Biography

Spanish-Filipina coloratura, Antoni Mendezona has gained success internationally for her “dazzling high notes…clear & distinct as a bell.” A consummate actress, her experience has led her to step in twice at the last minute for two important American opera debuts; one in the European debut as Sophie in Tobias Picker’s Emmeline and the other as Veronique in the NYC premier of Pasatieri’s The Hotel Casablanca which garnered a review from the New York Times saying she “stole scenes with her pealing voice and bubbly personality.”

Antoni performed and recorded the role of Ruth Wilson from Victor Herbert’s The Only Girl with Light Opera of New York and Albany records under the baton of Gerald Steichen. The album is available on both Spotify and iTunes. She also covered the role of Imelda (Parisina D’Este) at Jazz at Lincoln Center under the baton of Maestra Eve Queler with the prestigious Opera Orchestra of New York and performed an evening of excerpts.

She has toured the Filipino Opera Noli Me Tangere (Felipe De Leon) and has travelled between New York, Washington DC (Kennedy Center) and finally a 6-week period in the Philippines. She premiered the coloratura role of Sisa which the Washington Post commented on her “captivating performance” and how her “coloratura dazzled and pulled heartstrings during her lament in the woods”. Her Filipino debut was extremely well received and was featured in People Asia saying that she “spellbound the audience with her high notes”.

Her other operatic roles include Maria Clara (NYC debut of Noli me Tangere), Blondchen in Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Despina in Cosi fan tutte, Amore in L’incoronazione di Poppea, Zerlina from Don Giovanni, Le Rossignol from L’enfant et les sortilèges, Elisa from Il Re Pastore, Sandman and Dew Fairy from Hansel and Gretel with Boheme Opera, Flora from The Turn of the Screw and Dorinda in Handel’s Orlando with Sacramento Opera, Frasquita from Carmen with Connecticut Grand Opera, and La Princessa in El Gato con Botas with Gotham Chamber Opera’s puppetry workshop under the direction of Moises Kaufman.

In the oratorio realm, Antoni sang her Carnegie Hall debut in Stern Auditorium in the world premier of Karl Jenkins’ The Peacemakers; has been featured as the Soprano soloist in the Messiah with the Harford Choral Society & Orchestra; and Fauré’s Requiem, Mozart’s Vesperae Solennes de Confessore and Allegri’s Miserere Mei Deus with the Sacramento Choral Society and Orchestra. Having an affinity for Bach, she has also sung Cantata BWV 80 Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott, his St. John Passion, the Ascension and Christmas Oratorio. Most recently, she sang her all time favorite; Mozart’s Mass in C minor with the Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra and John Rutter’s Magnificat.