 

                                                                                                                                    

 

Nadia Vella trained at Hertfordshire Theatre School in the UK graduating with a 3 year advanced diploma in Acting and Musical Theatre. She furthered her classical vocal training at Trinity College London obtaining a Licenciate in Music Performance (Classical Singing) and Vocal Teaching with distinctions. She is guided by acclaimed soprano Gillian Zammit.  In 2019, she was chosen to attend the Melofonetica Veneto Opera Summer School by Dr. Matteo Dalle Fratte supported by the Malta Arts Council. 

She is currently an artist in 'The Monteverdi Project in Malta' by Marco Mencoboni and preparing for her Fellowship Diploma. 

Described by opera critic Albert George Storace as a 'coloratura tour-de-force' (Times of Malta) and having a 'hauntingly beautiful' (Andre Delicata - Times of Malta) and 'angelic voice which resonated and filled the theatre...the desire to hear more was not easily curbed' (Pauline Fenech - Times of Malta) her versatile credits have seen her walk the boards in Malta, Germany, Italy, Austria and the UK. 

Despite Covid-19 wreaking havoc on the arts industry, Nadia has tried to keep busy in 2021. February saw her role debut of Belinda in Dido and Aeneas at The Manoel Theatre conducted by Mro Marco Mencoboni and director Denise Mulholland. 

She was an active participant in vocal masterclasses by Sumi Jo at Brucknerhaus, Linz, Austria, Dr Andriana Yordanova through the Malta Classical Music Academy and another by opera titan Jose' Cura, concluded with a concert at Teatru Astra accompanied by The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra and conducted by the legend himself. 

Nadia flew to Italy and had the honour of recording a Lamentazione by Maltese-Italo composer G. Abos which will be premiered as part of The Valletta International Baroque Festival in 2022 in which Nadia will also perform as a soloist with The Monteverdi Project. 

In December, Nadia performs in 'Versatile Christmas' at The Manoel Theatre - A fusion of opera, swing and jazz as well as a soloist alongside The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra at The Mdina Cathedral under the baton of Mro. Alan Chircop. 

She plays the songstress 'Karolina' in tv drama 'Chalet.'

Throughout the year she formed part of a series of online concerts with the international Songbirds Live Streaming and the American group Classical Crossover Magazine and will appear in their Advent Concerts. 

Right before the pandemic struck in Malta back in March 2020, Nadia played the role of Wednesday Addams in Malta's premiere of The Addams Family directed by Lucienne Camilleri and conducted by Ryan Paul Abela. 

As performances started again in July, she participated as a soloist in the APS Summer Festival featuring the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra singing pieces from Bernstein's Candide and Webber's The Phantom of the Opera. She later sang in Broadway Boulevard as part of The Hybrid Festival and in Notte Bianca and collaborated with tenor Nico Darmanin on Opera in the City as part of the Valletta Cultural Agency's Christmas Festival. 

2019 was a very busy year seeing Nadia participating as a soloist in The Malta International Arts Festival as Sirena in Harbour Odyssey, an immersive production that took place on a Turkish gulet during summer sunsets, touring Malta's majestic blue waters. 

She later flew to Italy to perform scenes from Mozart's Don Giovanni as Donna Elvira during the Arte Lirica Festival in Asolo, Italy, singing in the stunning Teatro Eleanora d'Use. This was conducted by Peter Ford. While in Italy, she also performed in Lirica d' Estate at picturesque Pieve del Grappa and Chiesa San Vito.  

Another jewel on her crown was playing Benedick Blythe's opera singing lover in the international feature film Blood on the Crown alongside cinema giants Harvey Keitel and Malcolm MacDowell, directed by Davide Ferrario. Here she sings excerpts of Rule Britannia and Mozart's Voi che sapete. She also plays a UK Journalist in 'Hounds of War' directed by Isaac Florentine set for release in 2023. 

Also in 2019, Nadia appeared as a soloist in the Maltese rock-opera Gensna and A night at the musicals conducted by Mro. Paul Abela, soprano soloist in Teatru Malta's Min hi directed by Reuben Zahra(Nominated for Production of the Year 2019)  and a featured singer in Notte Italiana with The Malta Concert Orchestra at Pjazza Teatru Rjal under the direction of Mro. Joe Brown. 

Her favourite role to date is that of Christine Daae' in Malta's premiere of The Phantom of the Opera at the MFCC with a 65 piece orchestra. This production was directed by Ray Mangion and conducted by Ryan Paul Abela to two full houses of 5000 patrons per night.  

She later played Abigail Williams in The Crucible at The Manoel Theatre - nominated for 'Il-Premju al l'Arti' 2019, her performance described by Andre Delicata (Times of Malta) as 'a terrific performance as Abigail: drawing the audience in with her beguiling intensity' Catherine in The Memory of Water directed by Stephen Oliver and Alice in Closer directed by anthony bezzina, both at Blue Box.

Next came Diva in Maltese opera Ahna Refugjati directed by Mario Phillip Azzopardi and composed by Richard Merrill Brown and Mario Sammut. This formed part of the 2018 European Capital of Culture programme. 

Nadia also sang the role of Cecile in 1565 with The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Mro. Paul Abela. 

Nadia was an original member of Masquerade Theatre Arts School and with them she made her theatrical debut in the title role of Annie at the prestigious Manoel Theatre. Also at the Manoel:  Royal Child(King and I) Morgiana(TinPanAli) Annie(The Ragged Child), Ruby(The Little Shop of Horrors), Young Boy(Cabaret) and Agnes(Agnes of God). She also played Clara in the opera Werther.

She was a solo soprano in Handel’s ‘Messiah’, Mary in ‘Rock Nativity’ and Ruth in ‘Is it me?’ at St. James Cavalier.

Roles in the UK : Lily St. Regis (Annie) - directed by Andie Reiss at The Prince of Wales Theatre, Angel(The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas) – directed by Jack Gunn, Maggie(Matchgirls) – directed by Pete Gallagher, Helene(Sweet Charity) – directed by Kirk Foster, Catherine(The Memory of Water) directed by Mark Stobbard at the Queen Mother Theatre.

Maria(Yerma), Lydia (Pride and Prejudice), Zerlina(The Lover’s Inn) Cynthia(Haversham Hall)– directed by Kirk Foster ,Countess(Don Juan on Trial) -directed by Simon Bell, Medea (Moments from Medea) at The Market Theatre. Milena(Once we were Mothers) directed by Iain Jones at the HTS studio. Soloist Soprano in Showbiz Orchestra goes Pop alongside Scott Davies directed by Richard Ward-Roden at The Broadway Theatre.

Nadia performed at Hamburg’s ‘Weinachtcircus’ and later joined the TIE South Western UK tour of ‘Working Space Theatre’s’ production of ‘Oliver.’

She has performed as a soloist in various concerts including Broadway Boulevard, Beyond the Barricade, Ghosts of Christmas Past, Comedy Tonight, A night on Broadway, 50 years of Maltese Music, A night at the Theatre, Les Miserables Premiere Screening at Eden Cinemas, The Angel of Christmas Eve, Simply Queen, The Malta EU Presidency Closing Concert alongside the world famous 'The Tenors,' Muso Merlot, Tribute to the fallen stars, Freddie for a Day and Gotta Sing Gotta Dance.

Nadia played Sherrie in Malta's first long running musical Rock of Ages at City Theatre and Lupita in Innocent Flesh at the MITP Theatre.

She was a finalist on the first edition of L-Isfida on Net TV and has appeared in several Maltese tv adverts and programmes. She appears as the main actress in Red Electrick’s ‘Young Again' music video ft. The Malta Philharmonic Orchestra, Sterjotipi's 'Tabib' and joined Maltese metal band 'Decline the Fall' as a guest singer, warming up for Italian rock legends 'Lacuna Coil' in their stop in Malta during their European tour. Nadia sings in Aramaic in Irish film composer Derek Dolan's composition which appears in horror short 'God's Whisper' directed by Christian Kotey. 

Nadia is currently based in Malta where she works as a full time performer and a vocal coach at Masquerade Theatre Arts School and Vocalbooth Studios. She is a guest tutor with Studio 18 and a visiting lecturer for the creative module of Occupational Therapy at The University of Malta.