Official Biography
Canadian dramatic soprano Antonina Ermolenko is fast gaining international acclaim. Her tremendous vocal power, combined with unusual flexibility, range, and remarkable acting ability make her a unique artist capable of tackling a wide range of repertoire. She has performed dramatic coloratura roles such as Bellini’s Norma, Donizetti’s Anna Bolena, and Mozart’s Mme. Herz along side heroines such as Puccini’s Tosca, Verdi’s Lady Macbeth and Wagner’s Isolde in venues such as the Glenn Gould Studio in Toronto, the Danny Kaye Playhouse in New York, and the historical Ekhof Theater Gotha. Having long been a staple of independent theatres, Antonina has recently been attracting mainstream acclaim.
Ms. Ermolenko opened Opera by Request's 2019/2020 season with a long-awaited debut as Puccini's Tosca. Highlights of past seasons include Marcellina in Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro with Teatro Goldoni (Livorno), Mme. Herz in Mozart's Der Schauspieldirektor with Freiburg's Die Schönen Musiktheater; the title role in Donizetti's Anna Bolena and Maria Stuarda, Abigaille in Verdi’s Nabucco, Elisabetta in a concert version of Verdi’s Don Carlo, and the title role in Bellini’s Norma, all with Opera by Request; the title role in Puccini's Suor Angelica with the Bay of Islands Musical Arts (Canada); Donna Anna in Mozart's Don Giovanni with New York Lyric Opera (USA); Fiordiligi in Mozart’s Così fan tutte, at the Kurtheater Bad Ems, as well as Donna Elvira in Mozart's Don Giovanni with Opera Classica Europa (Ekhof Theater, Gotha) (Germany). Antonina made her European debut in 2015 with the Johann Strauß Ochester Wiesbaden conducted by Mo. Herbert Siebert, singing excerpts from Verdi's Il Trovatore and La Traviata. Antonina received her Bachelors Degree in Vocal Performance from the prestigious Glenn Gould School of the Royal Conservatory of Music in Toronto, Canada, and her Masters Degree in the same from Hunter College, CUNY, in New York. |
Antonina started the current season with a debut as Lady Macbeth in Verdi's opera with Opera by Request in its digital production this August. She will continue her delve into the digital medium when she is featured in COSA Canada's two upcoming offerings: Dispatches from Lockdown; and Queens and Martyrs. In the spring of 2022, Antonina will perform Elisabetta I in Roberto Devereux, adding the third Donizetti queen to her repertoire, after which she will join the ranks of the few sopranos to have performed all three Tudor queens in a single season as she sings Anna Bolena, Maria Stuarda, as well as Elisabetta in the space of one month at OBR's bel canto festival; and in the summer of 2022, she will cover the role of Manon Lescaut at the Festival Puccini in Torre del Lago.
After being featured at the International Midsummer Festival of Tagliacozzo (Italy) last August, Ms. Ermolenko had her first exposure to the online medium, singing with Toronto's Opera by Request in their gala concert - Decameron 2020 - in November of last year, performing excerpts from Verdi's Aida and Macbeth, as well as Puccini's Tosca. 
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She has had extensive training in classical ballet and character dance and was a member of the Desna Ukrainian Dance Company of Toronto (2000 - 2007). Ms. Ermolenko studied the dramatic arts at the Equity Showcase Theatre (Toronto), where she completed their Player’s Academy.
Antonina spent her first year out of college as a Resident Artist with Michael Capasso’s Dicapo Opera Theatre in New York. During this time, she collaborated with several other New York based companies, singing Mimì in Puccini's La Bohème with the The Martha Cardona Theatre, and Musetta with the Dell’arte Opera Ensemble.
Antonina spent her first year out of college as a Resident Artist with Michael Capasso’s Dicapo Opera Theatre in New York. During this time, she collaborated with several other New York based companies, singing Mimì in Puccini's La Bohème with the The Martha Cardona Theatre, and Musetta with the Dell’arte Opera Ensemble.